Is there much interest or value to the model 1893. I read that they are supposed to be black powder 2 5/8″ shell guns. I found a few priced over $1000 but the blu book says they ain’t worth much. Have a local guy that’s selling one. Haven’t seen it yet but will in the morning. He wants me to make him an offer……ughhhh
Lonnie
Better than the Blue Book is finding out what they’re actually bringing on Gunbroker. Smokeless was in use by 1893, so don’t know if that’s correct about them being built for BP. Greater nuisance, if you wanted to shoot it, would be finding or making correct-length shells.
Papalondog said
Is there much interest or value to the model 1893. I read that they are supposed to be black powder 2 5/8″ shell guns. I found a few priced over $1000 but the blu book says they ain’t worth much. Have a local guy that’s selling one. Haven’t seen it yet but will in the morning. He wants me to make him an offer……ughhhhLonnie
The Model 1893 Slide-action shotguns were chambered for a 2-5/8″ maximum length shell, and for black powder only. The Model 1897 was Winchester’s first shotgun specifically manufactured for smokeless powder. The Model 1893 was purposefully replaced by the Model 1897 because of the transition to smokeless powder.
The configuration and the graded condition of the gun will dictate how much it is actually worth. The Blue Book is a very poor reference source in regard to the valuations for most of the older Winchester models.
As an FYI, I have been actively surveying the Model 1893 for the past 20-years, an wrote an article discussing them that was published in the Simmer 2017 WACA Collector magazine. Currently, I have documented just (523) of the (34,180) that were manufactured. Accordingly, I would appreciate learning what the serial number is on the gun you are being offered.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Mark Douglas said
Hi Bert,I don’t think I’ve sent you info on the 1893 shotgun here on the ranch. It’s a standard grade 12 gauge with a 32″ barrel. SN 8679. Mark
Yes, you were holding out on me! It is in the survey now. As it turns out, I picked up a really nice Model 1893 two weeks ago, another “A” series gun. Your old gun is a “Pre A”. I am looking for a “B” series gun, and a “B☆” series gun to add to my growing collection of 1893s.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I’ve never owned a M1893, but have owned M1897’s. Historically, the M1893 is a significant piece. A friend of mine has owned them and is truly excellent at exploring and understanding the mechanics of a firearm. Here is a comment he made to me on the topic:
Have you ever wondered why they have that curved out section tin the top of the ejection port? I’ve read theories on that, one was it was to allow easier single loading, these people evidently never had one. Having functional ones I found out the reason, the weak ejection often just turns the casing sideways in the action and the curved relief allows the next cartridge to kick the spent casing out as it feeds into the lifter. If you put a piece of masking tape over that relief the action will often jam and even without the tape it will sometimes jam on the last round because there isn’t another shell feeding in to kick it out. There is nothing on the left side of the bolt to hold the shell casing tight to the extractor so they have a very weak inconsistent ejection. 1897 have a spring loaded hook on the left side of the bolt and they will eject a casing across a room. Not sure if this was corrected on the B series 1893’s.
Well I bought it this morning. Serial number B33467 so must be a very late gun. Appears all original with most of the bluing gone. Nice patina. 30 inch barrel. I don’t know if it has a really old rebluing job or just been scrubbed or if they weren’t really high polished to begin with. Appears some buff marks on the receiver. Approximate value?
Papalondog said
Well I bought it this morning. Serial number B33467 so must be a very late gun. Appears all original with most of the bluing gone. Nice patina. 30 inch barrel. I don’t know if it has a really old rebluing job or just been scrubbed or if they weren’t really high polished to begin with. Appears some buff marks on the receiver. Approximate value?
Interesting in that it is a very late gun but does not have the ☆ marking next to the “B”. It was manufactured in January of 1897, and production of the Model 1893 ended in February of that year.
The receiver frame finish looks like it is original, and No, they were not a high polish finished gun.
I need to see more pictures of the gun (slide handle stock, butt stock, butt plate, roll marking on the barrel, etc.) to come up with an approximate value.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
It looks like it is original finish on the gun. Even though finding a complete & functional Model 1893 is not an easy task these days, the going values for them is quite reasonable. I suspect that you could expect to get at least $750 for it, maybe a bit more for a motivated buyer collector.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
[email protected] said
Was Black Diamond wood ever offered on the Model 1893?
Fancy grain American Black Walnut wood was a special order item for the Model 1893, but it was very rarely ordered, and almost never had the Balck Diamond inlay. The Black Diamond stocks were typically only used for the Trap and Pigeon grade guns. There were just (9) Trap grade Model 1893 shot guns manufactured, and only (4) Pigeon grade guns.
This is one of the (9) late production Model 1893 Trap grade guns (S/N 34345);
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Here are a couple pictures of my 93.
Factory Letter: States Close Shooter in comments. Does not mention the fancy wood.
Notes: The butt stock and forend are a much nicer that normal grade of wood. On the underside of the butt plate there are two S’s, an 11, a 10 and an 0. On the receiver end of the butt stock there is a 10. On the butt end of the receiver there is a 10. On the metal shaft that extends into the butt stock there is a S.
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