# 10705 - Appriasal Of Colt Walker Copy
2/26/2005
Bill, Fremont, In.

On top of barrel, Address Sam'l Colt New York City, On right side above wedge is US 1847. Serial number 16 is noted in four different places. I sent about 8-10 digital photos to G. Martin auctioneers/appraisers in California. They e-mailed me back and said they thought from looking at the photos that it was a ''Mariette Brevette'', a period reproduction. From the photos they said the walnut grips looked oversize, and the serial numbers were the wrong size and font. I purchased this at an estate auction last month. What I would like to know, if it is a Brevette period reproduction, who made it and what kind of money might it be worth? It is in good condition. If you know any way I could get a second opinion from a knowledgeable person, I would be grateful for any help you could give me. Bill

Answer:
Bill- Some people think highly of Greg Martin's operation, and others seem to think otherwise, as is the case with most auction operations. I do remember that well known dealers Richard Ellis and Mike Zomber were mentioned in conjunction with an alleged attempt to defraud a Pennsylvania collector on the purchase of two Colt Walkers for something over $2 million, so I would be very careful about who you deal with. [Note- this answer originally stated that Greg Martin was mentioned along with Ellis and Zomber, but in fact Greg Martin was not involved in the allegedly fraudulent transaction. Martin was quoted several times in a story on that case (Maine Antiques Digest http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/articles/mar03/colt0303.htm), and I did not correctly recall the context of his name being mentioned. Martin was clearly a source commenting on the guns involved, and not involved with the transaction. I apologize for not making this distinction clear.] We do not know enough about the very specialized field of Colt Walker revolvers to tell a real one from a fake, so we would not be qualified to comment on authenticity or value. Since you are talking about a gun that (if an authentic Colt) Flayderman values at over $30,000 in FAIR condition and over $100,000 in Very Good, you really should be willing to invest a few hundred dollars in a written appraisal from a qualified expert with an unblemished reputation. I know at a Texas gun show within the last couple of years they had a "Parade of Walkers" that was written up in one of the gun periodicals and that may suggest some people to talk to. If the auction where you purchased the gun was by one of the big gun places, you may be okay. If it was some local farmers' estate furniture, tractor and gun auction place you probably either found a sleeper at a real bargain, or paid through the nose for a fake that fooled the previous owner as well. My suspicion is that it is a fake, but that is without seeing any photos or knowing much about them. Hope I am wrong. John Spangler

# 10702 - Flintlock Pistol Marked GR And Crown
2/26/2005
David -Smithville Ga.

On the flintlock side there is a crown above two letters ''GR'' On the opposite side (on the barrel) is a symbol that resembles a ''S'' in the form of a circle, with 3 circles around it. Each circle is divided in six equal parts. At a glance it would look like the Japanese rising sun symbol. To the right of this is ''JAPAN'' and ''1411''. The overall length is 15 1/2''. Is this a reproduction and the approximate manufacture date. Thank you for any assistance you could be.

Answer:
David- Your pistol is a reproduction made sometime since about 1960. They have been made in Japan and Italy, and vary in quality from very nice to pretty crude. Values are very modest but they are decorative. If they are tuned up a bit they actually can be fired with accuracy (or lack thereof) about the same as the originals. You do get a very satisfying sequence of sparks from the frizzen, flashing from the pan, a "whoomp" sound and billows of smoke and eventually a "thunk" as the lead ball impacts somewhere downrange. (All guns should be checked by a competent gunsmith and you need to ensure that you are using the correct type and amount of ammunition or it could be deadly dangerous.) John Spangler

# 10541 - MAB Model C
2/26/2005
Rilley, Grandview, TN

Made in France for W.A.C. I am new with guns and would like to know history about this one and is it of any value.

Answer:
Rilley, it seems to be a common misconception that records are readily available to document the individual history of most firearms. The reality is that it is very uncommon to be able to find any useful historical information about a firearm. This kind of information is so scarce that many collectors are willing to pay a premium for firearms (especially military firearms) that have an interesting documented history. Factory research of a firearms individual history can cost several hundreds of dollars and the results are often disappointing.

Although I can not tell you about the individual history of your pistol, I can give you a little background about the model. You have a French M.A.B. (Manufacture d' Armes de Bayonne) Model C. The Model C was introduced in 1933. In typical French fashion, much of the Model C design was copied from the Browning 1910 and the grip is unusually deep from front to rear, which gives the pistol a typical French ungainly appearance.

The Model C was originally produced in the anemic French 7.65mm caliber, but later it was available in 9mm Short (.380). Model C slide markings vary (.380 or 9mm Short) depending upon whether the pistol was intended for export to the United States or for sale in Europe.

Collector interest and values for most French firearms is low. In my opinion this is due to the well-deserved French reputation for cowardliness and treachery. Also because many French firearms are unaesthetic, poorly designed copies of better weapons. The blue book lists MAB Model C values between $100 and about $200 depending on condition. Marc

# 10538 - Winchester 63 In Buenos Aires, Argentina
2/22/2005
Roberto, Buenos Aires, Argentina

I don't know much about firearms, just enjoy shooting, and what I got is this excellent rifle from my grandfather. Is spotless, almost brand new. Is working perfectly and I use every once in a while. I found that this rifle was probably made in 1933. How much can be worth? Can you tell me a bit more about it? Thanks.

Answer:
Roberto, you have a good rifle, the Winchester Model 63 was an improved version of the earlier Model 1903. The main improvement to the Model 63 was that it was chambered for 22LR rimfire cartridge instead of the hard to find .22 Winchester Automatic Cartridges like the 1903 was. The Model 63 was offered only in Winchesters 'sporting rifle' configuration with plain walnut stock and a 20 inch barrel. A 23 inch barrel was introduced in December 1934 and the shorter 20 inch barrel was discontinued in 1936. Early Model 63 rifles had a take-down screw locking catch, this was eliminated in December 1933 after a few thousand guns had been made. Post-1946 receivers were grooved to accept optical sight mounting bases. Winchester manufactured the Model 63 rifle from 1933 to 1958, total production was about 174,700. Values for Model 63 here in the USA range from about $200 to over $800 depending on condition. Marc

# 10537 - Spanish .25
2/22/2005
Doug

What is the value of this 1913 pistol?

Answer:
Doug, collector interest in most .25 caliber pistols is low, as is collector interest in many pistols that were manufactured in Spain. In this case, the combination of two negative factors equals a pistol that I would expect to see for sale at a gunshow in the in the $75.00 or less range. Some Spanish firearms have a reputation for being made with poor quality steel. I would advise you to have a gunsmith your pistol for safety if you intend to fire it. Marc

# 10701 - Engraved Whitneyville .22 Revolver
2/22/2005
Jim, Ft. Myers, FL

Whitneyville Armory, Patented May 23, 1871 on top of action, 7 shot, Pearl Handles, Fully engraved all over: Lady w/ breast out holding a bow in left hand and a arrow in the right hand on top of gun, man riding horse at gallop on left side, hunter sitting down on right side of gun. No trigger guard. Extractor pull out pin to remove cylinder. Appears larger than .22. With Serial #1 (bottom of grip butt) I haven't seen any other Whitneyville pistols on the web close to having the extensive engraving of this gun. May have been a special presentation that went to a dignitary or something. Any thoughts or where can I go to find out more about it?? Thanks, Jim

Answer:
Jim- That sounds like a great gun. The Whitneyville Armory revolvers were made circa 1871-1879 by descendents of old Eli Whitney, the cotton gin and interchangeable parts guy. (This is the same bunch of Whitneys who pretty much started the machine tool industry, with lathes, milling machines, etc, and eventually ended up in the jet engine business.) Since your revolver has seven chambers in the cylinder, it has to be one of the "Size/Model number 1" series. In the early days of cartridge arms there was some degree of uniformity among makers in adopting three basic rimfire calibers. Number 1 was what we call .22 rimfire now, starting off as the .22 short size case in 1857 and first used by Smith & Wesson. The .22 short used a 19 grain bullet and 4 grains of black powder. About 1871 the .22 long was introduced with 5 grains of black powder as a more powerful cartridge and about 1887 the .22 Long Rifle with five grains of blackpowder and a 40 grain bullet was introduced by Stevens. The Number 1 1/2 series of guns fires .32 rimfire cartridges and the Number 2 used a .38 caliber rimfire.

The Whiteny number 1 revolvers had brass frames and were nickel plated. Collectors recognize three variations based on the cylinder being without flutes (first type) with flutes (2nd and third types) and the length of the cylinder (longer on the 3rd than the 2nd.). Barrel length was normally 3.25 inches, and grips were offered in rosewood, hard rubber, ivory or pearl.

Normally, revolvers of this size were not candidates for fine engraving, as there were many larger guns with more room for artistic displays. However, it is possible that a manufacturer would lavish special treatment upon a gun intended as a gift to a benefactor, or potential investor. Or a purchaser could embellish one as a gift to a friend, mistress or spouse.

In classical mythology, Diana is the Goddess of the hunt, and often depicted carrying a bow, accompanied by hunting dogs, so it is a motif found on many guns, but usually larger sporting arms, not pocket pistols. The other scenes also sound like they are hunt related, so it may have been a gun intended as a backup weapon for a hunter (to finish off wounded bunny rabbits?). Maybe it was an engraving sampler from an artist sent to Whitney to show his work in hopes of landing a job there. Or, if it is actually serial number 1 (as opposed to an assembly or batch number) it may have received the deluxe treatment to be used as an exhibition piece or a sales sample.

Someone who is an expert on engravers may be able to identify the artist, and if a well known figure, the gun may have a lot of collector interest and value based on that alone. I believe that some Whitney records have survived and someone familiar with those archives may be able to research it further and identify the recipient. John Spangler

# 10693 - East India Company Brown Bess
2/19/2005
Marc ,Simi Valley, CA

this a question about the lock only. it has a 1799 marking. directly below that, there is a heart shape with what looks like the number '4' protruding from the top of the 4. The heart shape is dived into a quadrant, with an ''E'' and some other undistinguishable marks. The lock was acquired in Afghanistan in the 1960's. Is it English manufacture? thanks. this a question about the lock only. it has a 1799 marking. directly below that, there is a heart shape with what looks like the number '4' protruding from the top of the 4. The heart shape is dived into a quadrant, with an ''E'' and some other undistinguishable marks. The lock was acquired in Afghanistan in the 1960's. Is it English manufacture? thanks.

Answer:
Marc- Guns from Afghanistan may be authentic old pieces, or clever copies for the tourist trade. I suspect this is genuine. The heart shaped logo with the letters E I C is the mark of the British East India Company. They contracted for arms similar to the British military arms, but instead of the Royal cipher of the crown over the reigning monarch's initial (GR, etc) they used the company logo so everyone would be able to tell who the gun belonged to. The British East India Company (not to be confused with similar companies under Dutch or French flags) was established in 1600 to conduct trade, especially for spices, in the "east" such as Malaysia and China but eventually concentrating on the Indian subcontinent. By the end of the 18th century they had evolved from commercial ventures into more of a "nation building" role to establish a political and cultural climate where their trade would prosper and foreign interests could be excluded. The Company actually handled much of the colonizing of the British Empire, subduing restless natives, building towns and what we now would call "infrastructure", and just about everything short of actual military operations which they left to the Army. However, they often had paramilitary forces of settlers, or native police forces that needed arms.

The British conquest of India proceeded northward towards China but eventually bogged down in the mountainous wilds of what is now Afghanistan, as described in Rudyard Kipling's writings. In 1813 the East India Company's trade monopoly was withdrawn, and eventually the English government ran the empire, not the East India Company, and the Company was basically defunct about 1884. Eventually the natural yearning for freedom led to Indian Independence from England in 1948 although it took nearly a century of unrest to achieve. You have an interesting relic from a very historic period. John Spangler

# 10687 - Krag Carbine With M1903 Front Sight
2/19/2005
Tom

I have a 30/40 Krag, military rifle, in the carbine configuration, it has an 03 Springfield front sight, other than that it is in excellent condition. I have been told that the NRA sold some of these in the period 1920-35. Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciated.

Answer:
Tom- The NRA sold SOME rifles cut to carbine length so members in the 1920s. However, most of the Krags seen with M1903 type front sights are simply Krags that has worn out barrels which were replaced by barrels made from M1903 rifles. This was a very popular job for gunsmiths in the 1930s-1960s, and accounts for the origin of most such rifles. The gunsmith altered rifles have no collector value, and the NRA modified guns have a small number of collectors who will pay a premium for them over the gunsmith guns, but neither is any where near as valuable as a real Krag carbine. Sedgeley and W. Stokes Kirk (both of Philadelphia) advertised such conversions. I think that the books on Krags by both Frank Mallory and William Brophy have info on these. John Spangler

# 10536 - Scoremaster 511 P Information
2/19/2005
Guy, Charleston, SC

Manufactured in July 1940. Was my grandfathers. What might the value of these rifle be on the open market?

Answer:
Guy, Remington manufactured approximately 375,000 Model 511 Scoremaster rifles 1939 from to 1962. The Scoremaster was a repeating version of the earlier Model 510 Targetmaster single shot rifle with a detachable five-round box magazine. A spring-leaf and elevator rear sight was standard on Model 511 rifles, the 511P was identifiable because it had an aperture rear sight on the rear of the receiver and also blocks for telescopic sight mounts on the barrel. Values for Model 511P rifles range from about $50 to $200 depending on condition. Marc

# 10533 - Walther Model 2
2/15/2005
David

Left slide markings: Selbstlade Pistole Cal 6.35 Walther's Patent. Right slide markings: Carl Walther WAFFENFABR'K. Zelle St. Blasii. What model of Walther is this and when was it made? Plus approx. value?

Answer:
David, It sounds like you have a Walther Model 2, I am able to determine this because the Model 2 slide inscription reads 'Selbstlade Pistole Cal 6,35 Walther's Patent' while it was changed to "'Walther's Patent Cal 6,35' on later pistols. The Model 2 was introduced in 1909 and replaced by the Model 3 in 1913 but references are unclear as to whether Model 2 pistols were manufactured up until 1913 or only in 1909. The Model 2 design incorporated an all-enveloping slide with ejection slot on the right. The design also made use of a coaxial recoil spring around the 2.1-inch barrel retained by a muzzle bushing, and an internal hammer. Original Model 2 finish was blue and grips were hard rubber. Early Model 2 pistols had a pop-up rear sight, on later pistols a regular fixed type replaced the pop up site. Blue book values for Model 2 pistols ranges from $130 to over $500 depending on condition but it has been my experience that most 6.35 mm (25 caliber) pistols are difficult to sell for more much than $250 because of low demand. Marc

# 10520 - Engraved Luger
2/15/2005
Rich

K. HURST (maybe) under serial # on frame, What appears to be a script lower case i under serial number, N under crown on rt side of frame &˙toggle, GERMANY on rt front of frame (double strike on 'GER'). Some straw on parts but definitely a re-blue (very black), Beautifully and deeply engraved Considering the re-blue, the condition is excellent and the engraving is, beautiful. Could this gun be of any value.

Answer:
Richard, I am able to tell you a little about your Luger from the information that you provided.

The crown over "N" stamping is a proof found on DWM Lugers manufactured around 1914.

"GERMANY" is found on firearms that were imported into the United States for commercial sales in accordance with the McKinley Tariff Act of 1891. This act required the name of the country of origin to be on all items imported into the United States for commercial sale.

The "i" is part of the serial number. The arsenal would have started with serial number 1 on January 1, of the year the Luger was manufactured (possibly 1914), and continued until they reached number 9999. When they reached 9999, they would then have added the lower case letter "a" as a suffix, so the next number would be 1a. Your Luger's "i" suffix places it into the 10th block of numbers for the year that it was manufactured. The year of manufacture should be stamped over the chamber unless it was removed when the pistol was engraved.

The fact that pistol is engraved leads me to believe that "K. HURST" is possibly the previous owner for whom the Luger was engraved.

In this case the value of the Luger will depend on the quality of the engraving. Personally I do not appreciate engraved firearms but there are many people who do. Several years ago I sold a highly engraved Colt 1911 for $1200. The buyer was happy to get it that price, it sold fast and there were several other customers who also wanted it. Based on this experience, I would estimate the value of your Luger to be in the $1000 to $2000 range depending on the quality of engraving although the personalization (name) will hurt a little. Marc

# 10683 - Dueling Pistol Cases
2/15/2005
Phillip

Silver inlay Damascus twist. Says ''Damascus'' on barrel Where can I see the type of box that these would have been in when they were presented to my great grandfather?

Answer:
Phillip- Many of the large arms auction houses have excellent catalogs available on line, and many of them will include dueling pistols. The boxes are called a "case" so you should search for "cased dueling pistols" and that should turn up some. There are two basic styles for the interior of the cases. "English style" which would be appropriate for your pistols and the interior of the case is divided into sections by vertical dividers, much like a fishing tackle box, but of course made out of wood, and fitted at various lengths and angles so there is a place for the pistol(s) powder flask, bullet mould, rammer and wiping rods, cast gullet, percussion caps (or flints) and maybe a couple of tools. Each maker and each pistol layout was a bit different so there is no single exactly right way to lay it out. The "French cased" sets had the same sort of goodies, but instead of vertical dividers, they made the cases so that the items were set down into depressions and the surfaces covered with a fabric. (Sort of like pressing a marble into a piece of Styrofoam to make a place for it to fit.) Check out Julia's Auctions, Little John's, Rock Island, or Amoskeag. Most libraries have some books on guns (if the leftist politically correct crowd has not burned them all by now) and you can probably find some photos of cased dueling pistols in them. John Spangler

# 10682 - U.S Marked Colt 1860 Army
2/12/2005
John, New Ulm Minnesota USA

''US'' on trigger guard. I have made arrangements to purchase a Colt 1860 percussion pistol that I have been told is very likely an original ''US'' marked piece. The numbers are mis-matched; 78969 on the frame, 70440 on the barrel, 13476 with ''US'' on the trigger guard (and an ''H'' inspection mark), non-numbered or notched grip backstrap. The address on the barrel and the cylinder are barely visible (cylinder has no scene left). The gun is in fair condition; No finish on the barrel, slight color-case finish on frame, fair bluing on the grip backstrap. Very little rust or pitting present. The grips are in nice condition, but do have a few dings and small chips. Does this Colt sound like an authentic piece, and what is the approximate value of this pistol? I have also heard that ''US'' marked guns sell for more- What is the big deal? Thanks in advance! John

Answer:
John- Collectors need to remember that the U.S. government bought guns to fight wars, not to be kept safely stored away in pristine condition for the benefit of collectors four score or more years in the future. We collectors are a funny bunch, with various likes and dislikes, and when the herd mentality and supply and demand are factored in the values of certain guns become quite high, and others remain fairly low. Colt collectors are a separate species and I do not claim to comprehend what make them so excited about some guns, or pay so much for them. I guess the first place any collector should start is to learn all they can about the area they want to collect. That includes investing in some reference books and seeking advice and counsel from experienced collectors and ethical dealers. Probably the first book any beginning collector needs (note NEEDS!) is "Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms and their Values." We sell this on our books page for $31.00 postpaid in the U.S. or you can get one at your local bookstore for $34.95 plus tax. He has loads of good advice on Colts and collecting in general and some pretty good estimates of fair market values. When dealing with "as they came from the factory" guns you will not find much better information, and that should help you make a buying decision.

Next you need to understand how the Army operated and what they did with their guns over the years. If you subscribed to periodicals like Man at Arms, Gun Report, or specialist collector groups with their various journals, you would be likely to learn such information. In this case, there has been an ongoing series of reports on "mismatched" Colt 1860 Army revolvers, apparently refinished, that at U.S. marked. Dr. Edward Scott Meadows has been the leading researcher (or perhaps coordinator) of this information in his column in Gun Report magazine. He now pretty conclusively confirms that those guns are the product of a Springfield Armory rebuilding program a the end of the Civil War, and that those are the pistols which were issued during the Indian War era (until replaced by the 1873 Single Actions).

Once you know the theory that such arms were rebuilt from military issue 1860 Army revolvers, the next step would be to see if you can confirm that the various serial numbers on your gun all fell in the range of guns which had been used in the Civil War. You can do that on our other site http://ArmsCollectors.com where the Springfield Research Service database is available. You can check to see if there is any documented history from government records on all sorts of guns, mainly U.S. military or military used, including percussion Colts. That would confirm that although none of the serial numbers on your gun are listed, many nearby numbers are, so this s very likely a legitimate Springfield Armory overhauled Colt 1860 Army. We will leave it to the various collectors to decide if they rather have a pristine revolver that hid in a warehouse, or one that got beat up during famous campaigns and battles, and was arsenal overhauled and returned to service for even more use in the field. You are free to invest in either or neither type, depending on your preference, and your financial ability to acquire items that honestly have very little practical use, take a lot of care to protect and research, and may or may not be a good investment. Some people think gun collector are all nuts, and those folks probably spend all their money buying Beanie Babies, or a new care every year, or consuming vast quantities of alcohol or food, or fancy houses. What a great country! John Spangler

# 10663 - M73B1 Telescope
2/12/2005
Craig, Greenfield, IN

TELESCOPE M73B1 PATD-PATS. PEND. W.R. WEAVER CO. EL PASO, TEX. U.S.A. I inherited a rifle scope, a Weaver M73B1, with rings from my father. The rings (dove-tail type) appear to be of a matte silver color while the scope is blued. There is no rust that I can see and the optics are very clear. Is there any value to this scope?

Answer:
Craig- YES! YES YES! That is the correct scope for the M1903A4 sniper rifle and value is in the several hundred dollar range, regardless of the mounts, and if they are correct GI rings, add some more $$. John Spangler

# 11274 - Not a Ruger
2/12/2005
Alan Sterling, co. U.S.

When was this made. Is it a Ruger or what? Thankyou.

Answer:
Alan, not a Ruger, just a ''what''. Ruger does not make handguns like that, and in my opinion it is a good thing. Rohm GmbH of Sontheim/Brenz produced cheap revolvers, starting pistols, gas pistols and alarm pistols for the U.S. marketplace during the late 1960s. RG revolvers were sold in the USA prior to the passage of the 1968 Gun Control Act and were imported by a Miami based company whose name I can't recall. Rohm revolvers are usually identifiable by a round medallion in the grip carrying 'RG' and the model number. I consider most RG revolvers that I have seen unsafe to shoot and I would never risk personal injury by firing one. RG values fall in the $25.00 range. Marc

# 11248 - Try Following The Instructions
2/8/2005
Scott

The left side has a small German eagle with 88 under it, while the right side has two of this little eagles with 88 under them, and a small Nazi eagle of the same small size with a swastika under it instead of an 88. I was wondering what the small eagles with 88 under their feet stands for, perhaps some regiment or anti aircraft brigade (seeing they used 88 mm anti aircraft guns.) I'm itching for an answer.

Answer:
Scott, if you would have followed instructions and checked our previous answers before submitting your question, you would have found that eagle over "88" is a German WW-II Heerswaffenamt inspectors mark that was used at the Spreewerk factory on P-38 pistols. The answer is also available in our WWII GERMAN CODES AND MARKINGS program. There is a link on the OldGuns.net menu bar. Marc

# 11250 - E.I.G Age And Value
2/8/2005
Lenya, Parker, AZ

ON the underside of revolver in front of trigger is a Star in a circle, Coat of arms with what looks like 2 crossed rifles over a upside-down bell, then another star in a circle, and capital letters ''PN''. On the but of the gun is the marking Italy, E.I.G in a art deco-ish font, and what looks like a capital B inside a capital G. On the right side of the barrel is a star in a circle above the same coat of arms mentioned before next to that is another star in a circle above the capital letters ''PN'' and next to that is the roman numerals XXlll. The barrel is black as is the ball chamber (6 shot) and hammer, the trigger guard and part of grip is what looks like brass, and the rest of the grip is I think walnut wood. Pretty much anywhere there is metal it is engraved. I would like to know how old it is, its official name, and an approx. value (should it be insured?)Thank you very much for your time and trouble.

Answer:
Lenya, your revolver is probably less than 20 years old. There is little or no collectors interest in E.I.G. firearms, values for most of them are lower than $100. Probably not much need to buy extra insurance but I am sure that your agent will be happy to sell you some anyway. Marc

# 10662 - Smith & Wilkinson Muzzle Loading Rifle
2/8/2005
Bill, Crown Point, IN

Engraving by Gustave Young Gold Wedding bands, gold plug on breech, like new condition, Smith & Wilkinson Makers Newburgh NY Imperial Gun CT How can I find out the approximate value of this gun?

Answer:
Bill- When I first glanced at this question I thought- "Bubba can't even spell Smith & WESSON...." But then I read carefully and that sounds like an exceptionally nice gun, made by a good maker, and Gustave Young is one of the great classic firearm engravers. This is a gun that should be examined by someone who is a specialist in high grade guns of the mid 19th century, not your neighborhood sporting gun dealer. There are several highly reputable dealers who will do professional appraisals, and they would be qualified to give you a good figure. If you are considering selling it, this would be a good item to place with one of the major firearms auction houses who can properly describe its virtues and place it before a group of people who understand and can afford pretty, expensive, guns. My guess is that it is in the several thousand dollar range, perhaps up to about $10,000 but that is purely a guess. John Spangler

# 10657 - Smith Corona Model 1903A3 Rifle
2/5/2005
Matt, Bunnell, Fl.

sc543 w/flaming bomb, on the stock there is a P inside of a circle, on stock by trigger there is the letters FLA inside of a rectangle, on the bottom of the stock there is 4 markings: the number 5 inside of a triangle, the number 2 inside of a circle, the number 11 inside of a square, and the number 1 inside of a diamond We inherited this rifle from our late great uncle. We don't know anything about the gun. We were just wondering if you could provide us with any information on the rifle. Maybe provide us with some history. thanks

Answer:
Matt- Your rifle was made in mid 1943 by the Smith Corona Corporation, previously a maker of office equipment and typewriters, but with links back to the famous L.C. Smith shotgun makers. Remington and Smith-Corona were called upon to make Model 1903 bolt action rifles using (at least for Remington) the old machinery from Rock Island Arsenal. All types of rifles were needed to help provide arms for U.S. and allied forces, even though the semi-automatic M1 Garand was the official service rifle at the time. Remington delivered 348,085 rifles in M1903 configuration with the rear sight on the barrel before switching to the Model 1903A3 with the rear sight on the back of the receiver. Remington made 707,629 of those, plus 28,365 telescope sighted M1903A4 sniper rifles (which were also marked "Model 03-A3" even though they were really 1903A4s). Smith Corona made 284,580 Model 1903A3 rifles. A very few got issued and used during WW2 by U.S. forces. Many got sent to allies as "foreign aid" after WW2. A lot just remained in storage as war reserve stocks in the U.S. All these are collector items but value depends on condition and any special features. Some of the best examples were sold through the DCM program to NRA members in the 1960s for $10 each (plus $4.50 shipping) in "unclassified" condition (usually brand new!). They were a good investment, at least those that did not get converted into deer rifles. John Spangler

# 10649 - Saarn Musket (German)
2/5/2005
Kay Rio Rancho NM

Both butt plate and barrel are stamped 1836 On the right side next to the percussion is what appears to be a script Laarn above it appears to be a British Crown. On the rear left side of the barrel are 2 marks and 666a and what looks like an R. We are just wondering what it is. Thanks

Answer:
Kay- The script writing is hard to decipher, but is actually Saarn, one of several arsenals which supplied muskets for Prussia. Prussia was an independent nation state at the time, but later unified with others to form what we now call Germany about 1870. Your musket is probably a Model 1809 which was a .72 caliber smoothbore flintlock converted to percussion. There was a similar Model 1839 which was made as a percussion arm. There was also a Model 1839/1855 which was the Model 1839 but with a rifled .69 caliber barrel. All of these were imported in large numbers and used during the Civil War. The 1836 is probably the date it was made, so it has to be the Model 1809. The other markings are inspector marks and unit marks. The 666a may be some sort of serial number as the Germans used this form of numbering (1-9999 then 1a-9999a, 1b-9999b etc) as late as 1945. Value of the imported muskets tends to be much lower than for U.S. made Civil War arms, even though they played an equally important role in preserving our Union and crushing the rebellious southern states. John Spangler

# 10519 - Refinished C-96?
2/5/2005
Chuck

Right Frame; Waffefabrick Mauser Oberndorf A. Neckar / d.r.p.u.a.p

• 12 row grips.
• Stepped barrel, the step was added to just ahead of the chamber in 1930 at 800,000.
• Enlarged Mauser banner, added in 1930 at 800,000.
• "Universal Safety" added in 1930 at 800,000.
• Wide front grip frame to equal the rear frame where the stock slot is added in 1930 at 800,000.
• Right frame should read WAFFEFABRICK MAUSER OBERNDORF A.NECKAR / D.R.P.u.A.P. The “D.R.P.u.A.P.” (Deutsches Reich Patenten und Anderes Patenten) was added below the inscription on the right rear frame panel in 1932 starting at 850,000. Since your serial number is higher than 860,000, the lettering should be slanted forward.

Serial numbers were moved to the rear of the barrel extension behind the sight in 1934 at 900,000.

References indicate that the two grooves in each side of the side rails were eliminated 1934 at 900,000 so the solid receiver rails on
a 891xxx serial number pistol don't seem to be consistent.

This pistol falls into the Chinese contract range. Many pistols that were imported from China were re-finished and the barrels were
replaced or sleeved. I have seen some examples that were re-numbered so they would match. I would advise caution.

Hope this helps. Marc

# 10488 - Savage 1914 Refinished?
2/1/2005
Darrell, Vernal, Utah

I have been offered this gun. The finish is like new, the people swear it is not a refinish but it looks almost too good to be this old. Is there a way to tell if it has been refinished? What would the value be? Thank you

Answer:
Darrell, first some information about the Model. Savage Arms Company of Utica, New York manufactured the Model 1914 (14) slide action rifle from 1914 to 1924. Total production is not known. This model was a take-down type and could chamber 22 Short, 22 Long and 22 Long Rifle rimfire ammunition interchangeably. Model 14 barrels were octagonal, 24 inches in length, and came with with 6-groove right hand concentric rifling. The tubular magazine which was located beneath barrel held 15-20 rounds depending on which type of cartridge was loaded. Stocks were plain walnut with a pistol grip and sights were spring-leaf and elevator.

If a firearm has been properly refinished by a talented gunsmith, in many cases it is almost impossible to detect. There are several giveaways to look for that can help you spot a firearm that has been improperly buffed and reblued:

• Dished out screw holes.
• Light or buffed out markings and/or lettering.
• Rounded corners that should be sharp.
• Surfaces or edges that should be straight and/or flat that now have ripples or waves in them.

Another test is to run your finger over the markings. If you can feel that they are slightly raised or bumpy with an edge to them, this is a good sign.

Values for this model in the blue book range from $70 to around $250, so even if it is original and it has not been refinished, it should not be too expensive. Marc

# 10484 - Mismatch 45
2/1/2005
Robert , Indiana

pistol has fja marking and serial number for Remington Rand, but the slide is us&s. Is this common with these pistols?

Answer:
Robert, mismatched 1911A1 pistols are not uncommon. US military M1911A1 .45 caliber service pistols were manufactured by several companies including Colt, Singer, Remington Rand, Union Switch & Signal and Ithaca Gun Company. All of the parts that the various companies manufactured were interchangeable with each other and many were interchanged. Thanks to the miracle of interchangeable parts, it does not take long to swap slides from one frame to another. Parts is parts and when these pistols were being used by the military, no effort was made to keep matching parts together during service or cleaning . I recently sold a Colt with an Ithaca slide from my collection to raise money for another acquisition. My partner John recently picked up another Colt / Ithaca mismatch in the original DCM box which he added to his collection. While it is not uncommon to find a mismatched pistol, values for them are slightly lower than pistols with all of their original parts. Marc

# 10646 - Marlin 62 Lever .256 Rifle Serial Number
2/1/2005
Kris, Geneva, NY

Signed by Warren Page This Marlin 62 in .256 was issued without a serial number. Some tell me that is why Warren Page had his name engraved on it. Am I supposed to have this rifle stamped with a serial number, or would the signature serve to identify it explicitly. I am afraid to ask law enforcement and run the risk of having this fine rifle confiscated. To be honest, I would not want to alter it at all. It may ruin the collector value of the piece. Heck, I have even stopped shooting it after I found out who Mr. Page was.

Answer:
Kris- The .256 Winchester Magnum cartridge was introduced in 1960, and in 1961 Ruger introduced the "Hawkeye" single shot pistol using that cartridge. In 1962 Marlin brought out the Model 62 lever action rifle in .256 Win Mag caliber, and those were basically the only guns made in large numbers for that caliber. Warren Page was editor of Field and Stream magazine for many years, and author of several gun books. Manufacturers tend to give stuff to people in influential positions to make them aware of their new products [suck up to them for good reviews?]. Marlin presented all sorts of guns to prominent or influential people in the 1960s and 70s, as noted in Bill Brophy's massive definitive history of Marlin, but he does not note any to Warren Page. Prior to 1968 there was no requirement for manufacturers to apply serial numbers to firearms, and there should not be any legal hassle. However, if the local constabulary insist that every gun needs a serial number, just explain that this was a custom gun marked by the factory with the recipient's name instead of a serial number, so the Serial number is W-a-r-r-e-n P-a-g-e. I suspect that a Marlin collector would think this is something pretty neat, with a famous name and an unusual caliber. John Spangler