Have an Old Winchester?

[TRAP55]

Got a Winchester model 88 .308 #983XX. Thinking of selling, and the info I have shows 1959 DOM. Any change in this info?
Thanks!!!

Made mid 1960, 18,378 made that year.

[emcon5]

One I forgot about.

1911 SL 12 gauge (strangest shotgun design I have ever seen) S/N 598xx

Thanks in advance

[IntoForever]

I got 1897 on that, so it would be safe to say, they were serial numbered different. I'll check with Bert and see what he has on that, and get back to you.

Following up to see if you found out anything further.

[TRAP55]

One I forgot about.

1911 SL 12 gauge (strangest shotgun design I have ever seen) S/N 598xx

Thanks in advance

Made 1911 to 1925, with 82,744 made.....and no reliable serial number data.

[TRAP55]

Following up to see if you found out anything further.

Not yet, haven't had a chance to talk to Bert, his real job is working on Navy submarine computers, and I'm driving truck 12hrs a day, so it's kinda hard for the two of us to make contact. I will soon though, and let you know.

[jigenax]

Hi Trap,

I have a 12 ga. 1897 with 2 serials. One is one the receiver and the other is one the barrel band(?).

The receiver is "3971xx" with a "D" above it.

The other is "6523xx" with no letters.

Enjoy the pic!

[TRAP55]

Hi Trap,

I have a 12 ga. 1897 with 2 serials. One is one the receiver and the other is one the barrel band(?).

The receiver is "3971xx" with a "D" above it.

The other is "6523xx" with no letters.

Enjoy the pic!

Receiver number 3971xx was made in late 1907

Take down barrel and mag assembly 6523xx made in 1917

Makes you wonder what happen to the two halves of the other two guns?

[jigenax]

Receiver number 3971xx was made in late 1907

Take down barrel and mag assembly 6523xx made in 1917

Makes you wonder what happen to the two halves of the other two guns?

Wow! 10 years apart? Yeah, never heard what happened to their respective halves. The FFL01 I bought it from said it came from an estate sale. It was one of those sales where none of the heirs knew about "Grampa's old guns" but I'm happy with it.

The unknown history kinda gives it some mystique to it. I can easily imagine the 97 was pressed into service for "The Great War" and during a bloody battle, suffered severe damage from a 8 mm round. During a lull in the fighting, the 97 was repaired by an armorer in the most field expedient way possible. Salvaging another serviceable barrel and mag assembly so it can return to the trenches and eventually returning home.

Or... the original owner was out hunting, dropped the 97 barrel first into the ground, resulting in a clogged barrel. Then in a split second, game appeared and the owner instantly reacted by aiming and pulling the trigger... which caused the barrel to banana peel....

So even though I'll never know what happened, it'll be amusing to think up what could have happened.

[jrr]

Hey there.. hoping you can help me out with my WInchester. I had the date at 1899-1901, but I'd like to know for sure.

Winchester 1897 takedown: serial 116821 C

Thanks for your help!

[TRAP55]

Hey there.. hoping you can help me out with my WInchester. I had the date at 1899-1901, but I'd like to know for sure.

Winchester 1897 takedown: serial 116821 C

Thanks for your help!

Made in mid 1900, with 31641 made that year.

[TRAP55]

Some notes on the 1893/1897 Winchester shotguns.
Serial numbers for the 1897's were a continuation of the 1893 serial numbers.
The 1897 started with serial # 32,909, and ended with #46,190 in 1897.

The Model 1893 was manufactured with a rolled (fluid) steel barrel as standard. 3-blade and 4-blade Damascus steel barrels were a special order item only. It was the combination of its shorter 2-5/8" chamber, and being designed for black powder pressure levels that was its down fall. Winchester never formally "recalled" it, but they did offer to replace them with a new Model 1897 if the owner wished.

Bert has been surveying the 1893 for a number of years now, and thus far he has found (110) of them. In his review of the historical records (at the Cody Firearms Museum research office), there were only a few thousand of them that were returned and replaced with a Model 1897.
The very last 1897 was made in 1957, the only one made that year,
serial # 1,024,701

[freonr22]

What an awesome resource!

[shovel80]

hey Trap...I've got a model 1894 ser.# 929663....I'm wondering if there is a way to check if the options on this "Short Rifle" are from the factory..

Thanks, Terry

[coyotebait]

Hey Trap, whatcha got on this one?
Winchester model 1887 Serial# 53013

[TRAP55]

hey Trap...I've got a model 1894 ser.# 929663....I'm wondering if there is a way to check if the options on this "Short Rifle" are from the factory..

Thanks, Terry

Terry, that one was made early 1921, big drop in production that year, to only 8928 made. A Cody letter will tell the options, and if it went back for any others or repairs. How long is the barrel, and can you post a pic?
I'm not sure if Bert has wrapped up his Model 1894 survey for the new book yet, but I'm sure he would be interested in yours.