Have an Old Winchester?

[flyfishr]

Hi Trap
I inherited a model 94 30wcf serial #993965
What info do you have for this one? my research came up with Oct 1929 If I remember correctly. Also how do you go about getting PR records if they are available?
Thanks for taking the time to help all of us out.

[rb765]

Thanks for doing this Trap. I have posted this on several other posts along with the story, but here it goes. About 20 years ago, my dad came home from a trip to Mexico with an old Winchester '94 that his dad gave him. The rear stock was rotten beyond repair and it was in pretty rough shape. My dad removed the rear stock hoping to find a replacement and proceeded to loose it and the butt plate. After he passed, I inherited it. About last year, after joining the forum, I asked my mom for a little more information about the gun. She replied that it was not my grandfathers, but his brother Emilio and he some high ranking officer in the army. She also said he used it in one of the wars in Mexico, but did not have any other information. I then googled Emilio Barrios and found out he was a Colonel in the revolutionary army and he lead the charge for removing the tyrannical government from the home town where my father was from (Jerez, Zac) during the Cristero War. Needless to say, i was very stoked about the historical link this gun has, but since everyone that had first hand knowledge of my dad's acquisition has passed, there is no way for me to prove the gun's provenance.



But since it still had a great story, I would love to restore it to it's former glory, but it looks like I might have to find a sacrificial gun to rob it of it's stock. Right now, it is not very high on my priority list and everything I find locally has the wrong stock, but one day, I will find the correct stock and it will be complete as a wall hanger. I do have some family members that are attempting to find photos of my great uncle with the rifle, but I'm not holding my breath. I would love any information I can get on this gun. Thanks again.

[M. D. Van Norman]

Why not put this family heirloom back into service as a working rifle?

[rb765]

The rifling looks good enough to be a shooter, but since I am the only one on my wifes side of the family that is into firearms, I am inheriting (actually my son is) most of the guns from her family that have past. Right now, we just haev my son's great uncle Rays 1950's '94, my son's great, great, grandfather's pump 22 (have a picture of him holding it after he used it to put down a pig for butchering during the depression in Oklahoma) and a slew of others. I really think that I would rather post it with a plaque describing it's history than use it as a shooter, just because we have a few others that fill the niche that this one would serve.

[TRAP55]

Hi Trap
I inherited a model 94 30wcf serial #993965
What info do you have for this one? my research came up with Oct 1929 If I remember correctly. Also how do you go about getting PR records if they are available?
Thanks for taking the time to help all of us out.

Made late 1926, with 10,790 made that year.
The only place the info I have is available, is in Larry and Bert's last book, titled The Red Book of Winchester Values, 2nd Edition, 2011, and I believe it's sold out.
Last I talked to Bert, a newer updated version was supposed to be in print by now, and he should be done with his book, a comprehensive study on the 1885 Winchester. If he got them into print on time, he should have copies for sale at the Reno Show in Nov., and Larry should have one or both for sale on the GB auctions.
I need to give him a call and yank his chain anyhow, so I'll ask about the books and post the info where they can be ordered direct in my original post.
If you need info to get a Cody letter on your gun, I'll post the info there too as soon as I dig it out.

[TRAP55]

rb765, Your saddle ring carbine was made in late 1914, with 76,976 made that year.
A Cody Letter (if available) will tell where it was delivered (hardware store, ranch, post office, etc), rarely to who. It's a good place to start though, sometimes it will show if the rifle was shipped in a group of serial numbers too. If it does, it's a good place to establish bonafides with other guns.
That one can be made whole again pretty easy. My boys live in Fresno, so I'm back and forth between there and Dixon all the time. If you want help tracking down parts, and bringing it back to life, let me know, be glad to help.
Edit to add:

grandfather's pump 22

Make and model?

[freonr22]

Such an awesome service provided by you. Thank you!

[flyfishr]

Thank you for the info

Made late 1926, with 10,790 made that year.
The only place the info I have is available, is in Larry and Bert's last book, titled The Red Book of Winchester Values, 2nd Edition, 2011, and I believe it's sold out.
Last I talked to Bert, a newer updated version was supposed to be in print by now, and he should be done with his book, a comprehensive study on the 1885 Winchester. If he got them into print on time, he should have copies for sale at the Reno Show in Nov., and Larry should have one or both for sale on the GB auctions.
I need to give him a call and yank his chain anyhow, so I'll ask about the books and post the info where they can be ordered direct in my original post.
If you need info to get a Cody letter on your gun, I'll post the info there too as soon as I dig it out.

I remember now that it was Nov. 1926 that I found so your info confirms that. I also have a remington 22 pump that was made in Oct of 26 both were my grandfathers.

[rb765]

Sorry it took so lon to get back to you. The pump is at my father in laws so it is kind of a pain to get to. It is a Remington Model 121. Not sure of the serial number but that will be forthcoming.

BTW, I just grabbed the other '94 from him (my son's great uncle Rae). It says it's a model 64 ser 201255 in 30-30 win with a 24" round bbl, no SR, but rounded buttstock. Bluing is gone on the receiver and magazine, but 80% or better on the barrel. The gun was left in the truck of a 55 chevy for many years so the finish melted on it. I just picked up some stripper and will be refinishing it probably this week.

[TRAP55]

rb, there was less than 67,000 Model 64's made, and they do bring a premium. I would have it evaluated by someone like Bert before I touched it, if I were you.
BTW, it was made in late 1903.

[rb765]

Thanks for that info. Can you send me information on how to get a hold of Mr Hartman?

[TRAP55]

RB,
Bert Hartman at Win1885@msn.com
Make sure "WINCHESTER" is in the subject line, and tell him Trap sent ya.
We're always at the spring and fall Reno show, next one is Nov 16, 17 & 18 .

http://www.bigrenoshow.com/

Good place to find a buttstock for that SRC!

[rb765]

Here are my results from Mr Hartman. He called my rifle a "Frankenchester". It turns out the receiver was made in 1904, but the barrel was made in the 50's. He also said to go ahead and refinish it because I could not hurt the value of it (wait, did he just call this rifle a POS?).

I also learned that my great uncles '94 had gum stocks on it, which is going to make it even harder to find that darn stock. Too bad uncle Ray's did not have the right stock or it would be sacrificed. One more replaced body part on Frankenchester wont hurt it.

Thanks again for hooking me up with Mr Hartman.

[rb765]

BTW, here are some picks of Frank





The last pic really shows the difference between the parts.

[TRAP55]

(wait, did he just call this rifle a POS?)

Probably, but he does it with such finesse.
That's one thing about Bert, he gives you a straight forward honest answer, no matter how bad it hurts. Did he tell you if the barrel was a Winchester installed barrel, Bubba take-off and installed, or a mail order barrel?
And did he give you any leads on a buttstock?
Wait, I'm using his data to get 1903, and now he says 1904?