# 14329 - Saturday Night Special
7/31/2012
Lisa Candler NC

PIC DECATUR, GA MADE IN GERMANY. Grip has PIC on it I can not find anything about this gun as far as who made it, what model, when it was made. Any info. you have would be appreciated

Answer:
Lisa, Pic Decatur imported all sorts of inexpensive firearms from overseas (Japan, Germany, Italy etc.). My records indicate that your pistol was manufactured by Gerstenberger & Eberwein of Gussenstadt, West Germany. Gerstenberger & Eberwein manufactured of a line of cheap handguns that were sold in the USA in the late 1950's and early 1960' s prior to the Gun Control Act of 1968. Most were junky Saturday night special types so if you intend to fire this weapon it would be wise to have it checked out by a gunsmith first. Values for these firearms are in the $50 or less range. Marc

# 14373 - Remington New Model Army .44 Caliber Revolver
7/31/2012
Rich, Glen Mills, PA

''Patented Sept 14, 1858'' on barrel. Gov`t inspector mark on wood handle. On brass trigger guard stamp of ''L''. Just below hammer left side a stamp of ''W'' What is this roughly worth. Can I clean and restore without ruining value?

Answer:
Rich - A “rusty” Remington New Model Army can usually be found at gun shows priced around $500-700. Cleaning and restoration will probably not increase the resale value, but probably will not make it totally worthless either. John Spangler

# 14371 - Twilight Zone- “Confederate” Japanese T30 Bayonet?
7/28/2012
Shirley, Pocatello, ID

Resembles hour-glass with horizontal line through center. Second mark: Three circles with one circle superimposed atop center of grouping of first three. Both marks stamped at base of flat (no groove) 15 5/8 inch blade. h#74585 stamped on butt of 4 3/8 inch hilt. No markings on metal scabbard. Can you identify this weapon? Owner fought for Confederacy in Civil War, and died in 1927.

Answer:
Shirley- If the owner died in 1927, we have a problem. Your description matches that of a Japanese Type 30 bayonet as made during WW2, and brought home in huge numbers by veterans of WW2. Since these were not made until after the owner died, there is some confusion in the story that goes with it.

# 14318 - Marlin 1889
7/28/2012
Ryan, Fishers, IN

Rear tang peep sight What is the value of this gun, and how rare is it?

Answer:
Ryan, Marlin manufactured about 55,000 Model 1889 rifles between 1889-1899. Marlin dates of manufacture for lever action rifles are pretty easy from 1883 to 1906. All the guns in production at the time used the same single set of serial numbers, instead of each model starting at number 1 and working their way up. The late Bill Brophy's "Marlin Firearms" book indicates that serial number 209670 was made during 1900 so the data may be a little off, or there may have been some factory cleanup going on after the model was discontinued.

As for value, there are a lot more Winchester collectors than there are Marlin collectors, so prices tend to be lower for comparable Marlin firearms. About 87% of the 1889 rifles had 24 inch barrels, compared to about 8% with 26 inch barrels, so there would be some added collector interest and value on that factor. The blue book lists values for Marlin Model 1889 rifles in the $400 to $1200 range depending on condition. Marc

# 14287 - Marlin 336RC Info
7/24/2012
Tim Forest Dale Vt

I'm looking for information and value of this rifle. Is there a site I can find this easy? Or a phone number to inquire the info? Thank You

Answer:
Tim, the 336RC was Marlin's standard model carbine, 'RC' stands for regular carbine. The RC differed from the regular Model 336 rifle in that it came with a shorter 20 inch barrel and a two thirds length magazine tube. The 336RC was manufactured in .30-30, .32 Special, and .35 Remington calibers from 1948 to 1968, my references indicate that your carbine was manufactured in 1953 and that it should have a sandblasted receiver with no serrations on top. Blue book values for 336RC carbines range form $120 to a little over $350, if your carbine is in excellent + condition it may bring a little more.

For more information, a quick Google search provided me with a link to the Marlin Collectors Site at the following URL: http://www.marlin-collectors.com. There is a forum there for you to post questions. Good Luck - Marc

# 14369 - Percussion Pistol By H.E. Henshaw
7/24/2012
Rick Reno NV

None I inherited a 1780 Henshaw Jr. .56 Cal. Pistol from my father. I remember him telling me he had it checked out by a renowned gun smith back in the 1970`s (Rudy Merit I believe) it could be rebuilt and made fire able for a hefty fee. The trigger mechanism works but the main spring is broken and the hammer is missing, but in otherwise good condition. What type of value does this pistol have and would it be worth it to have it rebuilt?

Answer:
Rick- I regret we cannot help on this one. There is absolutely no information I can find in any of my reference books on American or foreign makers concerning a H.E. Henshaw, and only about two or three total American or English makers named Henshaw and none of those seem to be a possibility. Without knowing more about the gun and its maker it is hard to speculate on the wisdom of investing the cost to get a hammer and spring replaced. Since guns of that period were not made with interchangeable parts, the spring will almost certainly need to be hand made, but you might be able to find a hammer that can be slightly modified to work. You really need to find a good gunsmith who specializes in traditional muzzle loaders, not the local guy who changes barrels in Glocks, reblues .30-30 Winchesters and mounts scopes on deer rifles. John Spangler

# 14368 - Winchester Model 55 Rifle Serial Number
7/21/2012
Dave, Los Molinos, Cal.

No. 64 stamped between trigger and lever action. I cannot find a serial number. I found model 1894 behind hammer and Model 55 on barrel. Is no. 64 the serial number? Is this an amalgam of parts? Thank you

Answer:
Dave- The Model 55 is basically a modernized version of the venerable Model 94 rifle, the rifle version of which was discontinued when the Model 55 was introduced, although the popular carbines continued without interruption. .

Initially, when the Model 55 was introduced in 1924 they began a new serial number range, but after about 3 years (or reaching serial numbers around 5,000) they switched to using receivers pulled from the Model 94 line so both models will be found in the Model 94 range up until production ceased around 1936 after about 20,000 Model 55s were produced. .

George Madis’ “Winchester Handbook” notes that “When production began, some rare guns were made which have some Model 94 and Some Model 55 features.” .

That is a rather long explanation, but necessary to lay the foundation to confirm that the number 64 is probably the serial number, placing it in the first year of production, 1924. Nice gun. John Spangler

# 14295 - Riverside Arms Company Shotgun
7/21/2012
Butch, Clarksboro, N.J.

The gun was manufactured by Riverside Arms Company, Chicopee Falls, Mass. USA. Patented April 20, 1915 How old is my gun? Is this company still in business? Is the gun worth anything?

Answer:
Butch, Riverside and Riverside Arms Co are names that the Stevens Arms Company used on their less expensive shotguns starting in 1915. There is not much collector interest in this type of shotgun and values tend to be modest. Marc

# 14286 - Five Digit Mauser P.38
7/17/2012
Belgium

E/WaA135 Sir, how rare is a 5-digit serial number on a P38? As a long time collector I observed only (up to) 4 digit serial numbers (eventually with a letter suffix). Looking now on this gun, same serial on slide, grip and barrel. Thank you for your comments.

Answer:
I've never seen a Mauser made P.38 with more than four numbers in the serial number. By 1943 Mauser was adding a fifth number to the serial number on their rifles because they had made more than the 270,000 that their numbering system allowed for in a single year. This was not the case with the P.38. The Mauser factory made about 700 in 1942, 144,000 in 1943, 145,000 in 1944 and about 32,000 in 1945. You might want to examine the serial number closely with a magnifying glass to be sure the digits are all the same type face. My guess without seeing the pistol is that the first digit may have been added sometime after the pistol left the Mauser factory. Marc

# 14367 - Marlin Model 1894 With Engraving
7/17/2012
Keith, Md.

Elk on left side allot of engraving Just got this from a family member and want to know about it.

Answer:
Keith- That sounds like a very nice gun, and probably ahs some good collector value. However, we really do not know (or care) a lot about Marlins, so we do not have much we can add on the history. There is a marlin Collectors Association which may be able to help. John Spangler

# 14366 - Chas Nephew & Co. Calcutta
7/14/2012
Robert, Loudon, Tennessee

Flip up rear sight with adjustable elevation. The number 240 appears at the top of the butt of the rifle on a brass plate. I would like any information on this fire arm. It is a breech loader with a side lock percussion hammer. The action flips out and rotates counter clock wise and then slides back. I cannot find any information about the manufacturer which appears on the top of the fire arm. It has a rifled octagonal barrel. The percussion hammer is located in the front of the breech. How old is this rifle? How does the percussion breech loader work, does it take a cartridge? Is the rifle worth anything? Any additional information or history would be great as well. Thanks!

Answer:
Robert- I am sure that Charles Nephew was a dealer located in Calcutta, and not the actual maker. I am not familiar with the type of action that you describe, but there were all sorts of oddball actions in the early cartridge era, some made in very small numbers, but others in huge numbers. Neat old guns always have some value, although the number of people looking for oddball British sporting arms is a small slice of the collector pie. John Spangler

# 14294 - Old Revolver
7/14/2012
US

The Handle is black with a eagle holding 4 arrows and 2 Branches with leaves. It says American Bull Dog on the top of the barrel. I was just wondering the make model cal. and year. I bought it about 15 years ago at a yard sale. The only markings on the gun is under the handle and they are 7067 maybe a serial?? It is a 5 shot revolver silver in color and a black handle with the eagle.

Answer:
Iver Johnson of Fitchburg Massachusetts manufactured the American Bull Dog double action, solid frame revolver. The first models were produced from 1883 to 1884. Estimated production was about 3,900 for all three sizes (large, medium and small frames). Revolvers were marked ``AMERICAN BULL DOG`` on topstrap over the fluted five-shot cylinder ``BULL DOG`` was two words, not hyphenated. The grips were mottled black and red hard rubber with a large winged American eagle over shield. There were later, redesigned models of the AMERICAN BULL DOG with modified frames and octagon barrels manufactured from 1885-1897. All American bull dog revolvers were chambered for black powder cartridge pressures only ** WARNING ** do not fire any American bull dog revolvers with any modern smokeless ammo. Marc

# 14285 - Winchester Model 100 Firing Pin Issue.
7/10/2012
Tim, Lawrenceburg, KY

Mint condition with the checkered pattern I bought this rifle at an auction recently then a couple weeks later there was a recall on some of the model 100`s for a bad firing pin. Is my gun in that recall and how dangerous is it?

Answer:
Tim, this has been a known issue for years. I am a Model 100 owner and I sent my rifle away to Winchester for the modification about 20 years ago. A quick internet search came up with the following information:

It was found that the Winchester Model 100 firing pin may break due to use and metal fatigue and become lodged in the breech bolt face. If this occurs, the firearm may fire before the action is locked causing damage to the firearm and injury to the shooter and/or bystanders.

A new firing pin was designed to replace the original. The old firing pin was lathe turned - round. The new style is similar on the front and back but in the front midsection, it has two flats milled, one on each side making the center section much stronger. Winchester advised against use of Model 100 rifles until a replacement pin could be installed and asked Model 100 owners to send rifles to an authorized service center for firing pin replacement.

Upon completion of the recall/repair, the shop doing the work was to have test fired the gun and stamped an assigned letter on the inside top of the receiver as seen through the magazine well with the bolt retracted. These letters were assigned to various repair centers and are important in helping you determine if the repair was made to your rifle.

You can obtain additional info from Winchester and find out if your rifle has already had the modifications added by calling 1-800-852-5734. This is a dedicated line/number for owners of the Winchester 100 concerning the firing pin recall issue. Marc

# 14361 - Stupid Lawyer Questions?
7/10/2012
Dominick, Melbourne, FL

What does the u mean under the race question on the license application form for the concealed firearms in Florida?

Answer:
Dominick- When seeking legal information, it is best to ask people who are at least vaguely connected with the topic. However, we sell old guns and other neat junque to collectors. We do not have anything to do with issuing concealed carry permits from our state, let alone Florida. Your guess is probably better than ours on what the bureaucrats were thinking when they set up their system. My question would be why do they even have a category for race on a form in the first place. If it is to help identify a person, they also require a photo on most permits, and that will show what a specific individual looks like, instead of some vague stereotypical impression of what members of a certain race “should” look like. I know that many people are fed up with various discriminatory programs based on race, and since they are allowed to self identify, they will check the block in categories that others might find surprising. However, that may result in better chances for job promotion (even in the military, I have heard) admission to colleges, scholarship eligibility, loan rates, etc. We know a young man who is a Swedish citizen, but started life as a Vietnamese orphan, so he has surprised a lot of people when he introduces himself with a Swedish name and accent! Whatever happened to Dr. King’s desire to have people “judged by the content of their character instead of the color of their skin?” I guess the bureaucrats don’t want to go there. John Spangler

# 14360 - Shooting A Low Number M1903 Springfield
7/7/2012
Jim Covina, CA USA

Stock when purchased is from WWII I recently went to a local gun store to have my Springfield Model 1903 30-06 Rifle appraised (It was purchased about 40 or 50 years ago). They informed me as to the above stock change and said it would be worth more with the original WWI stock. They also informed me that current ammo for this 30-06 Caliber would indeed blow up my rifle. I would to know where I can purchase Ammo to fire in my rifle. I have about 50 rounds of ammo left that was purchased about 15 or so years ago and is currently in storage.

Answer:
Jim- There is much discussion and conflicting opinions on the subject of shooting “low number” Model 1903 rifles. That includes all Springfield M1903 rifles serial number 800,000 or lower (some say 805,000 would be prudent) or Those made by Rock island under serial number 285507. The “low number” rifles were made at a time when heat treating metallurgy science was rather primitive, and done more by “eyeball” than by carefully measured temperatures. Experience proved that a small number of the “low number rifles did indeed fail (receiver broke apart) when fired prior to the 1920s. While bad heat treatment was one factor. Other factors such as defective ammunition, use of wrong caliber ammunition or improper cleaning may have been involved. In any case, the Army decided to withdraw the low number rifles from active use in the 1920s, although they were kept for use in case of an emergency. The Marine Corps never bought into this and just kept their rifles in service, although to be fair, the Marines seem to have had a higher percentage of “high number” rifles in service. .

We have a good analysis of the whole “low number safe to shoot?” issue on our other site at http://m1903.com/03rcvrfail/ You have to make your own decision as to how much risk you will accept. Some will decide that zero risk is best by just not shooting any of the low number rifles. Others will think the odds are on their side and not hesitate at all. How lucky do you feel today? John Spangler

# 14481 - Granddads 94
7/7/2012
Michael, Abilene, Texas

My grandfather recently passed away, and my grandmother gave me his rifle and pistol. Im clueless about the age of the rifle and I was wondering if you all could help out. Is it worth keeping in the family or is it worth quite a bit? Please reply if you find the time, thenk you!

Answer:
Michael my records indicate that your rifle was manufactured in 1974. Your rifle does have value as a shooter but the ones that collectors are after are rifles manufactured before 1964. Depending on condition I would expect your rifle to sell in the $200 to 350 range. Since this rifle was handed down from your grandfather, where there is any family history, we encourage people to keep these old guns for sentimental value. Hope this helps. Marc

# 14480 - Targetmaster Date Of Manufacture
7/3/2012
Laynne, Peabody, KS

Barrel Code KJ X What other markings or information do I look at to determine the year my rifle was made? The barrel code chart indicates May 1940 or 1962, both years are in the production run.

Answer:
Laynne, the Model 510 Targetmaster rifle was a replacement for the earlier Model 41, it had a special re-designed loading platform, a streamlined self-cocking bolt, and a radial safety lever which was located behind the bolt. Model 510 rifles were not serial numbered until 1954 and Remington manufactured 545,000 between 1939 when they were introduced and when the model was discontinued. You do not list that your rifle has a serial number so the May 1940 date is probably the correct one. If the rifle does have a serial number, go with May 1962. Marc

# 14359 - Telescopic Sight For M2 .50 Browning Machine Gun.
7/3/2012
Kathy

Sight,Telescopic, MI special tool Fairchild aviation Corporation 1941 leather case w/handle D2937? cant make out last # I would like to know something about this item and its value if possible. thank you

Answer:
Kathy- Your telescopic sight, M1 is for the Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun. Although officially adopted, relatively few were made, or used, so they are very desirable collector items. The number of people who collect .50 caliber machine guns is relatively small, but they tend to have deep pockets, and will pay good money for good items to go with their very valuable guns. My guess is that a really pristine scope and case would bring near $1,000 and a well used one with no case might bring more like $500. However, only a willing buyer and willing seller can get together to establish what the real fair market value is. John Spangler