# 5156 - K98 With "337" Marking
11/30/02
Australia

It has a date stamp on the receiver of 1940 & a build code of 337 what factory does the 337 code refer to .

Answer:
Your rifle was made by Gustloff after the company merged with the Berlin Suhl Waffenfabrik (BSW). Law's book lists about 133,000 with this marking, so it is one of the rarer markings on the Kar 98k. When the German army moved to letter codes Gustlof was given the code bcd. Marc

# 5086 - Bentz Musket
11/30/02
Elbert, Fayette, Mo.

Most of the parts have 58* & 77 markings. The but plate, trigger guard & plate on the left side are brass. The trigger guard has a fancy design of curves. The ramrod is iron. The barrel is made for a bayonet. The barrel has rifling almost straight back. It has been converted to percussion. Did have a sling. Where can I find information on where & when made & purpose.

Answer:
Elbert- This certainly sounds like an interesting gun, but we would need to see some photos. It could be really neat, or it might be one of the 20th century copies made up using surplus parts. This may be related to an Austrian maker named Bentz. Please send a photo. John Spangler

# 5080 - Mannlicher Schoenauer Rifle
11/30/02
Sameer, New Delhi, India.

Oesterr Waffenfarr Ges-Steyr I inherited this rifle from my grandfather and I would like to know something about the kind of performance to expect from it. Also what size of game is it capable of shooting. It appears to be in good condition. I do not have any ammunition for it presently but have located some 245 grain ammunition made by Kynoch U. K. I do not know if I measured the barrel the way it is supposed to be done but the length mentioned is it's total length till the chamber.

Answer:
Sameer- I am sorry we cannot help much on this one. We have a link on our links page to a site where they know all about Mannlicher Schoenauers. I just know they are nice rifles. They were made in many calibers, and you should have a gunsmith be sure that the ammunition you found is correct for this rifle. Using the wrong ammunition could be dangerous to the rifle and/or shooter. John Spangler

# 5084 - Mannlicher Schoenauer Rifle
11/30/02
Patty, Aberdeen, SD

Double trigger, stamped date of 9/26 (? )on the rifle. European rifle. I have not been able to find any information for this Austrian sporting rifle. I am looking for my Father. He obtained this rifle while he was in Europe during WWII. Is this a Mannlicher-Schoenaru rifle? With my limited knowledge of firearms, I think this is a rather large caliber rifle? I have found information on other Mannlicher-Schonearu rifles, but no information on this particular rifle type. Any information you could provide would be of help. Thank-you.

Answer:
Patty- We do not know any more about Mannlicher Schoenauer rifles than we did a little earlier when we were unable to help another visitor. John Spangler

# 5149 - P.38 From The South Pacific
11/26/02
Bob From Webb City Missouri

(cyq) only. No numbers after the cyq. Also a U is stamped on the side of the action and also just above the trigger. My father returned home from WWII with a Walther P38 pistol. It also had a holster that has long since rotted away. Since my father, a Marine, was only stationed in the South Pacific I've always wondered how he obtained this gun. He died when I was very young. It appears to be in good condition for it's age with only a few light blemishes that I'm sure could be removed with little effort. Although the sentimental value on this gun is priceless to me I've often wondered about it's value on the marketplace. Thank you, Bob

Answer:
Bob, I doubt if you'll ever know how a marine who only fought in the South Pacific ended up with a German P38. As you probably already know there were three makers of the P38 during World War II. These were Walther, who developed the design, Mauser, and a third group called Spreewerke. Spreewerke was the last to start making them sometime in late 1942. The other two followed the standard German practice of starting brand new serial numbers for each year of manufacture, but Spreewerke did not. I suspect that the U is part of the serial number. If so it means the pistol was made in late 1944. The Spreewerke pistols are always noted for the roughness of their final finish. Late 1944 Spreewerke pistols sell in the range of $300 to $600 depending on the amount of blue remaining, matching of numbers on the slide, frame, barrel, and barrel locking assembly. Marc

# 5074 - Stevens Maastricht Rifle
11/26/02
John B. , Oak Harbor WA.

The #50 is stamped on most parts of the action. 1873 stamped on the side of the barrel. Many parts of the bolt have the letter "Y" stamped on them. The gun would appear to hold 4-5 shells. I can see Maastricht stamped on the stock (hard to see). Metal butt plate. Any info would be great. I have had the gum many years in my gun case and know nothing about it!

Answer:
John- A lot of people see Stevens on these and assume it is connected with the familiar Stevens Arms Company of Chicopee, Mass, which later became part of Savage. However, this Stevens refers to the one in Maastricht, located in the Netherlands (Holland). The Rifle is a "Beaumont" which was made as a single shot rifle for Dutch military use. It uses a large black powder cartridge, the 11x52mmR, comparable in ballistics to other .43 and .45 caliber military cartridges of the 1870-1880 era. Later on, the Dutch decided they would like to have magazines on their rifles, so they modified the Beaumont rifles with the Vitalli magazine, just like the Italians did with their Vetterli rifles. The Beaumont-Vitalli is a very common item and we have answered several questions on them in the past. John Spangler

# 5078 - Big Long Heavy Percussion Musket
11/26/02
Todd, Albany, NY

On the barrel are three marks - an oval, an IW with a crown over it, and what appears to be an upside down nine. I am interested in finding out the origin and approximate age of a very large old gun that is in the family. The total length of the gun is 76 inches, and the barrel length is 60 inches. The barrel is sighted (sights are about 48 inches apart), does not appear to be rifled, and is tapered from 3/4 inch diameter at the muzzle to 1-3/8 inch at the hammer. The hammer is percussion. The only proof marks we can find are on the end of the barrel and are described above. The stock is not full length and extends about half the length of the gun, and the barrel is supported by an iron V-shape between the stock and barrel. The gun weighs about 11 pounds. Any help you can give me is greatly appreciated. I can email in a picture if it will help. Thanks.

Answer:
Todd- A photo would be a big help on this one. It sounds like it might be a "wall gun" or "rampart gun" that could be mounted on the wall of a fort, probably a very small fort, not worthy of cannons to defend it. The crown over IW sounds like it may be from a German speaking country. However, guesses made on sketchy information are probably worth about what this advice is costing you. Send a photo and we will try to make a positive ID, as it does sound like something neat. John Spangler

# 5090 - Winchester 1905 Value
11/23/02
Jim, Waynesville, Missouri

I know there were quite a number of these guns made. There were only a little over 7000 made in 1905. I got this gun from my Grandfather and Father. Not sure what it is actually worth. Have the magazine and even some of the specially made rounds for it. Interested in a ball park. Condition seems to be good.

Answer:
Jim,the Winchester Model 1905 semi automatic rifle fired a 35 caliber straight walled cartridge, not the Remington 35 bottle necked cartridge. The Winchester rifle uses a straight blow back system which cannot handle the higher pressure generated by the Remington 35 cartridge. Winchester made about 29,000 of these rifles between 1905 and 1920. Prices can vary from less than $200 to around $600. The percentage of original bluing remaining, the condition of the metal and wood and availability of an interested buyer will determine the actual value. Marc

# 5058 - WWII Inert U.S.Navy 1.10 Inch Round.
11/23/02
Art

I have a WWII inert U.S. Navy 1.10 inch round. The headstamp is marked 1942 with anchor and 75 Cal. The rifling band on the inert projectile has various markings along with 1.10 Is this correct, in other words. Is a 75 Cal. and the 1.10 inch the same. Or do I have a mis-matched case and projectile. Thank you, Art

Answer:
Art- U.S. Navy practice has been to designate ammunition for cannons (everything larger than small arms) in terms of bore diameter and "caliber". In Naval vocabulary, caliber is the length of the barrel expressed as measured by bore diameter. This is done as they often had many different guns of the same bore diameter, but different barrel lengths, and usually using different ammunition. For example, the 5 inch gun was made in at least three versions, the 5"/25 caliber, the 5"/38 caliber (main battery on most WW2 destroyers and secondary battery on cruisers and battleships), and the 5"/54 caliber (used on the Midway class carriers in a manually loaded version and later in "rapid fire" versions on DD 931 and later class destroyers.) Thus, the 1.10"/75 caliber markings are simply conforming to the naming practice in use at the time. These cases are probably the scarcest of the USN WW2 calibers, and we have only had a few in recent years. John Spangler

# 5059 - M1 Carbines For $1.00?
11/23/02
Don, Houston, Texas

Several years ago (about '91) while living in Virginia, I read an article in the paper about receiving M-1's from some type of government surplus for a dollar. An individual would have to complete a class about the M-1 and also demonstrate their competence in firing the rifle too. Last time I went looking for info on this subject, someone had told me there was a course somewhere given full-time. Have you or anyone else ever heard of this and where do I need to go?

Answer:
Don- Jeez, I was living in Virginia in 1991 and I missed out on that one. Probably an offer by the same folks selling Jeeps, new unassembled in the crates for $10.00. However, I suspect both fables are urban legends. There is a grain of truth in them, as the government does sell lots of surplus stuff, and if you go to enough of the surplus auctions and buy a huge pile of stuff, you may find a treasure. However, they have been very good (bad?) about separating guns and basically destroying all guns for about 20-30 years now. To keep the children safe, or some such nonsense. Wait til the shooting starts and then we will draft all the 18 year olds and try to teach them to be proficient marksmen with about 20 hours training and a few hundred rounds. Of course, if they get wounded and discharged before they are 21, they will not be able to buy a handgun to protect themselves or their family. But, I digress. Some government surplus guns ARE sold through the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). Check their website http://www.odcmp.com for details on who is eligible, and what is available and at what prices. In my opinion, they are all bargains, and the proceeds support the competitive marksmanship programs and also junior shooting programs. Just for the record, they do NOT have any M1 carbines, at any price. They DO have M1 Garands starting about $500 and some M1903s and a few odds and ends. They also pull out some of the more collector pieces and put them up for auction. The predecessor of the CMP program, known as the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) did sell some carbines about 1962 at $20.00 each (and all were sold in about a month). John Spangler

# 5206 - Info On Lt. Etieme Please
11/19/02
Nena

Do you still have the item with Lt. Etieme name on it? I also have an artifact of war that belonged to him and am in the process of trying to find out information on him and the war it came from. Please let me know. I would greatly appreciate any information you may have.

Answer:
Nena- That name will be found on several tens of thousands of rifles and bayonets, and several thousand pistols as well. It does not stand for Lieutenant Etienne, but is a misreading of the abbreviation for the French arsenal at Sant Etienne, Manufacture de Armes de St. Etienne. This arsenal was active from about the time of our Revolutionary War until the present day. This is a very common misconception. John Spangler

# 5166 - Mod 94 Value
11/19/02
Anthony Seattle WA

exceptionally clean for a 1950 bought it used. 90% Is this gun going to be worth anything in the near future? I love john Waynes big loop and the rifleman's big loop Winchesters I want to get one of these that will be worth something later what should I look for and what should I expect to pay and where do I find one?

Answer:
Anthony, my records indicate that your rifle was manufactured in 1949. The Winchester Model 1894 is a very popular design that is still in production today, more than 100 years after its introduction, over 4 million have been made. The current version has been modified to angle eject so a scope can be mounted, and a safety installed. The Blue Book of Gun Values gives values on Model 1894's made between 1940-1964 at $395 for one new in the box, depending on condition, yours will be worth less. By the way the large loop lever Winchester that John Wayne handles so well in movies is a Winchester Model 1892, not Model 1894. That model has increased in value faster than the 1894 due to the interest of cowboy action shooters. Marc

# 5215 - Springfield 50-70 Serial Numbers
11/19/02

I would like to know wear abouts do I find the serial number(s) on an old 50-70 Springfield rifle that I'm trying to do a check on? There's a couple of numbers on the rifle but I not sure which one is the right #.

Answer:
The problem is that while some of the 50-70 Springfields were serial numbered, most were not. The M1866 rifles were NOT numbered. The M1868 rifles WERE numbered (left side on both the barrel and receiver with numbers the same) and the same for the scarce M1869 cadet model and very rare M1868 carbines. The M1870 rifles were sometimes numbered, usually on the right side of the barrel and/or receiver. To further confuse things, a lot of 50-70s were sold to France and they often put numbers on them that are irrelevant to US serial numbers. They usually look a bit different and we could spot them easily, but unless you are familiar with how the US numbers look, they might be confusing. Hope this helps. John Spangler

# 5035 - Walther P-38 In 22 Caliber
11/15/02
Bill Edmonton Alberta Canada

Is this pistol rare or valuable?

Answer:
Walther manufactured P38's in 22 caliber after WWII. The Blue Book of Gun Values lists values from $225 to $775 depending on condition. Marc

# 5054 - 1831 Harpers Ferry Markings
11/15/02
C. Latham, Reading, MA

initials "VP" and an eagle are on the barrel. the initials "LV" are stamped into the wooden stock behind the trigger guard. What do the initials "VP" mean on the barrel? What do the initials that are stamped into the wooden stock mean? A unit, such as "Louisiana Volunteers" or a persons initials? Please respond the obl63@attbi.com

Answer:
Sir- The number 8 repeated on various parts were assembly numbers to that the handmade, hand fitted parts could be kept together until final assembly. Although there was some general degree of interchangeability of parts at the time (large hammer and file may be necessary) it was not until the Model 1841 Mississippi rifle and 1842 muskets that truly interchangeable parts verified by go-no go gauges were used in U.S. military longarms. (John H. Hall's breechloading rifles made from 1819 onward at Harpers Ferry were the first fully interchangeable, but they are sort of a special case. Springfield Armory and the Ordnance Department has been eager innovators (despite what a dismally off target hatchet job called "Misfire" might assert) and leaders in the movement for mass production, use of machine tools and achieving interchangeability. Harpers Ferry folks had exactly the opposite mindset, and opposed every step forward with all the inertia, sabotage and political intrigue they could muster. Merrit R. Smith's "Harpers Ferry and the New Technology" does a great job of covering that. The barrel markings of V and P indicate that it had passed a visual inspection (no cracks, thin spots, etc visible) and a proof firing with a large powder charge and heavy ball(s). This was a carry over from the old English practices, and the VP markings, or variations will be found on most American made arms. The LV markings are harder to identify. Martial arms usually have an inspectors "cartouche" often of two or three initials (usually in hard to read script) on the left side of the stock in an oval or rectangle. Smaller letters (about 1/8" or less high) near the trigger guard are usually a subinspector markings to show that the stock passed its inspections prior to delivery to the shop that assembled the complete rifle. In the cartridge era, after an arm was completely assembled, it would be Proof fired, and a large P (usually in a circle of square) would be stamped behind the trigger guard to show that the finished gun was tested. If your LV marks are large, then it may well stand for Louisiana Volunteers, but proving that it actually is a legitimate connection with any such group may be harder to prove. It may also show that Luigi Ventaluna used this for hunting rabbits, or the Lutheran Veterans had it for parades, or that some sleazeball dealer had a hard time selling it and "enhanced" the appeal with some sexy sounding new initials. I do know of some interesting old Civil war era muskets/rifle muskets that do have a connection with the Louisiana Militia during the Reconstruction period. Rival factions armed themselves and proceeded to try to seize/preserve power based on somewhat questionable election results. I think they avoided too much bloodshed, but it is another fascinating sidelight of history that arms collectors can encounter. John Spangler

# 5052 - Great Grampa's Bayonet
11/15/02
Mark

I inherited my Great Grandfather's "knife" from my Grandma. He died before I was born, but she is still alive. The only info she has is that he carried it on a daily basis in a homemade leather sheath (which she also gave me). It is obviously a bayonet, as it has an attachment area on the "top" side of the rear of the handle, and a release button on the side/rear. It has the letters "US" on one side of the blade, where the blade meets the handle, and "1903" or "1905" on the other side (I put it in my safety deposit box.... I can't remember what number it is, but it is defiantly one of those). The blade is around 6-10 inches long and has a groove running the length of it. I took it to a gun shop and the guy said it looked like possibly a foreign bayonet and he would give me $20 for it... I told him I was interested in the history of it, and I didn't want to sell it. I also pointed out the "US" and asked if he was sure it was foreign. He then looked it over again and said "probably an M1, cut down... they sometimes do that in surplus. Still only worth about $20".... He didn't get the point. Can you help me find out what this is, and possibly point me in the direction of where my Great Grampa may have acquired it? I can email pictures, if that would help, but I don't have any handy. Any info would help!

Answer:
Mark- This is one of many knives made from Model 1892 Krag bayonets. These are marked US on one side and a date (1894-1905) on the other. These were popular home workshop projects in the 1920s onward, when the bayonets were cheap surplus items readily available. They are made of excellent steel, and hold an edge quite well. Workmanship varies from crude to excellent. There is almost no collector value in these ($20 is about right) but the sentimental value is obviously much greater. John Spangler

# 5049 - Nickel Mauser Pistol
11/15/02
Jim Maumee, Ohio

Top of slide ahead of rear sight 1920 Behind Rear Site seems to be a crown, and U. This weapon appears to be silver plated as the inside of the slide is a white color as unpolished sliver would be. It has no Nazi markings. It is double action only and has a one piece wrap a round wood grip. All #s on the gun match. My uncle took this weapon from a German Prisoner of War during WWII. My aunt gave it to me upon his death. I am certain that it is one of the 1910 -1934 models but I do not know which. I also have the holster though the magazine pouch has been lost.

Answer:
Jim, your serial number dates the pistol to after World War I, the U marking is a proof mark. I would guess that the finish is nickel plating, not silver. It is highly doubtful that the nickel finish is original and this will lower the value of your pistol by 50% or more. The 1920 marking may mean the pistol was accepted into police service after Germany's defeat in 1918. Mauser did not stamp the date of manufacture on these pistols, but the date 1920 was used to indicate acceptance for police or military service of firearms. Marc

# 5046 - Sunken WWII Live Heavy Ordinance
11/12/02
Duke

On a recent scuba diving trip I found quite a bit of live heavy ordinance British ship from WWII. I would like to identify the pieces but do not know anyone who I can turn to for questions or photos. I do not want to disturb the pieces without some knowledge of the items.

Answer:
Duke- From stories I have read, there does not seem to be excessive danger from carefully (or even roughly) handling most such items. However, 50+ years of exposure and deterioration can cause unpredictable hazards, probably more so with exotic items which may now expose inner contents to air if removed from the water. (Pyrotechnics, white phosphorous, torpedo components, etc would be especially dangerous.) Fishermen dredge stuff up frequently, but then again, some fishing boats simply disappear without a trace. In my opinion, it is too much of a risk to mess with any unexploded ordnance items, especially if badly deteriorated. The EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) teams get extra hazardous duty pay for messing with this stuff, and it is best to let them earn it. John Spangler

# 5031 - Herters XK3 Rifle
11/12/02
Rodney, Amarillo, TX

Made in Yugoslavia What years were the XK3 rifles marketed by Herters?

Answer:
Rodney- Herters was a very interesting firm, active from about 1960 to 1979. They proclaimed themselves to be an old established maker of the world's best guns, ammo, duck calls, canoes, reloading gear, etc, etc, etc. Most of it was actually pretty good stuff, and very reasonably priced. However their guns never really caught on, and were apparently foreign made variations of established designs. I think that collecting Herters stuff would be a fascinating field, trying to find one of everything, or even just limited to gun related stuff. You could irritate several spouses with the amount of Herters stuff you would accumulate. I do not know the exact time period for the XK3 rifle, but since they worked for a relatively short period of time, it has to be in that narrow window. John Spangler

# 5022 - Walther PPK
11/12/02
Kim

a crown above an "N" both on the slide and the body This gun was in my 90 yr. old uncles possession. He was in Europe in WWII. Is this gun a German WWII weapon or of later manufacture?

Answer:
Kim, The crown over N is a proof mark. This marking was required by law in European countries, and meant the gun had survived pressure testing with a specially formulated cartridge designed to test the strength of the action. The crown over N proof was used by German commercial arms manufacturers until about 1940 when it was replaced by the Nazi eagle over N. The proof mark would indicate that your pistol was made before 1940. Many Walther pistols were sold to military officers, but many were also sold to private citizens so we cannot establish your pistol ever saw service in World War II.

# 5136 - Earley Model 1894
11/9/02
Mike, McBain, MI

I recently inherited this gun that has been in the family since it was bought in 1896. The gun is in good working order with moderate pitting on the exterior of the barrel. Originally it had a peep tang sight on it but that was removed and a rear blade sight put on and more recently a scope mounted to left of the receiver. Where can I get an original or modern copy of the peep tang sight? Also where I could get replacement screws that are currently affixing the scope mount to the top left side of the receiver(large one in front, two small ones in rear)? And also did Winchester put cuts in the barrel for a rear blade sight from the factory or was that put in by a gunsmith? Approx. value of this gun?

Answer:
Mike, my records indicate that your rifle was manufactured in 1894. The cuts in your barrel are normal, Winchester machined the dove tail (cuts) into barrels regardless of whether the rifle was equipped with a tang sight. A good place to locate a replacement tang sight is the Gunlist. Early Model 94 rifles like yours sell better than later models, the Blue book lists values between $350 and $2000 depending on condition. I have never understood why anyone would want to mount a scope on a 30-30. Unfortunately if your rifle was drilled and tapped for a scope any collector value the rifle may have had is ruined. Value is probably in the $250 range as a shooter. Marc

# 5021 - Model 1863 Musket SN&WTC For Massachusetts
11/9/02
Terry MacDougall, Stockton, CA

Left Stock has LWP and ESA Stamped. Right side behind hammer is stamped 1863. In front of hammer has an eagle with U. S. underneath. To the right is stamped S. N. & W. T. C. FOR MASSACHUSETTS. Gun has the three-leaf rear sight and has BD stencils behind trigger guard. What do all of the above stamps mean? Who manufactured the gun? Thank You

Answer:
Terry- While most Civil War units used arms provided by the federal government, some states provided arms, and in a few cases individual troops or units bought their own arms. Massachusetts has a long tradition of procuring rifles or muskets for their militia units back to the early 19th century. George Moller's "Massachusetts Military Shoulder Arms" is the definitive study on the subject. Anyway, more than a dozen contractors were busy making Model 1861 .58 caliber rifle muskets for delivery to the Ordnance Department. Massachusetts decided to procure a number of muskets as well, and according to various estimates ordered 3,000 or 11,000. Samuel Norris and William T. Clement got the contract, and not being handy with their hands had the guns made by various subcontractors. Surviving examples suggest that all were Model 1863 type 1 with clamping bands. However since they are 100% interchangeable parts, some SN&WTC lockplates have shown up on M1861, and they may or may not have been delivered that way. I don't know much about Clement, but believe he may have had political connections (probably equally valuable as arms making skill in getting a contract.) Samuel Norris was a more colorful character, and had a lot of experience in the arms industry. After the Civil War, he became Remington's salesman in Europe, peddling rolling blocks and other company designs. In his travels, he met Peter and Paul Mauser, who had just invented their basic bolt action design. Norris, an entrepreneur if not a loyal employee, promptly bought an interest in the Mauser's design. The other stamps on the stock (SWP and ESA) reflect inspector marks from Springfield Armory. Therefore, I suspect that the stock has been switched at some point. I have a fondness for SN&WTC muskets, since the first gun I bought for myself (in 8th grade at a cost of $12.00, but that was a LONG time ago) was one of them. It was a lot of fun to shoot, and I kept it for about 25 years. John Spangler

# 5028 - Sharps Carbine
11/9/02
Ron In Charlotte C. H. VA

What year was my original Sharps 1859 Carbine made, from the serial number, 73150 ? Thanks! thecards@kinex.net

Answer:
Ron- Franks Sellers "Sharps Firearms" would be an excellent place to check for just about anything dealing with any sort of Sharps, but I do not have my copy handy. However, I was able to determine that carbines in the 69,000 serial number range were in use in very late 1862, and those in the 70,000 range seem to start showing up in 1863, so I would think yours was made in late 1862 or early 1863. It may well have been carried by some Yankee through your front yard circa 1863-1865. John Spangler

# 5081 - Czech K98
11/6/02
Brad, Monroe, LA

Mod 98, dou45 on top of receiver. What is this, my brother recently inherited the gun

Answer:
Brad, the rifle was made for the German Army at the Waffen Werke (weapons factory) Brunn, Bystrica in Czechoslovakia in 1945. Since the Russians captured the factory in April the number of rifles manufactured by them in 1945 was small compared to earlier years ( Law in his book estimates abut 30,000). The caliber when the rifle left the factory was the standard German Army caliber 7.92x57. You didn't indicate whether the rifle still has the original blued finish, or if it is in correct military configuration, this impacts the value considerably. Many 98's have been sporterized and/or re-chambered since the war so it would be wise to a competent gunsmith check for correct caliber and safety before firing. Marc

# 5006 - Belgian .22 Bolt Action Rifle
11/6/02
Biff, Pasadena, MD

#49 stamped on all metal parts, stock unmarked I've acquired a boy's 22 single shot bolt action rifle that was made in Belgium. It has no markings other than "Belgium" stamped on the bottom of the barrel just forward of the forearm, proof marks (crown over a 'R', star over a capital 'A', an 'obelisk with a three stair base', "FL.22. L", and a 'crown' over an oval with 'E'-'L'-'G' and a 'star' in it stamped on the left side of the rear barrel area. The only other markings are the # 49 stamped on all the metal parts and the # C 345 stamped on the bottom rear of the action. It very closely resembles a Winchester Model 1900 boy's rifle. Can you shed an light on this gun? Other than 'Floberts' I can't find any info on boy's rifles made in Belgium. Thanks, Biff Jones

Answer:
Biff- The use of the word "BELGIUM" indicates it was marked to indicate the country of origin, required of new good imported in to the U.S. after 1898. It is uncertain if this was a cheap copy of the Winchester 1902, or if the Winchester Model 1902 was a low budget attempt to compete with the cheap Belgian imports. You might be able to find this model listed in an old Sears Roebuck (or other mail order) catalog circa 1900-1920. You may also be able to get your local library to get a copy of Jim Perkins "The Boys Rifle" on interlibrary loan for you. It is a superb reference (which someone should reprint) and I believe it has a little info on some of the rifles like yours. John Spangler

# 5007 - Prussian 1809 Musket
11/6/02
Neil, Dupo, IL

G & WP on the side of the barrel as well as 46 in the center of the barrel. Also under the barrel are a few marks a crown with a S under it as well as a crown with a H under it. also there is a small mark that looks like a flower or daisy. There are two marks that look like lower case R's in fancy cursive. There is a surrounded by a circle as well as what looks like a AD or HD and the crown with the s under it all this on the center barrel band. I am sure this is a Prussian musket however the only makers mark is the G & WP on the side of the barrel and a 46 in the center of the barrel. Who is G & WP and what does the 46 stand for? Any help is appreciated!

Answer:
Neil- You probably have made the right identification. The number is probably a unit or "rack" number of some sort. Unfortunately, there is hardly any good reference material for that field. The best I know of is in Frederick P. Todd et al "American Military Equipage 1851-1872. While focused on uniforms and accoutrements, it has an excellent section on the various arms imported by Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War. I suspect there may be some books in German on this field, but am not familiar with any. John Spangler

# 5057 - REV-O-NOC
11/2/02
Randy - Waynesboro, MS

Do you have any info on the REV-O-NOC brand? I traded an old truck for one but I have never heard of the brand before.

Answer:
Randy, a search at our new site - ArmsCollectors.com in the GUN MARKINGS section reveals that REV-O-NOC was a tradename used by Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett Company of Chicago, Illinois on shotguns made by Crescent Fire Arms Company. If you need more information about your shotgun you may want to enter a question in the Old Shotguns forum at ArmsCollectors. Good luck, Marc

# 4999 - Burnside Carbine Usage By 7th Ohio Volunteer Cav.
11/2/02
Gene, Springfield, VA

Can you tell me which model of the Burnside Carbine was carried by the 7th Ohio Volunteer Cav?

Answer:
Gene- As a history major, I never really had to know anything, and many folks will attest that is most fortunate. However, I had to know where to look for all sorts of information. In this case, the preferred primary source would be the handwritten reports "Quarterly Report of Ordnance Stores" submitted by the unit from the field to the paper shufflers at headquarters. Fortunately, many of these have been preserved in the National Archives for historians to use. Even more fortunately, some researchers have already dug through those records, so you and I don't have to. Frank Mallory has spent 25 years digging through such records and has found the exact serial numbers of 1,717 Burnsides issued to various units, including several companies (troops for the purists) of the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Perhaps the folks in the 7th were lazy or negligent about filling out their returns, or perhaps they got captured by the Confederates, or chewed up by rats in the record repository, but in any case no records have survived with any serial numbers from them. (Or perhaps they are misfiled in a box with quartermaster returns showing socks and tents issued for some other unit, and just awaiting some diligent researcher's efforts to be found.) Frederick P. Todd et al compiled a massive multi-volume set "American Military Arms and Equipage 1851-1872" which has a complete listing of all known units of that period (including Confederate) which usually notes date formed and disbanded, types of uniforms, and types of weapons. If you cannot find the info you need on either of these sources, then it gets tougher. Perhaps you can figure out if the 7th Ohio got weapons turned in by another unit, or if they were all issued at the same time, and thus likely to be the same model. In this case, the best I can tell you is that Todd et al confirm that the 7th had Burnsides in 1863 and 1864, same as the 3rd and 6th. The 4th and 5th Ohio reported having some in 1862, so they may have had an earlier version that the other regiments. Based on production quantities and dates, it is most likely that the 7th Ohio had what Flayderman calls the "Fourth Model (9B-045)" or the "Fifth Model (9B-046)". Since the Fifth Model had it own serial number range, it may be hard to distinguish for sure if the documented numbers available for the other regiments refer to that model, or an earlier type. John Spangler

# 5000 - Hoban .22 Rifle Like M1 Carbine
11/2/02
Chuck Onaway, MI

Says, Hoban Mfg Company Made in Salem, Michigan USA Looks like an m-1 carbine Where would I be able to find any information on this gun? How old is it? The history of the gun?

Answer:
Chuck- Congratulations on being question number 5,000. You win a FREE ANSWER! In this case, the answer is short and easy. We have answered this one before, so you just need to use the search tool at the top left of our site to check the Q&A section. We wish everyone would do that, so we can spend our time digging into obscure references, buying more books, and checking the internet for information to answer stuff we have not already answered. John Spangler