Topic: Any one know about old rifles?

[Shenanigans]

I got a Winchester 30 30 rifle. I am not sure of the year other than way way before 64', maybe even pre 1900. Anyways I know the history of it and all that but can not for the life of me find any reference on why there are coins embedded in the side. There is a large coin (silver dollar maybe) embedded in the wood of the stock and three coins about where the front hand holds the gun in the wood.

Why? I know its stupid but its driving me crazy. I probably looked over the reason somewhere in haste but its freaking bugging me and I need to know.

What purpose do they serve, if any?

[Grumpol]

like this

no real information but fount it at
http://www.auctionsandservices.com/cgi-bin/auctions.cgi?status=detail&detail=83&header=past

[Shenanigans]

Yeah just like that only with a silver coin. Where the hand stock is also has 3 coins but none of the "special addition" rifles match the description of mine. It has a rather bland finish and its not gold nor does it have any fancy engraving or such.

[Uncle Ernie]

My next door neighbor is an expert on old guns.  Can you borrow a friend's camera and post a picture?  Got a serial number at least?

[Shenanigans]

I'm not at the same house as the its in right now but I will get a photo as soon as I can. I would be interested in what he has to say.

[Demon67]

I had a buddy who's dad had a Krag with coins in the stock and when I asked him he said they were medallions not coins,that had been won in Norway at shooting competitions and they were proof that the rifle was a good one, maybe same thing.
Bill the demon.

[tramp]

can you verify the age somehow
the rifle looks to be in very good condition
might be a special edition
call winchester

[Rocking-M]

here is a quick tip,

If its pre-1964 you got something there! Turn it over, look at the lever, if there is a screw in the lever, its pre 64 and rare.....if not, fair market value is all I can tell you...

   

[bender01]

Metal butt stock too . The coin commemeratives started in the early 60s. I have the winchester book in front of me now. Theres alot of them. More details needed. Also they need to be unfired and new in the box to be of much value to a collector. Great news for deer poor for someone that likes shoting em.

[Shenanigans]

I'm starting to think that the coin was added later because I found a list of the commemorative additions and their details but it does not match any that I could find anyways.
 I will be over to where the rifle is later tonight so I will get all the details then.

[Shenanigans]

Pictures

After actually looking at it, it looks a lot later than I first thought.

[Rocking-M]

here ya go,

1949 ended with number 1,626,100.

1950 ended with number 1,724,295.

thought it would be nice to add this,

1963 ended with number 2,586,000. This was the end of the classic Winchesters made with hand-finished cast parts.

[Shenanigans]

So its a 1950 which of course means pre 64'  One mystery down.

Thanks for those numbers RockingM

[fuzzybutt]

Pictures

After actually looking at it, it looks a lot later than I first thought.

is that an orange tabby cat i see in picture 6?

[mark]

The special edition guns look like the one grumpol posted.

What y'all got yerself there is a piece o' gin-u-wine cowboy folk art!

There is probably a database of cattle brands somewhere that you might be able to track down where that J-D-Connected (or is it J-b ?) spread is located.

yippy-ki-yay!

 

[Shenanigans]

is that an orange tabby cat i see in picture 6?

Yeah, about 4 or 5 months old. I had to take the pictures a few times because he insisted on being in the way.

As for the rifle, it still shoots excellent. 

[bender01]

It looks like it was cared for and used. Keep it clean dry oiled and use it. Next time you see a recent lever  youll notice how smooth yours is. Way more enjoyable than one of those commemoratives.

[hoodellyhoo]

Sweet find there

My grandpa has an original winchester model 1892 (i think) that my  great grandfather bought for hunting. Even has the original whale bone sight (or so I'm told). He brought it to a gun shop for cleaning one time a few years ago and the owner told him he would trade him any gun in his shop for that winchester. Needless to say he declined.

[Shenanigans]

Sweet find there

My grandpa has an original winchester model 1892 (i think) that my  great grandfather bought for hunting. Even has the original whale bone sight (or so I'm told). He brought it to a gun shop for cleaning one time a few years ago and the owner told him he would trade him any gun in his shop for that winchester. Needless to say he declined.

I got it handed down to me, I don't think I would ever sell it either but I would like to know what I have.

Now if I only had a single action army I would almost be set.

[hoodellyhoo]

I hope to have that rifle handed down to me someday

[Terry in Australia]

You probably will mate, I've got my great, great, Grandfather's 1860 (ish) "Ward and Sons" English double barrel shotgun here, it's a great old gun in really good condition.

I've only used it once (black powder cartridges are hard to find here) but it was great fun, and everyone at the range (we took some other old guns with us) lined up to have a shot. brilliant! Cheers, Terry.

[cleveland]

You'll shoot you eye out!   

I have a model 94 in .44.  Sweet and kicks like a mule.  With them discontinuing those rifles, the value will only go up.  You may want to take a look at your home owners/Renter ins policy to be sure it covers a gun with a higher value.  I have to increase my policy because the standard policy only covers $2500. 

Keep an eye on gunbroker.com and auctionarms.com to get an idea of insurance value.  You can also post pics on gunboards.com and I bet you'll have all the info you need with-in a couple hours.  Gun nuts love showing off their knowledge on rare guns.

[Hope]

I just had to catalog my arsenal (my late dad's arsenal) for insurance purposes.  I was able to find many of the makes and models of the rifles by searching for the numbers on the rifles.  The internet was certainly my friend in helping me identify my father's old wares.