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September 5, 2021
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I have a 1987 that I have to finish fixing then I’ll document the 1912 better while investigating.
Corey
Winchester 1892 (1898)
Winchester 1894 (1956)
Winchester 1897 (1909) (1906)
Winchester 1911 (1911)
Winchester Model 12 (1912)
Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen (1959)
Browning Superposed (1962) (1936)
Browning Hi Power (1949 - 1954)
Browning 1910 (1910)
Browning 1922 (Dutch Contract)
September 5, 2021
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Closer looks at pics and tool marks are evident. Looks like the next number is a 0…
Just 2 weeks before I bought a low 5 digit one and it has the proper presentation.
Corey
Winchester 1892 (1898)
Winchester 1894 (1956)
Winchester 1897 (1909) (1906)
Winchester 1911 (1911)
Winchester Model 12 (1912)
Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen (1959)
Browning Superposed (1962) (1936)
Browning Hi Power (1949 - 1954)
Browning 1910 (1910)
Browning 1922 (Dutch Contract)
April 15, 2005
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I agree… it looks like it is “440”.
S/N 17968 = March 1913
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
April 15, 2005
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Corey Freeman said
I have a 1987 that I have to finish fixing
Now you are barking up the right tree 
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 15, 2020
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Actually , as an old draftsman of 40 years I would guess the no. would be 440xx to make it concentric to each side of the receiver. I would never have punched anything to the left side only. Don
November 7, 2015
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86Win said
Actually , as an old draftsman of 40 years I would guess the no. would be 440xx to make it concentric to each side of the receiver. I would never have punched anything to the left side only. Don
Don-
I agree there are more numbers, I was thinking the serial number would contain four or six digits but it’s hard to tell from the picture. Now I agree the faint “0” appears to be centered on the receiver.
Mike
March 15, 2020
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Now if Mike and my assumption that there are 2 more nos. I would think a search of the ledgers for a a model 1912 with nos. 44001 to 44099 might be beneficial. Don
September 5, 2021
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The seller actually called me back after I wrote him an email.
Very cordial and is going to take the gun back with a full refund and paying for shipping to him. It was a breath of fresh air.
And a s a minor correction, that’s an 1897 that I’m fixing.
Thanks for all of the input.
Corey
Winchester 1892 (1898)
Winchester 1894 (1956)
Winchester 1897 (1909) (1906)
Winchester 1911 (1911)
Winchester Model 12 (1912)
Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen (1959)
Browning Superposed (1962) (1936)
Browning Hi Power (1949 - 1954)
Browning 1910 (1910)
Browning 1922 (Dutch Contract)
April 15, 2005
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86Win said
Now if Mike and my assumption that there are 2 more nos. I would think a search of the ledgers for a a model 1912 with nos. 44001 to 44099 might be beneficial. Don
Don,
There are no ledgers for the Model 1912.
The number can be no more than 5-digits. A 6-digit serial number beginning with “440” would be a Model 12 versus a Model 1912.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
April 15, 2005
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Corey Freeman said
And a s a minor correction, that’s an 1897 that I’m fixing.
I knew what you were trying to tell us.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 8, 2025
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Bert H. said
Corey Freeman said
And a s a minor correction, that’s an 1897 that I’m fixing.
I knew what you were trying to tell us.
I even read it as 1897 3 times before I saw the correction and went back to check. Funny how the brain works.
February 17, 2026
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People put their sweaty hands right on the serial number when they reload the gun, sometimes. Or they carry a gun under the receiver and wear the bluing off, too. That is probably why the serial number is gone.
September 5, 2021
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I have run into that on an old 92 that I got. The s/n was very warn, but still visible. Luckily the rifle was made in 1898 so I could legally dress up the s/n.
In this case when you look closely at the receiver and the barrel extension, there’s pretty obvious signs of tool marks going laterally across them. All of the extension number was gone except a tiny ghost portion of the leading 4. The receiver has 2 strong 4s and a ghost image of a zero to the right of the second 4. It’s a shame too because it looks like it would have been a mid 5 digit s/n.
Corey
Winchester 1892 (1898)
Winchester 1894 (1956)
Winchester 1897 (1909) (1906)
Winchester 1911 (1911)
Winchester Model 12 (1912)
Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen (1959)
Browning Superposed (1962) (1936)
Browning Hi Power (1949 - 1954)
Browning 1910 (1910)
Browning 1922 (Dutch Contract)
December 25, 2016
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Corey hit the nail on the head. No way carry wear removes stamped in serial numbers, but files and sandpaper can.
I have not seen the gun where ONLY carry wear removed serial numbers. Bluing yes, steel…not so much. The seller was smart to take the gun back, removed or altered serial numbers are a very big deal for someone that holds a valid FFL.
February 17, 2026
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James W said
I see wear, rust and pitting on a gun under a receiver all the time from sweaty hands and misuse. And there are scratches from files and sandpaper? Hmmm… Plus I would think that salt and acid from someone could eat away at a serial number over 100+ years. Either way, sweaty hands can surely do a lot of damage from people handling a gun for 100 years and not taking care of it properly. There are probably thousands of grandpa’s old guns out there from 100 years ago with serial numbers worn off. And I might be wrong, but did shotguns even need a serial number before 1968 other than an NFA Weapon?
April 15, 2005
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James W said
James W said
I see wear, rust and pitting on a gun under a receiver all the time from sweaty hands and misuse. And there are scratches from files and sandpaper? Hmmm… Plus I would think that salt and acid from someone could eat away at a serial number over 100+ years. Either way, sweaty hands can surely do a lot of damage from people handling a gun for 100 years and not taking care of it properly. There are probably thousands of grandpa’s old guns out there from 100 years ago with serial numbers worn off. And I might be wrong, but did shotguns even need a serial number before 1968 other than an NFA Weapon?
No firearms required a serial number before the GCA of 1968 was enacted in November of that year.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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