# 14556 - Iver Johnson Revolver Value
10/30/2012

Owlshead on Bakelite(/?/)grips This small frame 'pocket pistol' is very rough, does it still have any value?? NRA since '78

Answer:
I am always glad to be of assistance to fellow NRA members, but in this case I am afraid that I have bad news. Generally these were basic inexpensive simple guns which sold at modest prices and still have little interest or value on the market today. On the retail market they usually sell in the $25-75 range depending on condition and general appearance for use as a "wall hanger" over a fireplace. Where there is any family history, we encourage people to keep these old guns for sentimental value. Please be warned that this revolver may be unsafe to fire. If there is no sentimental value attached you may want to wait until the next gun buy back program in your local area and put your revolver to good use by lowering the monetary reserves of the anti gun fanatics. Make sure they pay you in cash don't accept coupons for merchandise. Marc

# 14519 - Books For Gun Collection Serial Number Research
10/30/2012
Don

I would greatly appreciate recommendations for purchasing books that will allow me to research my collection of old guns. I got lucky and a dear old friend left me his collection of shotguns and rifles. Recommended websites would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help. Sincerely, Don

Answer:
Don- Congratulations on your new gun collection! You may find some correlation between serial number and date of manufacture, but I don't think you will find anything else related to a specific serial number as far as history. A rare exception would be a few U.S. military arms, but even those are very few and far between. Winchester and Colt do have some "factory letter information" but at a steep price and usually little more than date of shipment and original configuration.

If these guns are mainly guns made before about 1945 your best bet would be “Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms and Their Values”. That is excellent on history and identification as well as values.

The “Blue Book of Gun Values” is okay for values and has some very basic identification and history information and is best on newer guns, mainly after about 1890. It does have some date by serial number information in the back for some of the more popular models.

There are websites by (or about) various gun making companies that often have good info. Remington is very good, and some other brands as well. Google is your friend. There are numerous forums where you can ask questions and get answers from experts in the field. But be aware that any "know it all" can post anything they like which may or may not be accurate, so choose who to believe very carefully.

I would recommend you start a loose leaf notebook with a separate page for each gun with make model, serial number and caliber/gauge at the top, then add other info you want to keep about it. I would assign an inventory number to each gun, and mark that on the information sheet, along with putting a tag of some sort on the gun with that number. You can also do the list in a digital format, and add photos. It is good to have a list like this for insurance purposes in case of loss by fire or theft.

You probably should consider getting insurance to cover these, as most homeowner policies have very limited and hard to collect limits on guns. We strongly recommend Collectibles Insurance Services http://www.collectinsure.com for excellent no hassle coverage at good rates. There is also some gun insurance automatically included with (and higher coverage available) a NRA membership.

And, guns are much more fun if they are shot occasionally, so as long as you (or a competent gunsmith) are sure they are safe to shoot, you might as well enjoy them. John Spangler

# 14518 - WW2 Ammo Recovered From The Ocean
10/27/2012
Matt

I’m a diver living in Malta, I’ve come across a load of WW 2 bullets from a rifle or something, about 200 dropped in a box and over 70 yrs they formed coral all round them and "grew" together, I pulled one of and rubbed it down with wet and dry sandpaper to revel the 1942 date on them and the metal is in good condition. are these worth anything? Can you give me some advice. Thanks for your time.

Answer:
Matt- Undoubtedly these are relics from the fighting in the area in WW2. Possibly a box of ammunition for a machine gun originally in a belt or metal links, or maybe ammo for rifles packed in boxes or in bandoleers.

These probably have some local historical interest, but as far as any real value, I don't think it would be much more than the value as scrap metal-- but scrap dealers are probably nervous about messing with old ammunition. There is no easy way to ship them, so they do not have much value as something to be sold other than locally. Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 14558 - Winchester .32 Handgun.
10/27/2012
Sam, Jackson TN

How do I find out the age and or value of this handgun?

Answer:
Sam, the only handgun that I know of that Winchester ever manufactured was a single shot .22 caliber pistol. Your revolver (I am guessing that it is a revolver) is not a Winchester, the marking that you mention (probably '32 Winchester CTG', not 'DTG) is there to indicate the caliber, it is not a brand. Marc

# 14555 - Gesichert Luger?
10/23/2012

S/42 on top of slide I have this 1941 Luger with three stamps on the right side and an s/42 on the top I have done some research but can't find the s/42 mark any info would help with finding out what the worth could be

Answer:
Gesichert is the German word for safe, not the manufacturer of your Luger. This pistol is designed so that the word Gesichert is visible when the safety is in the on position, thus indicating that the safety is turned on and the pistol is "safe".

S/42 was a WW-II German ordnance code assigned to Mauser-Werke AG, Oberndorff am Neckar, Germany. It is found on Mauser manufactured Lugers that are dated from 1936 to 1939.

Lugers with the S/42 code should also have the following markings:

• The serial number: stamped on the forward left side of the receiver, upper front of the frame, beneath the rear of the barrel, and on the base of the magazine.
  • The last two digits of the serial number should be stamped on most of the small parts.
• S/42 stamped on the forward toggle:
• The four digit year of manufacture-1936 through 1939 on the Receiver-above the chamber: .
• The word GELADEN, meaning loaded and visible when a cartridge is in the chamber stamped on the left side of the extractor.
• The bore size stamped beneath the rear of the barrel. This will be either 8.80, 8.81, 8.82, 8.83, or 8.84 millimeters.
• Eagle over 63 military acceptance stamp stamped twice on the forward right side of the receiver, once on the top left side of the barrel one half inch from the receiver, and once on the base of the magazine.
• Eagle, or eagle over swastika in a circle military test proof stamped on the forward right side of the receiver, the left side of the breech block, and the rear right side of the barrel.

Hope this helps, Marc

# 14517 - Old “ARCOA” Revolver
10/23/2012

I have a seven shot revolver that i would like to find out some info on it. It is a 22 cal. the stamp on the side reads ARCOA NASHVILLE TENN MADE IN USA serial number is on the bottum of the grip 000970 any info would be great.

Answer:
Sir- About all I could find out is that one sold on an auction site in 2004 for a whopping $17.61. In my opinion they paid too much. John Spangler

# 14528 - Early Model 1894
10/20/2012
Art, Marietta GA

It has a small crack behind the hammer. The rest is in very good shape. I k now that it was manufactured in 1895. I have owned it for 47 yrs. I would like to know it's value.

Answer:
Art, is the crack that you mention in the wood or in the metal tang? If the crack is in the wood, it is not that big of an issue, but a crack in the metal is another story.

The Model 1894 Winchester has the distinction of being the world's most popular rifle. My references indicate that the date of manufacture for serial number 55750 is 1895 so you have an early model. Early 1894 Winchesters have good demand on the collector market, values range from around $800 to well over $5000 depending on condition and special features. Marc

# 14516 - 105mm Howitzer Shell Case
10/20/2012

I have a huge shell from something and i don't know what is is. I know the year is 1960. On the bottom of the shell it reads: amm lot ls-59-1 cartridge m60e1 and it also reads how m2a1 m2a2nm103 m137 m49 dualgran. In a different engraved area it says 105 mm m14 lot IVI-2-26 and the year 1960. What is this shell from, maybe some type of aircraft used in a war?

Answer:
Your shell case is from a U.S. 105mm Howitzer. It was made in 1960 by IVI (Sorry, don't know the full company name, but they are one of the main U.S contractors).

It was loaded at the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant with a M60 smoke projectile. It could be used in any of the various U.S. 105mm howitzers, from the WW2 era M2A1 up to the newer models listed. With some minor modifications the same case was used in the 105mm gun in the USAF AC-130 gunships. We sell the 105mm brass cases on our heavy ordnance catalog page, with prices varying with condition and date. Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 14508 - Winchester Model 62 Info.
10/16/2012
Cody, Texarkana, Texas

I have a Winchester model 62 .22 S,L,LR pump rifle and I am trying to find out the year it was built. Its forearm pump is about 6`` in length with 10 grooves in it. It is in near perfect condition and its serial number is 55750A

Answer:
Cody my references indicate that the date of manufacture for 55750 is 1937. (I found that out by looking it up in our link over on the left side of the page, way down at the bottom for checking dates of manufacture for Winchesters.) In l890, Winchester announced the Model 1890 slide action repeating rifle. Model 1890 rifles were individually chambered for each type of .22 caliber rim fire cartridges, they could not use 22 Short, 22 Long, and 22 Long Rifle cartridges interchangeably. The Model 1890 had a visible hammer, a tubular magazine, and a 24-inch octagon shape barrel, it became the most famous rim fire repeater ever made by Winchester and for many years it was generally accepted as the standard arm for shooting-gallery use.

In 1932 Winchester revamped the Model 1890, using essentially the same action but with several modern features added which included a shotgun type of butt stock, an increase in the magazine capacity, a round, tapered 23-inch barrel and most importantly, a change in the rifling, chambering, and feeding mechanism to allow the use of 22 Short, 22 Long, and 22 Long Rifle cartridges interchangeably.

The Model 62 rifle was first listed in the June 21, 1932, price list and factory records show that the first delivery of Model 62 rifles to warehouse stock was made in April 1932. The Model 62 was discontinued in 1958 after about 409,475 were manufactured. Marc

# 14514 - Old Triple Barrel Shotgun And Rifle
10/16/2012

I have a C. A. Fischer & Sohn triple barrel shotgun rifle combo.. I'm told it was a Swiss or German made.. It has several markings on it but can't find information on where it came from or the value of it. Can you help point me in the right direction?? Thank you in advance.

Answer:
Sir- These three barrel guns usually are described by the German term for a three barrel gun, a “drilling.” It is almost certainly a souvenir brought home from Germany after WW2 by a returning service man. These are usually fine quality arms, but in European calibers for which ammo is hard to find, so shooters have little interest in them. I see them at gun shows priced at $500 up with most seeming to sell around $800-1500, more with a telescope. Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 14513 - Frankford Arsenal 1900 Cal.30 O. M. L Bullet Mold
10/14/2012

My son has the above item. It makes 5 (five) shots. The only other marking is "50" marked on the inside on brass part. Mold has 2 wood handles, press part is brass and about 9" long. It looks in perfect condition. If you could give me any information or value I would appreciate it.

Answer:
Sir- You have a bullet mold for casting .30 caliber round balls. It was made at Frankford Arsenal in 1900, and inspected by someone with the initials O.M.L.

These were used for "gallery practice" on indoor ranges in National Guard armories. There was a special set of tool issued to deprime and reprime fired cases, and to measure a small powder charge and then the round ball would be pressed into the front of the cartridge case. This allowed a lot of very inexpensive target practice for soldiers. About 1905 the Army switched to using .22 caliber rifles for gallery practice, so the molds and local reloading of ammunition was no longer required after that. John Spangler

# 14554 - J. C. Higgins Single Shot Value
10/14/2012
Jim, Gregory, Mi.

single shot. What is the estimated value?

Answer:
Jim, sorry to say that this is an easy one, I don't even have to know condition, markings or other details that we usually ask for when estimating a price. There is little or no collector interest in firearms marketed under the J. C. Higgins name. Value for a single shot 22 J. C. Higgins rifle would top out at around $50.00. Marc

# 14551 - Marlin Model 19 DOM
10/9/2012
Bud, Morristown, Tn USA

Last Pat`D May 19,1908 When was this fire arm made?

Answer:
Bud, the Marlin Model 19 was an improved and lightened version of their earlier Model 1898 with a matte top surface on barrel. Marlin manufactured the Model 19 in 1906 and 1907. Marc

# 14421 - Marlin Model 1881 Rifle Parts
10/9/2012
Paul, Elko, NV

Pat date February 7, 1865, re-issue Nov. 9, 1880 lever action It is in fair shape, however the spring steel that operates the trigger the tip of it is broken, any chance to replace that part? Also what ammo would be used today, It just says 40 cal on the barrel. Thanks

Answer:
Paul- Based on the patent date markings, we can tell that your rifle is the Model 1881, one of about 20,000 made circa 1881-1892. Standard barrel length (measured from the muzzle to the face of the closed breech) is 24 inches and they were usually round, although octagon barrels were available on special order. These were offered in .32-40, .38-55, .40-60, .45-70 and .45-85 caliber. Therefore yours must be the .40-60 caliber. Note that Both Winchester and Marlin had competing .40-60 calibers, which were NOT the same thing with different names, but actually different cartridges. And, just to add to your shooting confusion, there is also a .40-60 Maynard which is not related to either the Winchester or the Marlin cartridges. .

As far as the trigger spring, I do not know of a source, but have never really looked for Marlin parts, and do not know if this part might be common to most of the lever action Marlins, or if it is peculiar to the Model 1881 alone. Any competent gunsmith should be able to make one for you. John Spangler

# 14419 - American Guardian 1878 With Folding Trigger
10/6/2012
Ron ,Bethlehem Pa.18015

the weapon is not a pinfire what calibers did the manufacture make in non pinfire ?

Answer:
Ron- Sorry, we have no information at all on that one. John Spangler

# 14525 - Vest Pocket Vs Pocket Handgun
10/6/2012
Belgium

.22L stamped on the barrel and bone colored original grips Where can specific documentation be secured? Long Rifle ammo is too long and does not fit the magazine but, .22 Longs fit the 6- round magazine perfectly. Is history and/or documentation available on this pistol? I believe all the Meliors were the pocket pistol type but, this one is smaller. The magazine hold only 6 rounds, not 8 like the others. I think it was manufactured and sold as a Vest Pocket model. Am I correct in this conclusion?

Answer:
According to Wikipedia, "pocket pistol" is an American term for any small, pocket-sized semi-automatic pistol or any other handgun (e.g., derringer, or small revolver) of (most commonly) small caliber, suitable for concealed carry in either a front or rear pocket of a pair of trousers, or in an exterior coat pocket. Some consider the term solely applicable to hammerless handguns that are striker-fired in semi- automatic blowback configurations. However, with the advent of newer and smaller double action only (DAO) semi-automatic pistol designs, some locked breech concealed-hammer pistol designs are now also called pocket pistols. I have never heard of a differentiation between pocket pistols and vest pocket pistols with the vest pocket being smaller of the two, I have always thought the terms were interchangeable.

The Melior name was first used on a pistol in 1907 by the Robar company of Liege, Belgium. The Robar Melior was a copy of the "Jieffeco" pistol which was manufactured by Jannsen Fils et Cie. In 1920, a totally new design was introduced as the "New Model Melior". The New Model Melior was first offered in 6.35mm and 7.65mm calibers and later in .22LR and a 9mm short all of which used the basic framework of the original 7.65mm model. Melior pistols sold steadily, from their introduction to the 1950s, and were exported all over the world. Marc

# 14550 - Spotlight Item Description
10/2/2012
Dale Idaho Falls, ID

You recently (probably May through August 2012) time frame had a spotlight firearm which I recall you described as a Spanish contract French revolver and holster brought home from Romania after World War I. I tried using your search engine on your catalog section and can't come up with it and I'm guessing the gun was sold. I was trying to see the photo and the description if it is still available or if I am not crazy (that latter a strong possibility). Thanks for any help you can give.

Answer:
Dale, that item was sold so we deleted the picture and description. Here is the description, hope that this helps. Marc

SCARCE WW1 ROMANIAN MODEL 1915 BAYARD REVOLVER MADE IN SPAIN- WITH HOLSTER- IDENTIFIED TO U.S. OFFICER

- Serial number 45 (probably actually an assembly number). Probably made by one of the firms in Eibar, Spain. Reportedly 75,088 of these were delivered to Romania between July 1916 and December 1917, all in 8mm Lebel caliber. Romania was on the Allied side during WW1, until the signed a separate peace treaty with the Germans in March 1918. Romania was located between Austria and Russia, and while this was a minor part of the war, they kept large numbers of Germans tied up there instead of fighting on the western front. The major Allied powers worked to support the Romanians with arms and also humanitarian support. All the allies were struggling to find enough arms for their own troops, and France ended up contracting for many arms from Spanish makers for their own forces. The French may or may not have been directly involved in ordering these pistols from Spain, but they were deeply involved with nearly all the Spanish arms makers.

This pistol is a copy of the “Model Perfectionne” made by Henri Pieper & Company in Liege, shown in Zhuk’s “Illustrated Encyclopedia of Handguns” as item 278. It is in 8mm Lebel caliber as marked on the left side of the frame. The topstrap is marked M.a. 1915, and the letter S is exposed when the safety is applied. The number 45 is stamped on the bottom of the barrel, crane, cylinder face and ejector star. A intertwined CR is stamped on the top of the barrel, but there are no other legible markings, or positive ID of the maker.

A nearly identical revolver, but much better made and engraved and gold plated is in the Romanian National Museum noted as belonging to Romanian King Ferdinand from the WW1 era.

For much more discussion about this enigmatic model see the following websites: http://www.cimec.ro/scripts/PCN/Clasate/Detaliu.asp?k=243E89A6BB664DD39120152636D2E72C http://forums.gunboards.com/archive/index.php/t-133049.html http://luger.gunboards.com/archive/index.php/t-21428.html

This gun was carried by an American doctor, Lieutenant William John Kucera, working with the Red Cross in Romania on December 10, 1917. [Kucera was born 16 April 1889 in Hutchinson, MN, son of an immigrant from Prague, Austria, now the Czech Republic. The family had no real information on his service or the history of the gun beyond that. It comes with a holster that has always been with the gun, marked in ink on the inside of the flap: “Dec. 10, 1917, Lieut W.J. Kucera, 1917, Roumania.” It was probably made for a Steyr Hahn (also used by Romania), not this model, but works well enough, and we want to see the holster and revolver stay together to preserve the history.

The gun retains about 90-95% of the original blue and nice case colors and nicely checkered grips. There is some scratching on the side of the cylinder as if slid across a concrete floor or something, but otherwise pretty much just normal wear. Excellent bore. A scarce gun looking for a good home with a collector who will appreciate the gun and the interesting history. It is a Belgian commercial design, made in Spain, possibly under a French contract, delivered to Romania for military use, and used by an American Red Cross officer there.

# 14420 - Stock Marking O. G.
10/2/2012
Ron Card, Charlotte Court House, VA

The bolt # is, D28287 - 2SA (over) W10B. bbl # is, 2-8-A-9-43 un-circled ''P'' on bottom of pistol grip. Stock cartouche is a boxed, O.G. The only stock marking is a boxed, ''O.G.'' kindly explain what does this means? Barrel appears to be original to stock. Rifle is in like-new condition and stock wood matches perfectly. No imports marks anywhere!

Answer:
Ron- I suspect your rifle is in “like new condition” because it was arsenal overhauled and saw little use since then. O.G. is the overhaul mark used by Ogden Arsenal, located in John M. Browning’s old home town of Ogden, Utah, in the post-WW2 period. The OG mark may be found by itself, or followed by the initials of the inspector, most often OGEK for Ogden- Elmer Keith. .

One of the benefits, or curses, of the M1 Garand is that by simply pulling down the trigger guard and slipping the trigger housing assembly down you can remove the stock for cleaning, swapping for better color match, etc. Thus, in any setting where more than one Garand has been for any length of time, there is a chance, maybe even a probability, that the stocks on one or more rifles had been switched. In any case, it sounds like a nice rifle, correct as of the time it was overhauled, but definitely not as originally built as the -2 bolt is way too early for your serial number. John Spangler