# 5459 - Stevens Model 44
4/29/03

Round barrel then turns octagon at forearm to receiver I have a Stevens model 44 22 rifle in excellent condition and I think it was reblued. Was the receiver originally case hardened color and also can you tell me the year it was manufactured.. ser # 15405 Thank You Scan

Answer:
Stevens manufactured the model 44 from 1895 to 1933, the total quantity produced is estimated at 100,000. Standard barrels were part octagon and part round. Rimfire barrels were 24 inches and centerfire barrels were 26 inches. Sights were Rocky Mountain front and open sporting rear. Standard finish was a case hardened frame with blued barrel. I was unable to find any serial number data to give a year of manufacture. My GUESS is that your rifle was manufactured around 1900. Marc

# 5457 - M1903A4?
4/29/03
Daryel, Denver, Co.

U.S. Remington Model 03-A3 located on left side of receiver. Serial # is located on the right side of the receiver. Scope base has Redfield stamped into it. Left side of stock below safety has FJA (best I could tell because it is hard to read). Underside of the stock and above the pistol grip there is a ''W'' and a ''P'' with a circle around it. On the base of the pistol grip there is a ''P'' with a square around it. Also on the underside of the stock in front of the magazine there is a Triangle with a 1 inside and another with 29 inside. There are also Circles and possibly other symbols as best as I can tell. The end of the barrel has RA, 9-43 & a little emblem. The butt of the gun has a little trap door. I recently acquired this gun & would like to know a little more about it. I was hoping that with the serial # you may be able to help me out. From what I can tell based on reviewing your web site (By the way a very informative and easy to navigate) this may be a 1903-A4 Sniper rifle and may be worth quite a bit more than what I paid. Thanks in advance for any information.

Answer:
Daryel, glad that you like our site. M1903A4 rifles are easy to identify. The standard markings on the receiver were shifted to the left and right so that they can be read with the scope mount in place. If your markings have not been moved then your rifle is regular M1903A3 that someone put scope on. (Remington did not change the model designation to M1903A4 on the sniper rifle.) Another way to tell a sniper is by the barrel. Regular barrels were used on sniper rifles, and these will have a groove machined for metal piece that holds the front sight base on. The grooved area will be parkerized. If someone has removed the front sight, the area under the sight will be unfinished. Hope yours turns out to be a M1903A4. They are getting scarce, and the prices reflect this. Marc

# 5552 - 1831 Springfield .50 Caliber Rifle
4/29/03
Bill, Ardmore, OK

Have this gun but am unable to find any information on it. We believe it was used in the Civil War. ''US'', an eagle, and ''Springfield 1831 are on the side plate. ''US'' is also imprinted on the butt plate. Inside of side plate has the initials JB in many places. Can someone please give any information on this gun?

Answer:
Bill- Springfield was not making any rifles or carbines or muskets in .50 caliber in 1831. In fact, they were mainly making .69 caliber smoothbore Model 1816 muskets with 42 inch barrels. Based on that, my guess is that you have one of two things. If your caliber information is off, and it is .69 caliber (about the same a s 12 GA shotgun) then it is probably a 1816 musket that has been shortened. This was commonly done with surplus muskets after the Civil War right up until about 1900, for sale by surplus dealers and even Sears Roebuck. These were cheap and useful for farmers as shotguns or with ball for larger game (of protection from humans.) If the .50 caliber is correct, then I believe you probably have a gun made post 1865 using a lock salvaged from an older gun. In either case, the collector value is probably not high, but it undoubtedly served someone well for many years, and perhaps saw action in the Mexican War and/or Civil War. I believe there is a world class gun museum in Ardmore, OK, so you may just want to drop by there and have fun looking at everything to see if you can spot something similar, or you could ask the staff there. I am embarrassed to admit that I have not visited that one yet, so I cannot comment further on it. John Spangler

# 5549 - Steyr Jeffrey Rifle 6.5x53R Caliber
4/26/03
David, Vienna, Austria

model 1901 on the barrel, also nitro proof. I cannot yet make out the rest of the marks. I'd like any info. you can find or may know about the above hunting rifle. I believe it was made by W.J.Jeffrey in London using a Steyr action, but have no definite proof. Was this common & is there a way to be sure one way or the other? Also as you can see it's quite an obscure calibre, do you know of a source of 6.5x53R ammo ?

Answer:
David- This is really out of my area of knowledge, but that is how I learn more, I have to go look stuff up. John Walter's The Greenhill Dictionary of Guns and Gunmakers is one of the best listings of relatively modern gunmakers that I know of, better than Der Neue Stoeckel although the latter is a better reference for really antique makers and has thousands of obscure markings to refer to. Walter lists the W.J. Jeffrey & Company (using this name from 1891 onward) which was one of the finest English gunmakers. They offered both custom double rifles and also bolt action magazine rifles, with the latter often based on Mannlicher actions prior to 1914, with Mauser actions being common after WW1. Therefore I suspect you are correct about the type and origin of the gun. The ammunition will probably be extremely hard to find but a good place to start would be Old Western Scrounger on our links page. Another resource would be the International Ammunition Association at http://CartridgeCollectors.org where you might find someone who knows more about this cartridge by asking on the forum. It is possible that this is merely a different name for the 6.5x54R Mannlicher cartridge adopted in 1892 by Roumania, and in 1895 by the Netherlands. This is sometimes called the 6.7x53R or the .276 Mannlicher. It may be advisable to have a gunsmith make a chamber casting to get the exact dimensions before investing too heavily in ammo, just to be sure it is not some oddball proprietary Jeffrey round. It probably is a very fine gun, and worth the effort to research further. One last desperate attempt might be to check with the Birmingham Proof House (I think I got that right, but maybe it is Worshipful Company of London Gunmakers) who are on line and may have records dating to 1901 which might show details of the ammunition. Good luck. John Spangler

# 5547 - Herters, Inc, Mitchell, SD Revolver
4/26/03
Travis, Wolf Point, MT

Barrel marked ''Herter s Inc Mitchell, South Dakota'', Below the drum is marked HS enclosed in a circle with a 75 behind it. I was told there were only 125 of these guns made. It is in good condition. Can you tell me how I can get more information on this gun?

Answer:
Travis- Everything I have ever seen about Herters places them in Waseca, Minnesota, at least from their sudden appearance in the late 1950s (but claiming "since 1893" status as "makers of world's best" just about everything.). The company seemed to disappear in the late 1970s. My guess is that someone from Mitchell bought the name and may have used it briefly on some guns, but that is strictly a guess. However, let me tell you about Mitchell, SD. Except for having one (or maybe two) utterly worthless and despicable Senators in the Congress, it is a really great Heartland America small town built on agriculture, hard work and lots of it. Their main claim to fame is the "Corn Palace." This is a large municipal auditorium type facility in the heart of the town, that gets its name from the annual redecoration of the exterior using corn and other grains and grasses. Each year the design is different, and it is absolutely amazing what can be done using the many hues of color available in corn, plus all sorts of other crops. Some of the decorations are geometric, and others are landscape or wildlife scenes. This is well worth the visit, and right off I-90. As if you needed further excuses to stop there, they have a gigantic Cabela's store there for every conceivable and many previously unknown outdoor needs. Loads of world trophy class game animals (stuffed, not roaming) that will delight the wife and kids, as well as everything else you find in their catalog. You can spend several hours there having fun and spending money. I bet if you asked someone in their extensive gun department they would know more about the Herters story. Heck, they may even be the person responsible! John Spangler

# 5443 - Marlin 1893
4/26/03
Canada

''Marlin Safety'' stamped on top and ''Special Smokeless Steal'' on the side. Wondering when this would have been produced and how much it might be worth?

Answer:
Canada, I hope that you are not one of those from your country who gets their kicks by bullying little league teams from the USA or by being disrespectful while the Star Spangled Banner is played. To quote Ted Nugent, "Only thing worse than a Frenchman is a Frenchman who lives in Canada".

References indicate that Marlin serial numbers from the era of your rifle should not have letters in them, consequently I am unable to give a date of manufacture from the serial number that you provided. Although I can not determine your date of manufacture, I can narrow the range of possible manufacture dates by using your barrel markings. The model 1893 was manufactured from 1893 to 1936. During this production run, two variations of barrel markings were used. The earliest barrels were marked "For Black Powder". Rifles marked in this manner should have blued receivers rather than case colored. Later rifles have barrels that are marked "Special Smokeless Steel ".

Values for Marlin Model 93 rifles here in the U.S.A. range from around $250 to over $3000 depending on condition and configuration. Some factors that can affect value are:

• Add for calibers other than 30-30 or 32 special.
• Add for takedown models.
• Add for factory special orders or features.
• Add for strong, original case colors and /or over 95% condition.
• Subtract for later production guns which are marked "Model 93".

# 5546 - Sharps & Hankins 4 Barrel Pistol .32 RF
4/22/03
John, Leeds, Yorkshire, England

ADDRESS SHARPS & HANKINS, PHILADELPHIA PENN ON TOP OF BARREL C SHARPS PATENT JAN 25 1859 ON RIGHT OF FRAME 1. Can you advise the date of manufacture of this pistol and anything else that can be learned from the above details? 2. It is in a nice fitted mahogany case with black velvet lining and brass plaque on the lid. Is this likely to be original to the gun?

Answer:
John- Sharps & Hankins made three major models of their four barrel pistols, and each has several variations based on mechanical details or other minor differences. The Model 1 was made for .22 caliber ammunition, the Model 2 for .30 caliber rimfire ammunition, and the Model 3 for .32 short rimfire ammunition. All were made circa 1859-1874, About 15,000 of the Model 3 were made, so I would guess that yours is probably circa 1859-1865, which would make it a "Civil War gun" to most collectors. Frank Sellers' superb book Sharps Firearms is the definitive study on the subject, and it has an extensive section on the 4 barrel pistols. He shows a number of them in their original pasteboard (cardboard) boxes, but none in cases. However, he also goes into detail on the English made Tipping & Lawden pistols which were copies of the Sharps & Hankins pistols. He shows quite a few of those in cases. Cases seem to be a decidedly more British affectation than the simple packaging for the American market. Most likely the case, if it is of the period, is more likely a British made case. Even more likely is a chance that the gun has been recently cased to enhance the collector appeal (and selling price). John Spangler

# 5453 - Oliver Winchester Commemorative
4/22/03
Mike Tucson AZ

24K Gold Plate, engraved, inlayed medallion in walnut, inlayed Oliver Winchester signature in barrel,24K gold. HAS BEEN FIRED When was this gun manufactured? How many?

Answer:
Mike, I have never been a fan of these ready-made collectibles. Some commemorative production has reached well over 250,000 and this has lowered demand. Although some commemorates have pretty hefty book values, actually selling them for book prices is usually almost impossible, even for the few relatively scarce models.

The Oliver Winchester commemorative was introduced in 1980, total production was 19,999. It is unfortunate that your commemorative has been fired. Even light freckling created by touching the metal surfaces can reduce the value of a commemorative significantly. A fired gun with obvious wear or without its original packaging can lose as much as 50% of its value. Many used commemorates get sold as fancy shooters with little, if any, premium being asked. Marc

# 5439 - K98k Question
4/22/03
Mike, Roanoke Rapids, NC

On the top of the gun, on the ring receiver, in lowercase, are the letters, ''dot'' and under that is ''1944''. On the left hand side of the gun, there are two eagle symbols on the metal. On several other locations, there appear to be small symbols, two of which, one under the elevated sights, have ''W8A83'' under it, and the rest only have ''83'' under it. On the right hand side of the stock, near the butt, are the numbers ''7 and 84'' On the left hand side, on the metal, are the numbers ''394 94'', with what looks to be a lowercase ''a'' underneath it, and a little further down it has ''Mod. 98''. I would like to know if you could tell me a little about this gun. I have checked and checked online, but I haven't found a gun quite described like this one. I have a few pictures of it also.

Answer:
Mike, you have a standard German Army rifle used during World War II and known as the Karbiner 98k. The Mod 98 was the designation stamped on the left side of the receiver for these rifles. Yours was made at the Brno factory in Czechoslovakia in 1944. The Germans used codes for their weapons manufacturers, and the Brno plant was assigned the code dot. The factory turned out at least 620,000 rifles in 1944. When your rifle left the factory the serial number (or the last two digits of it) would have been matching numbers on the barrel, bolt, stock, and some of the small parts including the rear sight leaf. There would also have been military firing proofs (Nazi Eagle holding a swastika), and weapons inspector stamps (an eagle with the number 63 under it for dot). If the ones on your rifle do not match, then parts have been replaced. All matching Kar 98k's are difficult to find, and priced accordingly. Marc

# 5543 - Winchester Lee Navy Parts
4/19/03
Jim, Goose Creek, SC

I have 2 Winchester Lee Navy rifles that have stocks that someone has cut down. Where can I go to find stocks for these? Thanks!!

Answer:
Jim- A few years ago you would have been in a world of hurt because Lee Navy parts were impossible to find. Originals still are, but thankfully the good folks at S&S Firearms (see our links page) now offer a number of critical parts- bolt stops, extractors, upper bands, and even repro forends. I have not seen these parts, but they usually have excellent quality stuff, so I do not hesitate to recommend them. They also have repro clips for the Lee Navy, and even parts for the slings and the Mills cartridge belts. Hope this helps, even though we have just blown our chances of finding any boogered Lee Navy rifles at a reasonable price to restore. John Spangler

# 5538 - 1878 Springfield
4/19/03
Dale Stow Ohio

I own a Springfield Trapdoor Model 1878. I have not found any information on a model 1878, I have seen plenty of models 1884, 1873, 1877, for sale and in pricing guides but have yet to see a model 1878. The model is punched '' US model 1878'' on the trapdoor close to the hinged end. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Answer:
Dale- Do not believe everything you hear, or even everything you read (except here at OldGuns.net, of course). You read the markings the same way as everyone else on the trapdoor breechblock and think it says Model 1878. However that just looks that way, and should be read as Model 1873, which refers to the basic model in the minds of the Ordnance Department. It was us collectors types who obsessed about things and decided that we could justify adding several more guns to our collections due to minor variations. Therefore we came up with the Model 1877 and 1879 designations, while the dumb old Ordnance folks just called them all Model 1873, and used the same marking on the breechblock for all of them. There are a couple of early variations with different 1873 markings, the common one that looks like 1878, an 1881 for the forager shotgun, a fairly common 1884, and an ultra scarce 1888 for the 100 positive cam rifles. There are several models of sights, 1873, 1877, 1879, and 1884, and those seem to be the driving factor in collector designated models. For an exceptionally thorough and accurate coverage of all things trapdoor, the best possible source is http://trapdoorcollector.com. That fine site is run by my friend Al Frasca, author of the two definitive volumes on trapdoors, and the newsletter revealing further secrets pried from the archives and artifacts. He recently added a great cross reference or index to help find the details on each model buried in the two books and all the newsletters. Lots of other neat stuff there too, so I urge everyone with even slight interest in trapdoors to check it out, but plan on being there a while. John Spangler

# 5437 - H&A Range Model
4/19/03
Pete, West Bend, WI USA

This is a seven shot revolver with an octagon barrel. I would like to know when it was manufactured.

Answer:
Pete, Hopkins and Allen manufactured firearms from 1868 to about 1915. Many of the firearms that they manufactured were "Suicide Special" type spur trigger revolvers but they also produced some larger model handguns, rifles and shotguns. Most Hopkins and Allen handguns were nickel plated, with blue finish originally costing $.50 extra. Grips were hard rubber, wood or pearl. Some Hopkins and Allen firearms had engraving from low to very good quality. The range model was manufactured in .22, .32 and .38 calibers. It had a solid frame with loading gate on right side and wood target style grips. I was unable to find any date information on the Range model, you might try posting a question on the forum at ArmsCollectors.com. Marc

# 5450 - Early M1903?
4/15/03
Doug, San Diego, CA

I recently received this rifle as a gift from my father-in-law. It was his dad's. Can you confirm if it is a model 1903, which I have heard, or a 1303 which it appears to read? What years was the rifle manufactured? What calibers did it come in?

Answer:
Doug, our website, www. M1903. com contains a page that gives you more information about the markings on the U. S. Model 1903 rifles. If your rifle is a U. S. Model 1903, this should be stamped on the receiver with the name Springfield Armory. If the serial number you gave is correct then the rifle was made in 1903. You did not tell us if the rifle is in the correct stock, and if there is date and manufacture on the barrel. If the rifle was made in 1903 it left the armory with a round bayonet that slid back into the stock. These rifles were recalled, new barrels and stocks were installed, and the bayonet removed. If your rifle is one of the very rare ones that did not receive these modifications, then it is quite valuable ($20,000 plus), if it is one that has been modified then the value is much less. Marc

# 5436 - Luger With Unit Markings
4/15/03
Sara, Bancroft, WV

On the bottom of the barrel is the numbers 4052, then an italic letter ''a'' and the number 3.82. The pistol grip is slanted, on the bottom of the grip is the markings 44.R.12.K.3. On the right side of the grip under the wood handle is the letters ''FS'' on the bottom of the grip. On top of the grip is the letter ''P''. On the left side of the grip under the wood handle is the letter ''x'', at the top of the grip is the letter ''H'', in the center is the letter ''w'', and the letter ''Z'' is at the bottom of the grip. There is what appears to be some marking on the top of the gun that looks like three letters however I can't make out what they are, they could possibly be ''DWM''. Also, it is stamped 1916 and there is the number 52 on every piece of the gun. Also there appears to be 4 very tiny markings on right side of the gun located right before the barrel starts. Someone told me it was a 9mm P-38, but I don't really know. I was just wondering what all the markings meant and if this was a valuable gun? I don't really know much about them, I just inherited it and was wondering if I should hang on to it or let it go cause I've had some friends make offers. Thanks! - Sara

Answer:
Sara you have a WWI vintage German military issue P-08 (Luger) pistol manufactured in 1916 by DWM - Deutsche Waffen u. Munitionswerke of Berlin-Borsigwalde, Germany. The letters on top of your Luger are DWM, the Deutsche Waffen u. Munitionswerke logo. The numbers on bottom of your Luger's barrel are the serial number "4052a" and the bore size in millimeters "3.82". The tiny markings on the right side of the frame are proof and military acceptance markings. The numbers "52" that are on various parts should all match the last two digits of your serial number (52). These numbers were stamped on the parts of the pistol while it was being assembled, they are used to verify that the parts are matching and original to the pistol. The most interesting markings are the ones on the on the front grip strap, they are WWI German unit markings. Collectors will pay a premium for weapons that have unit markings because they can be used to trace some of a weapons history. Your Luger's unit markings "44.R.12.K.3" signify that it was weapon 3 issued to infantry regiment 44 company 12. Value for your Luger can range from $350 to over $1000 depending condition, add $100 to $150 for the unit markings. Let us know if you decide to sell. Marc

# 5536 - Smith Carbine
4/15/03
Gary

Stamped on the gun: Address/Poultney & Trimble/Baltimore, USA and Smith's patent/June 23, 1857 Manufactured by/AM'N M'CH'N WKS/SPRINGFIELD, MASS This gun at the present time is not working. It does need minor repairs, a couple springs, etc. Could you please tell me how much this gun is worth today?

Answer:
Gary- Depending on how rusty and how much needs to be done, the value could range from very little as a source of parts to fix other guns upward. There is some shooter interest in Smith carbines, and many replacement parts are available from some of the sources on our links page. If the buttstock is in fine-excellent condition, I would be interested in it to restore a Smith in my collection, and then sell the leftovers for a shooter to enjoy. Without seeing it, we really cannot put a dollar amount on it, but a wild guess is $250-500. John Spangler

# 5533 - Underwood M1 Carbine Bayonet
4/12/03
Jon

Bomb near Underwood 3-43 just behind front sight. Rear sight adj. side ''LR. CO. 7160060''. Big ''M'' small ''wa'' on clip release button. four rivet handguard. What would be the proper bayonet & sheath for this era weapon? Also what should I look for in an authentic stock & handguard for this era weapon? Thank You!! Jon

Answer:
Jon- One of the really neat things that Marc came up with was a search tool to look up which type of bayonet goes with which type of U.S. military rifle. Check it out on the top of our Edged weapons catalog page. http://oldguns.net/catedw.htm Carbines made prior to early 1945 did not have the type of band that allows a bayonet to be installed in the normal fashion. With those, any bayonet will be fine, and a roll of duct tape (preferably camouflage or OD color) can be used to attach it. Carbines made very late in WW2 and most that later went through overhaul had the type of bands with the bayonet lug on the barrel. For those, you should get the M4 bayonet. Prior to the Korean war, they all had leather handles, but post Korean war examples were made with black plastic grips. A few of the leather handle bayonets had deteriorated leather grips replaced with new grips made of black rubber, or wood with crude checkering cut into them, or the black plastic grips, or cast aluminum grips very similar tot he plastic ones. A really serous collector will, of course, want one of each type. Naturally they will also want one of the leather handled examples from each of the eight makers who made that type, and four more to cover each of the makers who used plastic grips. Throw in a few oddballs, like variants made with M3 knife blades marked on the blade for good measure. You can probably get by with only a dozen carbine bayonets, but seriously addicted folks will need double that to cover all possible marking and grip combinations. Just to make sure you have not missed any, you should invest in Gary Cunningham's American Military bayonets of the 20th Century, and/or Michael Cole's U.S. Military Knives, Bayonets & Machetes Volumes 3 and 4 (or a new edition which combines Cole's books into a single volume). A membership in the Society of American Bayonet Collectors would help with your group therapy. Look for a membership application at http://BayonetCollectors.org and then send it to me, since I am their Secretary and Webmaster. You can meet the more interesting members of the group at the annual meeting in Baltimore in March. John Spangler

# 5529 - Frankford Arsenal 1878 .45 Ammunition
4/12/03
Jack, Wyndmere, ND

Sealed box ''12 Revolver Ball Cartridges Calibre .45, Frankford Arsenal, 1878'' I'm inquiring as to what this box of ammo might be worth.

Answer:
Jack- Full sealed boxes of that vintage are hard to find, and sought mainly by guys who just spent a small fortune on a Colt Single Action Army revolver. Unless they are totally broke, or about to be divorced, they are delighted that a box of ammo to take out shooting with their new sidearm is relatively cheap. Fearful of divorce, and as a retired military man always living in genteel poverty, I have learned not to lust after such things myself. I have seen a similar box recently, and if I remember correctly the price was something in the range of $450 to $650. I was not really paying attention so I could be wrong, or it could have been a pre-Custer box which would be even more outrageous than later boxes. John Spangler

# 5435 - Marlin 99M1
4/12/03
Timothy Ash North Carolina

No Special Markings This gun was giving to me when I was 12 I am 40 Now and have many guns, but this gun has a superior feel to it I have seen a couple around but was unable to purchase them where can I find one of these guns.

Answer:
Timothy, The Marlin Model 99M1 was a short carbine with the same tubular magazine and action as the 99 and 99U. The main difference was that the 99M1 had a wooden hand guard and an 18-inch barrel to make it look more like a US military M1 Carbine. Marlin introduced the 99M1 in hopes that the resemblance to the US M1 would appeal to the thousands of WW II veterans who had trained with and carried into combat the larger caliber US M I carbine. The 99M1 was a success and over 160,000 were sold before production was discontinued in 1978.

Since this model has not been manufactured in over 20 years, you may have a difficult time locating one. Some good places to look would be local pawn shops, gun shows, the Gun List and Shotgun News. You could also try posting an add in the OldGuns.net free wanted list. Marc

# 5458 - 336 RC
4/8/03
Don, Monahans, TX.

What does the RC in the model ( 336 RC ) stand for?

Answer:
Don, the Marlin 336 RC was similar to the Model 336, with a 20 inch barrel and a two thirds length magazine tube. RC stands for regular carbine. Marc

# 5432 - Walther PP?
4/8/03
Vito, Tulsa OK

AC below the Ser # Hello Experts! This gun was taken during WWII by my Grandfather. I have heard that most of Walthers records were lost so I'm just wondering if we can get any information about the Serial number or the other marks. The gun does not have the Walther banner on the slide, but has this Serial number 386484-P. Near this number is the letters ''AC'' The serial number is on the body as well as the slide. Any information would be Great. Thanks. Vito.

Answer:
Vito, early Walther PP and PPK serial numbers were in the same series with different blocks being assigned to each model. In 1929 when the pistols were first introduced serial numbers started at 750000, when numbers reached 1000000, a new series was initiated. In the new series numbers began at 100000 and a letter suffix was added: "P" to PP serial numbers and suffix "K" to PPK serial numbers. The serial number that you provided (386484-p) leads me to believe that you have a PP not a PPK. A way for you to tell which model you have is measure the barrel, PP barrels are 99 millimeters in length while PPK barrels are 85 millimeters. I do not know of any serial number records that exist to tell us about your Walther's history, but I can give you some information about the markings.

The Walther trademark and factory identification stamping on the slide of PP pistols was replaced in 1945 by the code letters assigned to Walther "ac". Military issue pistols will have a military acceptance stamp (eagle over WaA359) on the left hand side of the frame to the rear of the trigger and on the left side of the slide just forward of the grip. There should be no military test proof. The commercial test proof (eagle over "N") should be located on the right hand side of the slide below the ejection port, on the right hand side of the chamber (barrel), and also on the right hand side of the barrel near the muzzle. Maybe not the expert help that you anticipated but I hope this helps. Marc

# 5514 - British Military Flintlock Rifle
4/8/03
Robert, Atlanta GA

'George Newnham' is engraved on the left side of the barrel and 'Landport Portsmouth' on the right--both engraved in italics/cursive lettering just above the frizzen spring. On the right side, behind the lock is the number 1258 and in front of the lock is the remnants of the British crown marking you see on the late 1800 model Tower Arms muskets. How do I go about identifying an old flintlock rifle I recently received? It has an octagonal barrel that is rifled. Its lock mechanism, stock, overall size and style are all very similar to the Brown Bess or Tower Carbines of the 1800s. It also has a rear sight about 2 1/2 inches forward of the Newnham/Portsmouth engravings (toward the muzzle) which consists of a hard sight, two other flip-up sights and then a third flip-up sight which has multiple markings up to 600(in measurements of 100). No bands on the barrel. It has no sling provisions and the ramrod slides in below the barrel. Let me know if you would like me to send a picture

Answer:
Robert- This barrel markings are probably those of George Newham of 29 Commercial Road, Lamport, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The earliest reference I can find to this firm is 1866, and they apparently continued with slight name changes into the 1920s. The barrel markings and the three leaf "Express" sights are typical of high quality guns of the period 1870-1900. The file-like mattted surface on the top flat of the barrel shows no dings or bruises although they are plentiful on the other surfaces, so this raises questions about when and why the matted texture was added. The lock has the oval hole in the double throated or reinforced hammer, a design feature added in East India Company arms circa 1800, and used through about 1850. The overall workmanship on the lock is below that expected even on contract arms made in England, and the lock shows distinctly more wear and abuse than the barrel. The 1258 on the lock is done with stamps that lack serifs, a distinctly 20th century font. The quality of the workmanship on the stock is very poor, and there appears to be filling around the edges of the lock inletting. The trigger shape is a style found on English arms after about 1853, and the trigger is placed excessively far forward relative to the trigger guard. Based on the incongruous mix of parts, I believe this is a gun that was assembled from parts, probably in the region of India, Pakistan or Afghanistan. It may have been done 100 years ago, or quite recently. These are very decorative, and nice souvenirs, but would not have a lot of collector value. John Spangler

# 5504 - Socket Bayonet Found In Milk House
4/5/03
Terry, Acton, MA

I have a bayonet found in the wall of an old milk house. It is approx. 16 inches long, is triangular with the top wider than the lower portion. The mounting collar has a ''Z'' slot beginning at the bottom and extending to the right side. Markings are ''US'' on the collar, ''P'' on the collar at the slot end and what appears to be ''DG'' on top of the blade near the mount. Any help identifying this piece would be appreciated

Answer:
Terry- Socket bayonets have been in use since shortly after the Pilgrims jumped off the Mayflower and chased the Indians away. The designs evolved slowly, and with different features in different countries. Unfortunately, your description provides few clues that are terribly significant. The fact that it is marked US indicates that it probably was in use no earlier than about 1790, unless it is something left over from the Revolutionary War that was "surcharged" to show U.S. government property status shortly after the war. Most bayonets made for U.S. military use in subsequent years were marked US on the blade, sometimes accompanied by maker or inspector initials. The last of the regulation socket bayonets were made in the early 1890s at the end of the "trapdoor" era. In the 100 year period 1790-1890 dozens of models and variations were made, and the best reference is Robert M. Reilly's American Socket Bayonets and Scabbards. Some important points (a little bayonet humor there) are that most made before 1840 do not have a locking ring that slides around on the socket to lock it in position. Most were made so that the blade would stick out on the right side of the rifle/musket when in final position. Thus, the position of the zig zag shaped slot for the bayonet stud which is closest to the point of the bayonet will indicate the location of the bayonet stud on the barrel. This is usually either on the top of the barrel (often combined with the front sight) or the bottom of the barrel, and can help date the bayonet. The shape of the lightning cut, or "fuller" in the blade helps date bayonets. Those made after 1840 usually had a rounded cut all the way down the "face" flat of the bayonet to within about an inch of the socket, and the two other faces went all the way to the rear of the blade. Between 1816 and 1840 the face of the blade often had a very small flute or lightning cut maybe a third or half of the way. Very early examples tended to be hand made and individually fitted to a single gun, while those from 1816-1840 were somewhat interchangeable, mostly by luck, while those after 1840 were almost always fully interchangeable. Your best answers might come from checking the Society of American Bayonet Collectors website, http://BayonetCollectors.org where you can see the proper terminology and measurement techniques for socket bayonets. Then you would be ready to ask on their forum for help in identifying your bayonet. My guess (with a full money back guarantee) is that you have a Model 1816 bayonet, but better check it out with them to be sure. John Spangler

# 5495 - Colt T4 Machine Gun (cannon) .90 Caliber
4/5/03
Phil, VA Beach, VA

I would like any pics or information on the T4 cannon. This was an experimental WWII-era machine gun, made by Colt, chambered for .90 Cal. I have a live cartage, and have always been intrigued by the old .90 Cal guns. Chinn's only has about a paragraph on the T4, and Colt wasn't much help at all.

Answer:
Phil- It looks like .90 caliber would convert to about 23mm, and I an not aware of U.S> experiments with that caliber. You are beyond my area of even pretended expertise. However, I suspect that if you asked on the forum on the International Ammunition Association website (http://CartridgeCollectors.org) that someone there would know. One of the folks on their links page, Anthony Williams, has an excellent book (and website) you may find interesting: Rapid Fire: The Development of Automatic Cannon, Heavy Machine Guns and their Ammunition for Armies, Navies and Air Forces. This is superbly researched and illustrated with a good mix of historical background and technical information that shows the context of the evolving design of military weapons systems. Unlike Chinn's respected, but now half century old, volumes, this gets into currently used systems, and blends not just the gun, but the ammunition, fire control system, and the vehicle/ship/aircraft on which the guns are mounted. Some very smart people have developed some very effective systems, and not only in the U.S. Highly recommended for anyone interested in military history or weaponry. John Spangler

# 5430 - Collectible WWI Mauser
4/5/03
John

I have a 1913 Erfurt Mauser 98a rifle-all matching numbers, including the stock-no import stamp. The stock is stamped A.E.F. in deep letters-what does this mean?

Answer:
John, congratulations on having a collectible World War I rifle. Finding Kar 98a's with all matching parts is a rare event. As to the initials, all I can do is guess. How about Allied Expeditionary Force. The initials AEF were used to describe the military units we sent to France in 1917-1918. But who knows? Sorry that I could not be more helpful. Marc

# 5429 - Jukar Black Powder Revolver
4/1/03
Dannie

flintlock..with Jukar, Spain..Black Powder Only on the octagon barrel I'd like some history and value of this gun that's been in the family for some time..we 're thinking of selling but don't know much about it ..thanks for your help.

Answer:
Dannie, there is not a lot of history to tell, your revolver is a recent import black powder replica. Thousands have been imported from Italy and Spain in the last 20 years. Values for most of the common variations is in the $100 range. Marc

# 5428 - French 1935A
4/1/03
Kenneth, Goodrich, MI

NAZI-Proofed (WaA251) stamped on left side just after the modle # How much is the pistol worth and is the ammo readily available, would also like to know if a Field Manual is available

Answer:
Kenneth, have you seen the add for French military surplus rifles, it reads:

Surplus rifles for sale - great condition - never fired dropped twice.

The 1935A was adopted by the French military in 1935. In June of 1940, during the collaboration of France and Germany, the SCAM factory was turned over to German supervision. There is not much collectors interest in pistols manufactured before German supervision, this is probably due to the well deserved dastardly reputation of the treacherous French. Pistols manufactured under German supervision are more valuable and should be marked with the German military acceptance stamp (eagle over WaA251) on the left side of the frame just forward of the serial number and with a German military test proof on the left flat surface of the barrel. Values for Nazi proofed pistols are in the $150 - $350 range depending on condition.

The 1935A is chambered for a .32 Long cartridge similar to the one developed for the U.S. Pedersen device of 1918. This cartridge was manufactured only in France. Except for occasional lots of surplus ammunition imported into the U.S., it is difficult to obtain. I do not know of a good source for ammunition or a field manual, you can try posting a want on the OldGuns.net free wanted page. For the ammunition try the Old Western Scrounger. There is a link to them on our links page. Marc

# 5468 - Reproduction M1863 Muskets
4/1/03
Jessi, Caldwell, Ohio

Were reproductions of this gun made? My father has one and is not sure if it is a reproduction or not. He thinks it is a reproduction, but we can not find any information on the Internet concerning this matter. If there is a copy reproduction, could you tell me who made it, when it was made, the value, and how many were made? Thank you for your time.

Answer:
Jessi- Without seeing the gun, it is hard to be sure if you have an original or a reproduction. Various firms have produced reproductions for the general market for about 20-30 years now, coming from both Japan and Italy. They are usually marked with a maker or dealer name on the barrel and warnings about use black powder only, serial numbers, made in Japan/Italy, etc. The parts, especially the wood, appear to be new, and the lock plates are usually highly polished. Originals should look at least a little bit "old", or they could be an exceptionally well preserved example worth quite a bit to a collector. Originals would only have a date on the top flat of the barrel just ahead of the "tang" part that screws into the back of the barrel. The sloping flat on the left at the breech would have a V over P and an eagle head. Sometimes there will be two or three initials, or the word "STEEL" on the very left vertical flat. There is generally at least a little bit of roughness or pitting in the breech area around the nipple from the mercury in the percussion caps. Lockplates were case hardened with a splotchy mix of gray, black, blue and brown colors, sometimes visible on the outside, but almost always visible inside when the lock is removed. In addition to the easily distinguished originals and reproductions there is another breed that is less obvious. Ever since about 1950, the North South Skirmish Association (http://www.n-ssa.org) has been holding matches for teams in authentic uniforms using at first original, and later, reproduction Civil War arms. These are great family fun, and I encourage everyone who has the opportunity to visit such an event. The Skirmishers have a small groups of folks who make replacement parts for them, and these may appear to be original to all but experts. The interesting and educational hobby of "living history" or "reenacting" also involves large numbers of people using Civil War style arms. In their zeal for authenticity, they often take reproduction arms and "defarb" them to make them look more authentic, by removing the ugly modern markings and usually restamping them in hidden places. Some of the reproduction parts are fully interchangeable with the originals, while others differ quite a bit in fit and quality. If you sent us a photo we may be able to help, but if uncertain, then someone would have to examine it in person to be sure. If original, you have a responsibility to take care of this little bit of our history, which helped preserve our country. John Spangler