# 14071 - Old Long Tom
2/26/2011
Larry, Jerome, Idaho

Long Tom I would like to know when was shotgun was built. There is no serial number or manufacture date on it. I believe it is about 110 years old.

Answer:
Larry, my references indicate that `LONG TOM`was a trade name used by J. Stevens Arms Company and that the name `TEXAS RANGER` was used by J. Stevens Company on single-shot shotguns for Montgomery Ward & Company. My guess is that your shotgun is a Stevens Model 94.

I do not have a lot of information on the Stevens Model 94 but a quick internet search yields that they were manufactured from 1925 to 1929. This type of firearm falls into the category of "old guns" that no one seems to be interested in as shooters, but collectors do not want them either. Generally these were basic inexpensive simple guns which sold at modest prices and still have little interest or value on market today. On the retail market they usually sell in the $25-125 range depending on condition and general appearance for use as a "wall hanger" over a fireplace. Where there is any family history, we encourage people to keep these old guns for sentimental value. Marc

# 14095 - 7.62x59 Ammo
2/26/2011
Tony

A couple weeks ago I ordered a case of ammo for my svt40 tokarev (7.62x54) I didn't pay any attention at first but the other day I noticed it said 7.62x59! I have looked all night tonight and an hour the other day and all I have seen it mentioned as is "7.62x59 nato" and "7.62x59 / 308". It is an old wood box with galvanized sheet metal inner container that is soldered closed with 4 pull tabs on the flap. There are markings on the box 7.62x59 nclp 1.2x04/1.2-kf nma (might be... nctp 1.2x04/1.2-kf nma) 25/72-bxm fbpl/fe What the hell is this stuff?? Tony

Answer:
Tony- You are a victim of people who write funny. You will probably notice that many of the markings look a little strange, sort of like they are written in Russian or Bulgarian, or Chinese or something. The NATO round is 7.62x51mm (Bullet diameter of 7.62mm, and case length of 51mm). .30-06 ammo in metric terms would be 7.62x63mm. So neither of those is 7.62x59. Your Tokarev uses 7.62x54R (7.62 bullet same diameter as the others above, but the case if 54mm long, and the "R" indicates is has a rim. The Commies may have assumed that everyone knew it had a rim, and not bothered to use the "R" as part of the markings, so don't get worried about that. The tin cans inside a wooden box is pretty standard packing for the 7.62x54R ammo. I would be 99% positive you got what you ordered. Go ahead and open one up and see what is inside. Bet you will find you lost a lot of sleep over nothing. John

# 14066 - MAB Model F Take Down
2/22/2011
Charles

Marked Pistolet Automatique MAB Brevete s.g.d.g. Where can I find info on this gun? I would like to take it apart to clean it and put it back.

Answer:
Charles, I was unable to find take-down instructions for the Model F but I did find something for the Model R. The Model R is basically the same design as the Model F except that it has an external hammer so possibly the following information will apply to your Model F also:

1. Pull the slide back about 1.5 centimeters and lock it open by moving the safety lever up into the middle detent on the slide.
2. Insert the take-down tool into the bottom hole in the latch and pull the latch downward. The spring-loaded plunger will catch in the upper hole and hold the latch open.
3. Grasp the slide, pull it to the rear, and lift it up out of the rail on the frame.
4. Carefully ease the slide off the front of the gun.

Hope this helps - Marc

# 14086 - Spanish Made .30 Colt Revolver
2/22/2011
Bob

I have a revolver made in Spain. On the top of the barrel it says Pat. 11 June23 July 1908. On the left side of the barrel 38 long CTG. Below the cyl. made in Spain. On the butt Number 23130. Is there ammo for this revolver and how old might it be? Thank You.

Answer:
Bob- I am not a fan of any of the Spanish made revolvers which often used poor quality material and poor workmanship. Personally I would never attempt to fire one.

This may be .38 Long Colt caliber, or .32 S&W Long. Your only safe option is to have a competent gunsmith examine it to determine the proper caliber ammunition and if it is safe to fire at all. John Spangler

# 14065 - S&W History And Value
2/19/2011
Donna - Irving, Texas

Smith and Wesson Emblem on both sides of handle. Small piece on bottom of handle cracked off. Overall the gun is in good condition and all parts work as they should. 5 shell cylinder. Has a leather belt holster with it. How old is it, how do you find out the history of the gun, and what is the value of the gun.

Answer:
Donna, sorry but you did not provide me with enough information to answer most of your questions. Smith and Wesson will provide a letter giving the history of the pistol, the date it was shipped, and to whom it was shipped, for $50. If you go to their website at www.smith-wesson.com and look under customer support, you will find the form. You print the form from the website, fill it out, and mail it to them. They do need to know what type of pistol (break top, swing out) and its caliber, in order to provide accurate information. They accept personal checks. You can expect to wait up to three months for a response. Marc

# 14085 - M1911 Serial Number Question
2/19/2011
Tom

Sirs: I have a Remington-Rand 1911A1 serial # 1,590,451. Various other sources I have researched show this to be solidly in a 1944 block of production (1,471,143-1,609,528), yet your data base puts this gun in 1943. Can you provide any insight that might help me to determine the correct production year? At this point, I don't dispute anyone's data, but am merely looking for clarification. Thank you for any assistance you can provide. PS- your website is fantastic!

Answer:
Frank Mallory's list of serial numbers painfully dug out of the National Archives over 20+years of research has no production dates for anything nearby that might help with a date, only later dates where arms were in use by various units, mostly 1945-47.

I am sorry we cannot be more precise with the date of manufacture data for you, but it is the best out there. I trust Clawson's data more than any other author.

I believe you transposed some numbers in the opening serial number of the range you listed, which should be 1,471,431-1,609,528 Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 14061 - Should I Fire My P.38?
2/15/2011
Pat Taddeo, Hopatcong, NJ United States

Wermacht Stamp, Will the guns value be reduced if fired.

Answer:
Pat, it should not hurt the value of most P.38 pistols to fire them. If your pistol is in brand new condition and it is obvious that it has never been fired because there are no markings on the breech face, then it will lower the value of the pistol if you do fire it.

With any pistol this old, I recommend that you have it checked by a competent gunsmith prior to use.

Good Luck, Marc

# 14084 - J.P. Lindsay Two-shot Arms
2/15/2011

Hi I was wondering if the J.P. Lindsay Two-shot pocket pistol was a rare gun from the 1860's. I was also wondering about the value of these as well....I'm sure it depends on the condition, but any information would be appreciated!

Answer:
Sir- One recurring idea for increasing firepower has been to place more than one cartridge (or load) in a barrel, then fire the front one first, then the next (and if more than two, the next and next...) The problem is that of preventing the burning powder from the cartridge fired first from igniting the powder of the next charge(s) which would cause problems. This was a very difficult challenge in the flintlock era if you added in the need for loose powder for the priming charge. However, the idea was tried repeatedly with the best known example being the Ellis-Jennings variation of the Model 1817 common rifle made with a sliding lock which would ratchet back from the top load to the next position. About 520 of these were made in either a four shot or a ten shot version in 1829.

John P. Lindsay made his "double shot-single barrel" guns around 1860. This was a bit easier as percussion ignition eliminated the need to mess with loose priming powder, and made ignition more reliable. (You had real problems if the top load failed to fire and you then fired the load behind it!)

Lindsay made three different styles of pistols in .41 or .45 caliber, with production of around a hundred for two of them and several hundred of the other model. I would need to see some photos to identify the exact model and put any sort of value on it, but it looks like most run from about $1,000 in NRA antique good condition up to several thousand dollars for better examples or scarcer variation.

Lindsay's most successful gun was the U.S. Model 1863 .58 caliber Double Musket, with about 1,000 made at Springfield Armory sometime in 1863-64. This resembled the standard single shot .58 caliber musket but had a different breech with two nipples and two hammers in a centrally mounted lock assembly. Apparently these were only issued to the 16th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and used briefly in the fall of 1864 during the Petersburg campaign with lackluster results.

The other notable superimposed loaded gun was the Walch revolver, which used a similar concept of two loads in a single chamber, in a longer cylinder with five or six chambers, making it a ten or twelve shot revolver. Walch had a partner, none other than John P. Lindsay. Together they fared slightly better than Lindsay had on his own, with about 200 of the 12 shot .36 caliber revolvers made, and around 3,000 of the ten shot .31 caliber revolvers.

All of these interesting guns fall into the category of "firearms curiosa" which sometimes translates into "cool sounding ideas that did not work out very well."

Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 14083 - Marlin Model 81 Bolt Action 17 Shot Magazine
2/12/2011
Marge

Does this rifle have a S/N? We can't find anything on the barrel except the following:
Marline Firearms Co.--Model 31
New Haven, Conn USA--22-S-L-LR

This belongs to my 75 yr old husband who got it from his g/father. Can't seem to find any information on it and would appreciate anything you can tell us. Thank you.

Answer:
Marge- I believe it is a Marlin Model 81, if it is a bolt action rifle. The Model 31 is a shotgun.

If it is the Model 81, that was made in the late 1930s. There was no requirement to put serial numbers on guns until 1968, so most of the inexpensive .22 rifles and shotguns made prior to that were not numbered.

Value is probably modest, in the $50-150 range depending on condition, but it probably has more sentimental value. Marlins are well made and this would be nice to keep in the family. John Spangler

# 14060 - Beretta Service Issue Model?
2/12/2011
Jaco Durban South Africa

Magazine is curved to the front, safety catch is on the left just above the trigger, just below the slide, the magazine release is at the bottom of the handle I would like to know if there are any clear instructions on how to disassemble clean and reassemble it again, and if there are any owners manuals out there

Answer:
Jaco, sorry but `Service Issue` is not a Beretta model that I can identify. Many different models of Beretta pistols could be called `Service Issue` because they were used by the military forces of one country or another. The Beretta model 1934 / 1935 was Italy's service pistol during WWII and it was issued in both .32 and .380 calibers. If you are asking about the Beretta Model 1934 / 1935, here are instructions from Smith's Book of Pistols and Revolvers:

Disassembly:

1. Remove the magazine, then draw the slide back and glance in the chamber to check that it is empty.
2. Turn the safety catch up to the rear or "safe" position.
3. Hold the pistol in the right hand. Push the slide back as far as it will go. using the left hand. When it is in its fully rear position. it will force the safety catch to jump up into a notch on the lower edge of the left side of the slide. This will hold the slide in rear position.
4. Holding the pistol firmly in the right hand. with the heel o£ the left hand push the barrel straight to the rear to disengage its locking lug from the recess in the receiver. It may now be lifted up by its breech end out of the long slot in the top of the slide.
5. Still holding the pistol in the night hand, grip the slide of the slide firmly with the left hand and with the left thumb push the safety catch down to the fully forward or "fire" position. This will release the slide and permit it to come forward on the receiver guides and off to the front.
6. The recoil spring and its rod may now be removed.
7. The safety catch can be shaken out of the left side of the receiver.
8. Removing the stocks will expose the lock work for cleaning or necessary repairs. This pistol is so sturdy that it will seldom need repairs.

Assembly:

1. Replace the safety catch and turn it to its rear or "safe" position.
2. Replace the recoil spring and its rod, making sure that the collar on the rod is to the rear in the receiver well.
3. Start the slide onto the receiver from the front end and push it steadily back. When it is in the fully rear position, the safety catch will engage in the notch in the side of the slide and will thereby hold the slide back.
4. Replace the barrel by inserting the muzzle through the top of the opening in the slide and push it forward until the lug below the firing chamber section of the barrel engages in its recess in the receiver.
5. Holding the pistol securely in the right hand, grip the slide firmly with the left hand and with the left thumb push the safety catch to the firing position. This will permit you to ease the slide forward under tension of the recoil spring.
6. Holding onto the hammer, press the trigger to lower it. Inserting the magazine completes the assembly.

Hope that this helps, Marc

# 14059 - Forehand Arms Co DOM?
2/8/2011
Harvey Broomall Penna.

None When was this handgun manufactured?

Answer:
Harvey, without knowing the model of your revolver, it is hard to say when it was manufactured. The best I can tell you is that Forehand Arms Company was in business between 1890 and 1902 when the company was taken over by Hopkins and Allen. The following is a little information from Flayderman:

Sullivan Forehand was first employed by Allen & Wheelock in 1860 in an administrative capacity. He subsequently married Ethan Allen's daughter and their two sons were later to enter, with their father, in the firearms business. Wadsworth, while an officer in the Union army during the Civil War, also married one of Ethan Allen's daughters. Upon his discharge at the end of the war, he joined the Allen firm. In 1865 the firm name was changed to Ethan Allen & Co. to reflect the new partnership formed by E. Allen and his sons-in-law, Forehand and Wadsworth.

Following Allen's death in 1871, the firm was continued by Forehand and Wadsworth, undoubtedly with the same line of guns that were currently in production with the markings on a few pieces subsequently changed to reflect the new management. Forehand and Wadsworth continued operations until Wadsworth's retirement in 1890. The company changed its name to the Forehand Arms Company under which it operated until 1898 with the death of Sullivan Forehand. The heirs are believed to have continued manufacturing operations until 1902 when taken over by Hopkins and Allen.

Hope this helps - Marc.

# 14077 - Authenticating Pancho Villa's Colt .45
2/8/2011

My husband believes he has Pancho Villa's colt 45. Please email with any questions you may have to authenticate this gun. Thanks.

Answer:
Pancho Villa was a famous (or notorious, depending on your point of view) revolutionary leader in northern Mexico circa 1910-1914. Besides assorted heavy handed, near terroristic, campaigns in Mexico, he is best known for his robbery/raid across he border into Columbus, New Mexico, which resulted in Pershing's Mexican Punitive Expedition against Villa and his band of merry men/cutthroat brigands/undocumented workers/agrarian reformers. Reportedly Mrs. Pancho Villa made a very nice living after her husband's death selling off the [exceedingly large number of] guns which allegedly had belonged to the late General. He may have actually owned some, but authenticating them is the hard part.

I recommend you read the excellent article by noted author Jim Supica at http://armscollectors.com/provenance_supica.htm Due to problems being able to authenticate guns attributed to famous figures, we just stay out of that market entirely. Many sell through auction houses, including some with very shady reputations (both guns and auction houses) sometimes for incredibly high prices. This proves that P.T. Barnum was right. There is a sucker born every minute. John Spangler

# 14040 - U.S. Arms.Co. Double Barrel Shotgun
2/5/2011

I have a very old gun and there is only supposed to be two in the world. Its a U.S ARMS.CO. 12 gauge double barrel shotgun. I got this gun from my grandfather and I was just wondering what is worth because I am interested in selling it. THANK YOU

Answer:
Sir- U.S. Arms Company is a name used on guns manufactured for and distributed by H. & D. Folsom of New York in the early 1900s. Some were made by Crescent Firearms Company, which made guns under nearly 100 different brand names for various wholesalers and retailers, mainly very inexpensive guns for the farm and ranch market. Other guns with this name were imported from Belgium, and likely also in the less expensive types.

I think that pretty well dispels the theory that there are only two in the world.

There is no collector interest in these old "house brand" shotguns, and they are nearly all unsafe to shoot with modern ammunition, so their real value is either sentimental or for decorative use. I would expect to find one at a gun show offered at $150 retail or less, and probably be a slow seller at any price. We do not deal in any of these. John Spangler

# 14054 - Ajack Scope Info And Value
2/5/2011
Adam, Meyersdale, PA

I have an Ajackenkroll scope and I was wanting to know the estimated value of it.

Answer:
Adam, Ajack was a German company who manufactured high quality scopes. Ajack scopes were first imported into the United States from 1912 to 1914 and then again from 1937 to 1940 by Stoeger Arms Corp. of New York, NY. Importation of Ajack scopes ceased with the onset of WWII.

All early Ajack scopes had individual focusing like binoculars. Elevation adjustments were internal and were locked in place with a set screw on the elevation turret. Windage on early scopes was adjusted on the mounts. In 1939 all Ajack scopes were made available with internal windage adjustment.

After the war in 1954, Flaig's Sporting Goods reintroduced the Ajack line to the United States by importing the 2.5X, 4X, 6X and 7.5X, all of these were available with internal windage and elevation adjustments but the 2.5X, 4X and 6X were available in elevation only configuration for $5 less. The last listing for the Flaig's imported Ajack scopes was in the 1964 Gun Digest.

My book does not list a 2,4x56 model Ajack scope so it is hard to give you a value. I can tell you that most of the Ajack scopes in my value book start out at around $125 and top out at around $250. The highest value that I can find for any Ajack scope is around $350. Hope this helps, Marc

# 14048 - Walther Model 9 Value
2/1/2011
Kandi

Gun is in excellent condition with scrolled engraving around the makers name on the barrel of the gun. Left side of gun states Walther Patent Mod.9 within a rectangular box, ''Walther'' in the common ''flag'' beneath the engraving. Right side of gun also engraved on the barrel ''Waffenfabrik Walther Zella - Nehlis (Thur) Grips are black with a dark blue medallion on the right that states 6.35 circles in gold color, the left has the same blue medallion with the Walther ''W'' inside also circled in gold color. I inherited this gun from my fathers estate. I only am aware that as a gun collector, he was very proud of this little gun. It is in pristine shape and I have not seen any that look exactly like it anywhere I have looked. I am wanting to insure it, but would be interested in knowing its value to get a correct # for my policy.

Answer:
Kandi, since I am not a big fan of any of the little .25 caliber pistols you may have come to the wrong place to ask about the value of your Walther. I can tell you that values for the Walther Model 9 in the blue book range between $140 and $650 depending on condition but I have never had much luck with selling one for over about $350. For more information you might want to try the following links:

http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/
http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/index.php
http://forums.gunboards.com/

Good luck, Marc

# 14039 - Which .300 Magnum Ammunition?
2/1/2011

My husband has a 300 Magnum he inherited from his uncle. The ammunition which came with the gun was 300H&H. What is the correct type of ammunition for this rifle?

Answer:
I cannot tell you what is correct for your rifle, but I am assuming that the ammunition that came with it is correct.
In that case, it should use .300 Holland and Holland (H&H) Magnum cartridges.

You need to be very specific as ".300 Magnum" is not enough information as it could result in getting any of the following instead of the .300 H&H Magnum:

• .300 Lapua Magnum
• .300 Remington Ultra Magnum
• .300 Weatherby Magnum
• .300 Winchester Magnum
• .300 Short Winchester Magnum

None of these are interchangeable and using the wrong ammunition could be extremely dangerous to the rifle and the shooter.

If there is any doubt at all that the .300 H&H Magnum was the ammunition actually used in the rifle, then you should pay a competent gunsmith to do a chamber casting to verify the correct caliber.