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This model 1894 (sn 161786) sold at December Premier Auction for $207,000 and has a Proof Steel barrel?? Why do you suppose it has the proof steel barrel? I know it was a factory exhibition gun and the last time it was returned was 1918. Before the Proof steel barrels came out, I thought.
Al
Al,
Not only is it an incorrect Proof Steel barrel, it is marked “MODEL 94”, and it also has the “P” proof mark on it. Winchester did not begin using Proof Steel barrels on the Model 94 until mid-year 1932. Additionally, the factory letter states that it was a 38-55, and the barrel now on it is a 30 WCF. Further, while John Ulrich may have originally engraved that rifle, he did not engrave the barrel now on it. In my personal opinion, there is no way on earth that it was worth even 25% of the price it sold for, and I would view the barrel as a non-factory replaced item.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I had a 1886 deluxe engraved gun with a similar letter. It was made in 1896 never sold, the letter was two pages of shipments to sales people including the Worlds Fair for display. The features were changed three times, big changes that did not make sense, the last entry was 1927, as of that date it still belonged to Winchester. No record of sale. At what point in time did they stop writing on the old shipping ledger? I have run into two other guns with similar letters since. The barrel could be right. My gun had three sets of assembly numbers, traces of gold inside, a later style butt stock, style of engraving changed, and a takedown feature added with a tapered oct barrel. The gun was a real and honest Winchester original. Remember the Cody Letter is from a shipping room record not a order or manufacturing record. It is important not to over clean this type of gun, when you are deciding if it is honest you what to see storage age. T/R
November 7, 2015
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Very interesting. The video at the bottom of the listing also features an 1873 “One of One Thousand”. Not very good at navigating their site, anyone know what it sold for?
Bert H. said
Al,Not only is it an incorrect Proof Steel barrel, it is marked “MODEL 94”, and it also has the “P” proof mark on it. Winchester did not begin using Proof Steel barrels on the Model 94 until mid-year 1932. Additionally, the factory letter states that it was a 38-55, and the barrel now on it is a 30 WCF. Further, while John Ulrich may have originally engraved that rifle, he did not engrave the barrel now on it. In my personal opinion, there is no way on earth that it was worth even 25% of the price it sold for, and I would view the barrel as a non-factory replaced item.
Bert
Bert,
I saw the other obvious barrel discrepincies. I just could not believe the price it went for, being that wrong.
Al
Winchester played with this gun for 20-40 years, refinishing and changing features. We don’t know when Winchester sold the gun, if any work was done after Winchester sold it, and if it was factory or not. The Provenance of this gun is the Norm Flayderman and Mac McCroskie collections, that’s like the Pope and Abe Lincoln. I don’t know if the gun is right but if these guy’s owned it people will step up to the plate with real money. The price does not surprise me. T/R
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