# 13290 - Centurion P14 Identity
10/28/2008
Joe, Pueblo, CO

Century Int'l Arms St. Albans. VT What can you tell me about this rifle. I have been researching this for yrs. I use it for Elk here in CO. I would like to be able to replace parts if needed or upgrade with lighter stock. The rifle is heavy and I would like to make the rifle a little lighter if possible. Thanks

Answer:
Joe, without actually seeing your rifle I can only guess what it is, but the model name "Centurion P14" seems like an obvious clue. My guess is that you probably have an old British military P14 Enfield that has been modified for sporting use (sporterized) to chamber 300 Win Magnum cartridges. This kind of modification, using old P14 Enfields as a basis for magnum chambering has been a popular one because surplus P14 rifles were inexpensive and their actions have a reputation for being strong enough to withstand the pressures generated by magnum loads.

The only way to find out for sure about your rifle is to take it to a gunsmith for identification. If it is an old P14, that would be good news because parts should be easy to find. While the rifle is with your gunsmith, I'll bet that there is something he can do to help reduce the weight. Marc

# 13297 - Mod 94 Diagram
10/28/2008

Hello ! I cleaned my rifle and I want to refit my mechanism, do you know where on internet I can find a picture?

Answer:
The reassembly of a Model 94 Winchester can be a little overwhelming. There are a lot of small parts and it is not easy to tell where they go or how they work and fit together by just looking at them. I think that the best thing for you to do is to invest in a copy of "The Official NRA Guide to Firearms Assembly". This book has step by step instructions on how to reassemble you're 94. You can get it online for under $25.00 at the NRA WEB site, here is a link: com/nra/Product.aspx?productid=BK 01616. Good luck - Marc

# 13255 - Coston-Sedgley Signal Pistol
10/28/2008
Kevin, Danielson,Ct.

Black Barrel, Silver Handel with a large ''S'' in the middle of the grip. There is a small chain and rope extending from the bottom of the handle. Total length of gun is 13'', height 5''. On the handle it is marked ''Parachute Signal Pistol''. I bought this signal pistol at a local yard sale, and I saw a three of them on Ebay, and 2 of them were gone before their sale ending and the other sold overnight from a store. Does this signal pistol have allot of interest and value and are they allowed to be sold on Ebay?

Answer:
Kevin- Ebay still has strict anti-gun policies, although reportedly their subsidiary PayPal has backed off a little on allowing firearms payments to be processed through them. Still, both are anti-gun and we despise them. Since eBay will not allow sale of any type of firearm, early disappearance is probably more the result of their Gestapo removing offending listings than an indication of great demand. As far as value, it is whatever a willing buyer and seller can agree on. Frankly, we have not seen much interest at all in flare guns, especially those beyond the most typical military versions. If you want to sell, try one of the gun auction sites. Just remember that BATFE treats these the same as any other handgun, so you have to ship to a FFL holder and use expensive overnight service John Spangler

# 13233 - Spanish Mauser Rifle
10/25/2008
Louie

FABRICA DE ARMAS OVIEDO 1905 With a crown on breech. I would like to know when & where it was made. A friend of mine gave it to me 15 years ago. It is in almost mint condition.

Answer:
Louie - Your rifle was made at the Spanish Arsenal at Oviedo in 1905. It is the Model 1893 which had originally been made in Germany under contract until the Spanish began domestic production. Value depends greatly on condition. Spanish Mausers made in 1898 or earlier have a lot of collector interest due to possible use in the Spanish American War, but those made later seem to appeal to very few collectors. In my opinon, the Oviedo made rifles are very inferior in workmanship and materials, and nearly all I have seen have been refinished prior to being dumped on the surplus market in the last 50 years. I remember in the late 1960s, the M1893 carbines were being sold for $9.95 including 100 rounds of ammo. Ah, the good old days! John Spangler

# 13228 - Kentucky Used Ballard Carbine
10/25/2008
Byron, Goshen, KY

none/no maker or any other than the serial number 754 which is on the falling block and top of screw heads. What is the possibility this is a rifle from the Kentucky Troop? My Grandfather bought the rifle in the 30's from brothers named Witherspoon (spelling unknown) and paid $1.50 for it. It had two barrels, one on the rifle was a large caliber and he removed and put on the .32. The large caliber ruined too much meat in killing hogs/beef. I researched and found a mention of a Weatherstien was in the KY Troop. Do not have the other barrel (large caliber) on the .32 and it is rough. Entire rifle is rough. Forearm is burned, barrel has no rear sight. Gun will fire and I have some .32 rimfire ammo. Barrel shows point where original keepers were located for cleaning rod. Stock Extractor is mounted under barrel and is operated by a stud protruding out of forearm.

Answer:
Byron- I have no information available to prove or disprove usage of your gun by any Kentucky troops during the Civil War. However, I believe that the military used guns were all .44 caliber. Since this no longer had the original barrel, and has suffered some damage, I am sure the value has been dramatically cut from that of an unaltered gun in good condition. I think that it would be worth from very little to maybe a few hundred dollars at best if the possibility of Kentucky usage seems plausible, but I suspect that $100 or so may be more realistic. John Spangler

# 13285 - Savage Mod 99 DOM
10/25/2008
Larry, Corpus Christi Texas

I would like to know what year it was manufactured. Thanks.

Answer:
Larry, available serial number information on the Savage Model 99 stops at the end 1950 with number 566,000. After W.W.II yearly production of Model 99 rifles started at about 26000 and went up to around 38000 in 1950 where my data ends. After making a detailed analysis of Savage post war production figures (a wild guess) I think that your Model 99 was probably manufactured in the late 1950s or early 1960s. Marc

# 13286 - Winchester Owners Manual
10/21/2008
Doug , Pendleton, Or.

Where can I find a manual for this rifle?

Answer:
Doug, a quick Google search brought me to an Internet site that has online owners manuals in PDF format for several models of Winchester rifles and shotguns. The link below should be able to provide you with the information that you are looking for. Marc

http://www.winchesterguns.com/prodinfo/om/index.asp

# 13289 - Arisaka Safety
10/21/2008
Tom Columbus, Ohio

Markings on the receiver show it to be a Series 34, made by Toyo Kogyo Arsenal, some time between 1939 and 1945. This rifle was picked up by a returning GI at the end of the war, and, to the best of my knowledge, has never been fired since, so the last person to use it was a member of the Japanese Imperial Army. I would like to try it myself, but am a little apprehensive because from 1943 to the end of the war, the Japanese were forced to use inferior materials to manufacture their rifles, which can make them dangerous to fire. Is there any way to determine the date of manufacture? Thanks, in advance, for any help you can provide. Tom

Answer:
Tom, the only way to know if your rifle is safe, is to take it to a competent gunsmith and have it checked. I would strongly advise you to have this done whether the rifle is an early or late model.

Your story is a variation on the old myth. My junior high school physical education teacher had served in the merchant marine during World War II and had a Japanese rifle in his office under the bleachers (just imagine that, an evil firearm close to children, I don't know how we ever survived). I can remember seeing it there one day and asking him about it. He told me of its origins, then told me of the all the Japanese soldiers who had died from a rifle bolt embedded in their skulls when their rifles blew up. He insisted it was very common and indicted the total incompetence of the Japanese to make any kind of a firearm. I was most impressed by the story. Then came the 1970's and my experience with the quality of Japanese automotive imports like Toyotas Hondas and Datsuns (Nissans), I began to wonder about the accuracy of my teacher's story.

P.O. Ackley did experiments with the service rifles of various countries. Ackley had heard the stories of the exploding Japanese rifles and doubted it. He stated no country is going to get their soldiers to fire a rifle if it is expected to blow up. He was trying to determine which action was the strongest and which country made the best rifle receivers. The results came as a shock. The U.S. actions (U.S. Model 1903 Springfield and the U.S. Model 1917) blew with just modest increases in pressure. So did the famous Mauser action on German service rifles and the British Enfields. The only country whose rifles did not blow up were those from Japan. He finally increased the pressure to the point where the barrels on the Japanese rifles burst, but the receivers remained intact.

I don't know where the stories of the exploding Japanese service rifles came from. I heard it many years ago, and it is still around, but the facts don't support it. There were Japanese rifles made for blank firing only, and they are often referred to as "school rifles" because the belief is they were supplied to schools to train students in carrying and shooting rifles. They are marked on the receiver to fired only with blanks. But you have be able to read the Japanese characters to know this. They will accept the standard service cartridge, so its possible U.S. soldiers in their ignorance fired a few of them with disastrous results and that started the story.

Again, if you want to fire your T-99, have the rifle checked first. Marc

# 13222 - Winchester Model 67 With British Markings
10/21/2008
Richard, Social Circle,GA

Two British Proofs on left side of receiver V and GP, and ''NOT ENGLISH MAKE'' also on left receiver. No alterations for scope or sling, early model with finger grooves, non-recessed barrel retaining screw. SN, yes, a stamped serial number is 2309, also on left of barrel. This has me stumped, a high serial number for a rifle that isn't supposed to have one. Olin sent a number of guns to England in 1940, model 74s I have heard, could this be a quantity sell to England to fend off Jerry/train Brits in 1939/1940?

Answer:
Richard- You obviously are very familiar with the details of the Winchester Model 67 the economical single shot bolt action rifle model made in the 1920s and 30s. British proof laws (and possibly registration laws in various parts of the United Kingdom, especially Ireland) mandated that arms sold in the UK be subject to British proof testing. Thus the various markings. I believe the serial number was added at that time (and in the UK) for record keeping purposes, or perhaps to allow it to be registered in accordance with local laws. I doubt if they had a separate series of number exclusively for use on Winchester Model 67s, but used the next number available regardless of make or model. I doubt if any Model 67s were sent for use as military trainers during WW2.

# 13215 - USN Mark 5 Signal Pistol
10/18/2008
Penny, Ruskin, Florida

Signal Pistol I am trying to find the value of a Us Navy signal pistol my father has. He doesn't know where to find the value for it. it was left to him by one of his friends that passed away. Can you help me find the value? it is in meant condition. Please Email me at FaulksTrpFish@aol.com

Answer:
Penny- The "flare guns" are among the most often seen of the U.S. WW2 models. They were made by R.F. Sedgley of Philadelphia from some sort of aluminum type alloy with bakelite grips. They are simple and reliable and were still in use well into the 1990s, and may still be in use aboard Navy ships today. Collector values are modest, usually in the $100-200 range depending on condition, based on what I see in the market place. John Spangler

# 13214 - Stevens Catalog Circa 1907
10/18/2008
Jennifer, Dover, Tn

I have a 22 Little Scout I have shot since I was about 4. It was bought for my Grandfather and he would let me shot squirrels with it. The date on it is 1907. I also have a book that I wonder if it came with it, it is black on the bottom golden orange on the top with a goose on it. It says Stevens Rifles Shotguns and Pistols and has a bull's-eye under the word pistol. I still shoot the gun every once and a while and it works great. I just wonder if the book is original with the gun or not. It doesn't have a date on it anywhere.

Answer:
Jennifer- The Stevens Little Scout was my first gun too, and it was the Model 14 1/2. The catalog may or may not be original to the time the gun was purchased for your grandfather. I cannot tell much about Stevens catalogs, but maybe someone else knows. John Spangler

# 13279 - Unusual Walther PPK
10/18/2008
Steve, Deland, FL

Walther Banner. Waffenfabrik Walther, Zella-Mehlis, Walther Patent 7.65 Z(?). Identical stamp on barrel at ejection port and below on frame (very small). SN located under grip at bottom of left side mag. well. White grip w/gold circular emblem with Nazi eagle and word ''Germany'' underneath. The first 2 numbers of the SN looked stamped and the rest looked etched. Has a lanyard square at bottom rear of mag well. I don't know if this is a heirloom or an ankle gun. I inherited from my father and came across it when cleaning out his house after his death.

Answer:
Steve, it is hard to say what you have without seeing your Walter. The word Germany stamped on the pistol indicates to me that it was exported to the U.S. sometime after 1918 and before 1939. This makes me suspicious of any Nazi markings. The serial number which you indicate is partially stamped and partially written with an electric pencil is unusual.

You may have a real treasure or the pistol may be an accumulation of spare parts assembled by Bubba on the kitchen table, I can't tell without being able to examine it in person. I suggest that you take your Walther to the next gunshow in your area. Show it to a few dealers and collectors who are displaying similar items on their tables. I hope that things turn out well and that you find that you have inherited something that is rare and valuable. Marc

# 13211 - UMC 50-70 SH Cartridge Case
10/14/2008
Bill, Cooke City MT

Shell marking are: Top:U.M.C.///Bottom: .50-70/// Left tide: S /// Right side: H The case is 1 & 11/16 '' long. My friend found and old shell in his yard and would like to know in what rifle it was used and who was the maker. Can you be so kind to identify this for us, or lead us to a site that can??

Answer:
Bill- This is an easy one. UMC indicates that the case was made by Union Metallic Cartridge Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut. This company was boutght by Remington later in the 19th Century, and circa 1912 was merged with Remington to become Remington Arms- Union Metallic Cartridge Arms Company, and switching to a REM-UMC headstamp over the next few years. Teh SH indicates the case has a "Solid Head" which was much stronger than the "folded head" construction used previously. The solid head was widely used starting the mid 1880s, so we know that the case was made after that, but before about 1915 when the REM-UMC headstamps were in widespread use. The .50-70 cartridge was used in several different models of Springfield "Trapdoor" rifles, and in Sharps and various other single shot rifles. The .50-70 caliber rifles were widely used by buffalo hunters, and also as the surplus rifles became very cheap they were sold for use by Indians, emigrants moving west, and farmers and ranchers. Some were even used by work crews or guards on the transcontinental railroads. It is a nice souvenir of the western frontier, which was not all that long ago in your part of the country. John Spangler

# 13288 - Seven Shot Burgo Value
10/14/2008
Lisa, Vickery, OH

This gun was recently stolen from my home. It was recovered, but the police told me that a 7 shot was very rare and that maybe it was worth something. I was curious if you could provide more information to me.

Answer:
Lisa, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, the Burgo was an inexpensive (cheap Saturday night special type) revolver manufactured in the 1960's by Karl Burgsmuller of Kreiensen, West Germany for export to the United States. U.S. import of his type of revolver was banned by the gun control act of 1968. There is no collector demand for Burgo revolvers no matter how many bullets the cylinders hold, values fall in the $25 to $50 range. Marc

# 13277 - Detective Special?
10/14/2008
Bruce Shelton Washington

First number of serial # (8) is over-struck on the left with a smaller ''4''. The Colt insignia is encircled by two semi-circles that horizontally intersect the horse behind the neck and above the flechettes of the lance on the upper circle and below its rump and through its tail on the lower circle. Interlocking V's are on the left front side where he trigger guard meets the frame below the cylinder. Horizontal serrations on the front and rear views of the half-moon front sight. There is a step below the v-notch milled into the top strap, with side to side serrations below the rear notch. The knob of the cylinder release is cross hatched as is the first quarter inch of the hammer spur. The grip is round butt style with MOP panels. On the heel of the grip are the numbers ''6 2 7 1'' across the full inch of the butts length. They do not appear to be factory marked. Is this a Colt Det Spl or is it a Police Positive? Sources I've read show the original calibers for the DEt Spl were 32 and 38 Colt New Police that were then discontinued. Meanwhile, the Pol Pos continued in production in 38 New Police. Is the described Colt logo a variation of the now standard ''horse only'' logo? The gun is capable of a hand sized group at 12 yards with lubaloy Winchester 38 S&W ammo.

Answer:
Bruce, Colt made Police Positives in two frame sizes. The longer of the two frame sizes could accommodate a cylinder long enough for the 38 Special cartridge, but the shorter frame could not. The shorter frame revolvers were chambered for what we now know as the 38 S&W round.

Colt introduced the Detective Special somewhere around serial number 350,000 (about 1928) by putting a two inch barrel on the longer Police Positive frame, and marking the barrel on the left side 38 Special Detective Special. I am not aware of the exact serial number when this change occurred.

Colt also put a two inch barrel on the short frame Police Positive and marked it Banker's Special. The Banker's Specials are much rarer than the Detective Special.

The serial number on your pistol dates it to 1913 which means that it was manufactured about 15 years too early to be a Detective Special. There is some collector interest in Police Positives with two inch barrels. Colt made very few compared to the longer barrel guns, but many of the longer barreled guns were cut off by private gunsmiths, and the front sight reattached to the barrel. These pistols have no collector value. Marc

# 13209 - WW2 Russian .45 ACP Ammo
10/11/2008
Rob Arlington VA

11,43 cartridge pistol ball brass case I have a ''spam can'' of .45 ACP ammunition that I believe was manufactured for the Soviets in WWII. It is painted in the Soviet ''pea green'' with a steel opener about 8'' long taped to the can. Markings are black painted stencil. The can measures 14''x6''x4'' and looks to be about 1000 rounds. Is there collector value? If not, I'll most likely shoot this ammo or salvage the components

Answer:
Rob- I cannot tell for sure if your ammo was made in Russia for their use, or actually made in the US and provided to the Russians and later repacked there. Or, it could have been made in Russia or China with U.S. style headstamps as "clandestine" ammo to provide to guerilla forces to disguise the origin of the ammo.

In any case, I think it has minimal collector value. It may or may not fire reliably (or safely), and is undoubtedly corrosive primed so if your gun is not cleaned IMMEDIATELY and properly, it will absolutely rot out the barrel in a matter of a few days. If not US made, then it will have Berdan primers and not be reloadable. Savaging the unfired bullets may be feasible, but how much work do you want to do pulling bullets just to save a few dollars. Sometimes cheaply priced ammo is not a great bargain, at least for shooting, although it may have some collector interest. John Spangler

# 13208 - Colt Bisley Revolver
10/11/2008
Johnny, Lake Jackson,TX

PAT SEPT 19 1871 and JULY27JAN1875 ON LEFT SIDE OF FRAME This handgun was bought new by my wife's grandfather in Bay City,Texas for protection. There has been very few rounds fired in this handgun. The right lower front corner of the grip is missing. Is there a source for a replacement Colt grip? Also how old is this handgun? It will not be sold but now will be passed to our son & then to his oldest son. Thanks for your time.

Answer:
Johnny- Congratulations on owning a very neat old collectible gun, with a good solid family history. I am delighted that you will be keeping it in the family to be appreciated by future generations. There is no source of replacement grips that I know of, except for mediocre quality ones that will not fit quite right and will look "too new." Grips were numbered to the gun as they were fitted to the frame prior to the frame being blued, so each is just a little bit different. Collectors really like to see the original grips, so I would not replace them. It may be possible for someone to repair the original grip using some epoxy wit a black dye (and maybe a hint of brown) to match the color. If the old grip is carefully drilled or roughed up ont he broken surface to enhance the grip of the epoxy it is possible to make a good repair. As long as the broken area does not extend too far into the checkering, the surface can be finished off to blend in nicely. You might ask around on one of the Colt sites to find someone who can do that sort of work and has a reputation of doing it well. Good luck. John Spangler

# 13281 - Eibar Value
10/11/2008
Connie, Prosser, Wa.

has a crown with a x underneath it right above the triggers, a knight head on top of each barrel..swirls on both sides of gun, and a coat of arms shape with 3 markings in the middle of them on each side of barrels. Would like to know what this gun is worth..It is a double barrel break open pistol with 2 hammers and 2 triggers. thank you

Answer:
Connie, Eibar is the location of many Spanish gun manufacturers. I could not find any specific information about your pistol but my guess is that it is one of many inexpensive guns manufactured in Eibar Spain in the first half of the last century. Many of these guns were manufactured using inferior quality steel and are not considered safe to fire. There is not much collector demand for this type of thing, I would expect to see one being offered at a gunshow in the $100 range. Marc

# 13278 - Model 100 Value
10/7/2008
tom

How old is this pistol and where was it used? It is stamped Berben NY. NY. It is in fair shape and works well. What would be the value?

Answer:
tom, there was not a lot of information in any of my reference books about the Beretta Model 100. The most that I was able to come up with is that the model was introduced sometime after WWII and that it is now discontinued. Model 100 values top out at around $200. Marc

# 13276 - Krag Value
10/7/2008
Chris, Twinsburg, Ohio

stock cartouche is clean, even patina on stock and all metal What is the approximate value of this rifle? It appears to be original and unaltered.

Answer:
Chris, you're question is a little more difficult to answer than you may think. Value depends on which model Krag that you have, the condition that the rifle is in and whether it has the correct parts or not. You should be able find the model stamped on the left hand side of the receiver. If you have the rarer Model 1892, value can go as high as $12000. If you have a Model 1896 go up to around $3000 or $4000. The 1898 is the most common model and values in the blue book for it range from $600 to about $3000. If your Krag has been changed or modified (sporterized), value can go as low as $100.

Now for the tricky part, the blue book says to "subtract 20%-40% for "as modified" guns. Collectors must be aware of the correct combination of serial number, sight variation, and cartouche date of a rifle in original "as made" condition".

If you would like to sell, let us know. If you send us you're Krag, we can help you determine model, correct configuration and value. Marc

# 13203 - Correction To Q&A # 6995
10/7/2008
Douglas Bowser

Star arrow marking Your answr on #6995 is in error. Star arrow is Tula, Triangle arrow is Izhevsk Doug Bowser Author of ''Rifles of the White Death''

Answer:
Doug is correct, and we appreciate his taking the time to correct this. (Note: Doug Bowser is the author of ''Rifles of the White Death" a very highly regarded study of Mosin Nagant rifles.}

# 13206 - Winchester Model 1886 Date And History
10/4/2008
Allan ,Hilo, Hawaii

I would like to know who was the original owner of this rifle when it was shipped from the factory and how old is it? thanks Allan

Answer:
Allan- You can get a "factory letter" from Winchester that may confirm when your rifle was shipped. It will probably show it as around 1889, so it is a good early example which will have some collector interest. There is no way to identify the original owner. The 28 inch barrel is a bit unusual, and while Winchester would make just about anything on special order, it is possible that you are incorrectly measuring the barrel. If it is actually 30 inches long (measured inside the barrel from the face of the closed breech to the muzzle) and it has a 26 inch long wooden forend with a barrel band with a sling swivel on it, then you may have one of the vey scarce M1886 "Musket" models, worth a lot more than a regular Model 1886, or even one with an extra long special order barrel. John Spangler

# 13204 - Winchester Model 1894 Used In Mexican Revolution
10/4/2008
Linda, Leon Springs,Tx

This rifle has been in the family since my great-grandfather used it in the Mexican Revolution around 1914. Can you provide any further information on this weapon.

Answer:
Linda- Your rifle was made around 1910, so it may have been used in the Mexican Revolution around 1914. Unfortunately, there is no way to know much more than you already now from family traditions about the gun and its use. There are a number of photos of Mexican revolutionaries (often known by their leader Pancho Villa) with Winchester rifles, but the exact serial numbers or calibers cannot be determined. Sounds like an interesting gun. John Spangler

# 13274 - Remington 41
10/4/2008
Bob, Fairfax, VA

Hi, I am not familiar with this model 22. I am interested in taking my son out for target practice, but can't seem to figure out the safety on this rifle. Can you help? Thanks in advance, Bob

Answer:
Bob, Remington Arms Company manufactured the model 41 from 1936 to 1939. It had a special loading platform and a streamlined `self-cocking` bolt. When equipped with the standard 25 inch barrel, weight was about 5.5 pounds. Rifles were chambered in 22 Short, 22 Long or 22 Long Rifle, rimfire. Total production was about 306,880 including all Model 41' variations.

References indicate that there should be a radial safety lever behind the bolt handle. If the safely lever is not there, it is possible that it has been removed, broken off, or that the information that I found is incorrect. In any case it would be wise to have the rifle inspected for safety by a competent gunsmith before you take son out shooting with it. Marc