Thank you for posting the added clarification information.

Bert

I know this is an older post, but I just saw it.  So, for the record and to end any speculation, the CA prison system did indeed have 94's in their armory's that were special ordered with saddle-rings and certain pre-64 features such as forged lifters.   At the time, the prison system's choice of weapons was somewhat haphazard and random, with a lot of mixed rifles including Winchester 70's, 94's as well as things like Alpine M1 Carbines and Remington 760's.  They even had a smattering of .22's for training purposes.  Their pistols, while off topic here, were even more random.  It appears that excluding a few models, most of their purchasing was decentralized, taking place at the local prison level. 

The prison system auctioned off most if not all of their armory in the late 70's when they underwent a push for standardization. Rather than consolidate their stockpile, they held closed bid auctions at each institution.  While over complicating the process, it did make sure that the arms were attributable to specific prisons based on the information in the original bid-sheets.   All of the bids were won by the same CA Dealer, Martin B. Retting, Inc. in Culver City, CA. Retting's worked in partnership with a nationally known Class-3 dealer, who took possession of any NFA items, while Retting's took the non-NFA guns. The process occurred over several months and involved a lot of travel as it required inspecting the firearm on site before submitting a sealed bid and then removing them later from the Prisons.  All in all, several thousand firearms were involved. 

Condition on the firearms varied, depending on whether they were Armory stored guns  (which received proper service) or firearms stored in secure areas within population, such as towers and gantry walks. The guns held in these secure areas were rarely serviced as moving them back to the armory was a time consuming and very involved process.  Most of these were pretty rough. 

Having been associated with the now defunct Retting Company for over three decades, I have examined countless prison guns.  I can tell you that the arms were not professionally stamped with any CA State markings or the names of any of the individual Prisons.  Those that were marked at all, were typically marked in nail polish with the name of the Prison and if they were guns assigned for use (stationed?) inside the wire they often had their location (such as "Tower 3"). There were no rack numbers that I can recall.  For some reason, perhaps gallows humor of some type, they tended to use bright and vibrant colors of nail polish, with yellow being popular.   

The auction listing text which a few have reposted was one I created for the last of the Quentin guns. It was listed on either Gunbroker or Auction Arms, I don't recall as it was probably over 15 years ago now. 

The only way to verify or confirm whether something was at San Quentin or Folsom is to review the bid sheets by hand, which is a rather involved process as there are thousands of pages worth of records.  Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any other questions regarding these and I will try to answer them as best I can. alex@camarillotraders.com.  

Best regards, Alex

You're getting the best advice first hand here as Bob is our Resident Model 1873 Expert, hands down! 

Bob,

I can see what you're saying about the wood being refinished, as the but stock at the wrist has really been over sanded. The wood to metal fit is very shy on the top and bottom tangs!

Tony

Bob

twobit said

Burt Humphrey said

 
twobit said
The only thing that stands out to me is the fact that the caliber stamp is located on the top of the barrel.  The rear sight is positioned close to the receiver as is normal on 22 inch sporting rifle barrels but on Model 1892's The caliber stamp was rotated to the left side so that the rear sight elevator will not cover it.  As you can see in the image if the elevator is extended the proof stamp and caliber stamp will be covered.  
Bert, do other standard 22 inch ELW 1886 sporting rifle have the caliber stamp located on the barrel top?
I would ask for an image of the actual ledger entry for the rifle.  They can sometimes be "open for interpretation" if this rifle and/or consecutive rifles have complicated entries.
Michael
  
That is correct for a standard length barrel.  The ones I was referring to are 22 inch barrels like the OP's 1886.
Michael
  

1907 and the caliber stamp is on the top of the barrel
  

Enclosed is another listing of a 1886 in 45-70 ELW 22 inch with correct caliber stamp on top of barrel

VERY HIGH CONDITION 122 YEAR-OLD WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 RIFLE from COLLECTING TEXAS – FACTORY LETTER – 45/70 CALIBER for sale

This and Bert's should verify correct originality

Thanks

Pat

I am once again seeking your advice on a vintage Winchester 1873. I just found one for sale with a 24" octagonal barrel chambered in.32-20. The gun looks decent enough for the price being asked, but I am puzzled by an image showing this gun with a trapdoor for cleaning equipment. According to my copy of Arhur Pirkle´s book on the early Winchesters no .32 caliber gun was delivered with such a trapdoor. 

What are you guy´s opinion on this? Could it be a replacement or perhaps a special order feature?

I have attached photos of the gun as posted on a sales forum by the current owner. Hope that helps for you who can help me in turn.

Thanks in advance for everyone chiming in on this!f

Fred, 

Norway

Michael

twobit said

Burt Humphrey said

 
twobit said
The only thing that stands out to me is the fact that the caliber stamp is located on the top of the barrel.  The rear sight is positioned close to the receiver as is normal on 22 inch sporting rifle barrels but on Model 1892's The caliber stamp was rotated to the left side so that the rear sight elevator will not cover it.  As you can see in the image if the elevator is extended the proof stamp and caliber stamp will be covered.  
Bert, do other standard 22 inch ELW 1886 sporting rifle have the caliber stamp located on the barrel top?
I would ask for an image of the actual ledger entry for the rifle.  They can sometimes be "open for interpretation" if this rifle and/or consecutive rifles have complicated entries.
Michael
  
That is correct for a standard length barrel.  The ones I was referring to are 22 inch barrels like the OP's 1886.
Michael
  

1907 and the caliber stamp is on the top of the barrel
  

twobit said

Burt Humphrey said

 
twobit said
The only thing that stands out to me is the fact that the caliber stamp is located on the top of the barrel.  The rear sight is positioned close to the receiver as is normal on 22 inch sporting rifle barrels but on Model 1892's The caliber stamp was rotated to the left side so that the rear sight elevator will not cover it.  As you can see in the image if the elevator is extended the proof stamp and caliber stamp will be covered.  
Bert, do other standard 22 inch ELW 1886 sporting rifle have the caliber stamp located on the barrel top?
I would ask for an image of the actual ledger entry for the rifle.  They can sometimes be "open for interpretation" if this rifle and/or consecutive rifles have complicated entries.
Michael
  
That is correct for a standard length barrel.  The ones I was referring to are 22 inch barrels like the OP's 1886.
Michael
  

1907 and the caliber stamp is on the top of the barrel
  

  

I thought that was probbly the case - here is a 92 SRC, also 1907, with the caliber stamp on the top of the barrel as I assume it should be.

Burt Humphrey said

twobit said

The only thing that stands out to me is the fact that the caliber stamp is located on the top of the barrel.  The rear sight is positioned close to the receiver as is normal on 22 inch sporting rifle barrels but on Model 1892's The caliber stamp was rotated to the left side so that the rear sight elevator will not cover it.  As you can see in the image if the elevator is extended the proof stamp and caliber stamp will be covered.  
Bert, do other standard 22 inch ELW 1886 sporting rifle have the caliber stamp located on the barrel top?
I would ask for an image of the actual ledger entry for the rifle.  They can sometimes be "open for interpretation" if this rifle and/or consecutive rifles have complicated entries.
Michael
  

That is correct for a standard length barrel.  The ones I was referring to are 22 inch barrels like the OP's 1886.

Michael

1907 and the caliber stamp is on the top of the barrel

  

twobit said

Bert H. said

twobit said
The only thing that stands out to me is the fact that the caliber stamp is located on the top of the barrel.  The rear sight is positioned close to the receiver as is normal on 22 inch sporting rifle barrels but on Model 1892's The caliber stamp was rotated to the left side so that the rear sight elevator will not cover it.  As you can see in the image if the elevator is extended the proof stamp and caliber stamp will be covered.  
Bert, do other standard 22 inch ELW 1886 sporting rifle have the caliber stamp located on the barrel top?
I would ask for an image of the actual ledger entry for the rifle.  They can sometimes be "open for interpretation" if this rifle and/or consecutive rifles have complicated entries.
Michael
  

Just like the Model 1894, the Model 1886 barrels had the caliber marking on the 12 o'clock barrel position up through mid year 1907 when it was rotated to the left side (10 o'clock) position.  The rifle in question was assembled in 1905.
Bert
  

On the Model 1892 the caliber stamp did not begin to appear with any sort of consistency until mid 1908.  The barrel address stayed on the top of the barrel.  Here is my collection of 22 inch barrel length 1892 that are all pre 1908 and have the caliber stamp purposefully located on the left side of the barrel.
Michael

1907 and the caliber stamp is on the top of the barrel

antler1 said

tionesta1 said
That's a very nice model 1886 takedown, and as others have stated appears to be all original. Since the features do not match the letter (which in my opinion the mistake was made by whoever recorded it), it would help for resale if you took pictures of the matching numbers from the tang and stock to prove it left the factory as is.
Al
  

Very good idea. Thank You
  

A very good point Al!

Tony

tionesta1 said
That's a very nice model 1886 takedown, and as others have stated appears to be all original. Since the features do not match the letter (which in my opinion the mistake was made by whoever recorded it), it would help for resale if you took pictures of the matching numbers from the tang and stock to prove it left the factory as is.
Al
  

Very good idea. Thank You

Al

Bert H. said

twobit said
The only thing that stands out to me is the fact that the caliber stamp is located on the top of the barrel.  The rear sight is positioned close to the receiver as is normal on 22 inch sporting rifle barrels but on Model 1892's The caliber stamp was rotated to the left side so that the rear sight elevator will not cover it.  As you can see in the image if the elevator is extended the proof stamp and caliber stamp will be covered.  
Bert, do other standard 22 inch ELW 1886 sporting rifle have the caliber stamp located on the barrel top?
I would ask for an image of the actual ledger entry for the rifle.  They can sometimes be "open for interpretation" if this rifle and/or consecutive rifles have complicated entries.
Michael
  

Just like the Model 1894, the Model 1886 barrels had the caliber marking on the 12 o'clock barrel position up through mid year 1907 when it was rotated to the left side (10 o'clock) position.  The rifle in question was assembled in 1905.
Bert
  

On the Model 1892 the caliber stamp did not begin to appear with any sort of consistency until mid 1908.  The barrel address stayed on the top of the barrel.  Here is my collection of 22 inch barrel length 1892 that are all pre 1908 and have the caliber stamp purposefully located on the left side of the barrel.

Michael

twobit said
The only thing that stands out to me is the fact that the caliber stamp is located on the top of the barrel.  The rear sight is positioned close to the receiver as is normal on 22 inch sporting rifle barrels but on Model 1892's The caliber stamp was rotated to the left side so that the rear sight elevator will not cover it.  As you can see in the image if the elevator is extended the proof stamp and caliber stamp will be covered.  
Bert, do other standard 22 inch ELW 1886 sporting rifle have the caliber stamp located on the barrel top?
I would ask for an image of the actual ledger entry for the rifle.  They can sometimes be "open for interpretation" if this rifle and/or consecutive rifles have complicated entries.
Michael
  

Just like the Model 1894, the Model 1886 barrels had the caliber marking on the 12 o'clock barrel position up through mid year 1907 when it was rotated to the left side (10 o'clock) position.  The rifle in question was assembled in 1905.

Bert