# 12960 - Welcome Mathewson Percussion Rifle.
5/31/2008
Phillip, Jonesboro, AR USA

The rifle is obviously very old, made in the old Pennsylvania Flintlock style however the lock is percussion. It is unknown if it was converted over from flintlock or has had the lockplate replaced. It has a rather large brass patchbox with what appears to be a doe head at the hinge side. It has double set triggers and the stock runs about one third the length of the octagon barrel with an exposed steel ramrod with an egg shaped swell about six inches back from the muzzle. The only identification on the rifle are the words ''Welcome'' and ''Matthewes''. Calibre unknown, possibly .45 or .50. I would like to know where, when and by whom this rifle was built and if it has and collector value. Thank You, Phillip

Answer:
Phillip- I think you have a very good item there! Welcome Mathewson lived 1778-1872 and worked circa 1796-1830 in Burrelsville, Rhode Island making flintlock guns. He may have made percussion guns later, or this may have been converted later. We would love to see some photos on this one. I suspect that the stock may have been shorted at some point. I suspect thar the ramrod is actually from a U.S. model 1855- 1861 musket, which had the swell about six inches from the tip. Collector value depends on condition and any alterations, but I would thin would be several hundred dollars, perhaps more. John Spangler

# 12953 - Model 1873 Winchester Dates
5/31/2008
Paul, St Robert, MO

I have a Winchester model 73 that is 95% rated. My question is how early did they manufacture these? The date of Manufacture stamped is Mar 6 1861. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. GySgt N USMC

Answer:
Gunny- Thanks for your service as a Marine! The Winchester Model 1873 production began in (…pause…. suspenseful drum roll, please….) 1873! Yours was made around 1884. The patent date only indicates that the idea for one of the design element was patented on that date, not that it was actually made then. I am not sure what that patent date actually refers to, it may be a sight, or some other minor part, not the main features of the rifle. John Spangler

# 12409 - Lady Derringer Value
5/31/2008
Sherry

Pearl handles; gold colored barrels, etc. Originally had authenticity certificate but guns were stolen and police returned but certificate lost. Packed in cream colored case with Lady Derringer Colt on cover of lid. Back of case says, ''Box made in Sweden expressly for Colt's Small Arms Division, Hartford Connecticut. Looking for any information dating guns, value, etc.

Answer:
Sherry, the 27th Edition of the Blue Book of Gun Values indicates that Colt marketed the Lady Derringer between 1970 and 1973. The model had a gold plated finish, pearlite grips, side pivoting Thuer type action and was available chambered in .22 Short only. The book indicates that very few were manufactured but values are still low, they top out at under $200. Marc

# 12390 - Date And Value Resource
5/27/2008
Michael

How do I find the manufacturer date, or can you tell me the manufacturer date? What resource can you refer me to find the value of the gun? Thanks!

Answer:
Michael, to look up the manufacture date, follow the US Military dates of manufacture link on our menu bar. The bar is on the left hand side of this page and the link is about half way down. To find the value, you can look in our catalog and compare your rifle to several that we have listed there for sale. If you want to spend some money, you can purchase a copy of the Blue Book of Gun Values. They are for sale from their site on the Internet which can be found with a Google search. Marc

# 12383 - Cheap 22
5/27/2008
Jeane, DeRidder, LA

Snowflake on barrel part with % sign then 55 with jagged line Would like to know approximately how old the pistol is and how much it is valued. . .

Answer:
Jeane, your revolver was manufactured in West Germany sometime in the 1960s. Firearms of this type are often called "Saturday night specials", they are of low quality and have no collector interest. Values are usually in the $50 or less range. Marc

# 13178 - Muzzle Loading Rifle - Shotgun Combination Gun
5/27/2008

In my mothers effects we found a double barreled muzzle loader with side by side barrels. The barrels are about 40 inches long, and one looks to be a smooth bore about 9/16 inch inside diameter and the other looks like it is a grooved barrel that is about 3/8 inch inside diameter. The gin has two triggers and two locks. The only markings I can find other than scroll work is on each lock plate which say R. Ashmore and Son in sort of a gothic or old English font style. The letters are a little hard to read.

We have no Idea where the gun came from or how long it has been in the family. I'm trying to find out when and where the gun might have been made. It seems to be in pretty good shape for some thing that looks to be quite old. How do I find out what this gun is?

Answer:
Sir- Based on your description, it sounds like it is a "combination gun" which allowed a person to hunt with both a shotgun and a rifle at the same time, so if they saw a deer or some sort of smaller game, they were prepared for either one. These seem to have been especially popular in the New York state area.

Ashmore was a lock maker, who sold locks to many different gunsmiths who then used them in assembling guns with other parts they bought or made themselves. The long barrels suggest it is fairly early. I am assuming it is percussion, not flintlock. If that is the case, I would date it to about 1830-1840, but perhaps as late as 1860.

Value depends on condition and the quality of workmanship, but a rough guess would probably be in the several hundred dollar range.

If you want to get an exact measurement on the barrel length and send a few photos, I will be glad to see if there is anything else I can add. John Spangler

# 13177 - Swedish Mauser Rifles 6.5 X 55mm
5/24/2008
Monica

Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me where I would find information on a G-17 Carl Gustafs Stads 6.5x55. I have never owned a gun before and know nothing about any guns except that a Ruger Red hawk plants you on your butt when shooting it, if of course you’re 5' 4” and 94 lbs. With new stuff about allowing cloned beef to be sold alongside regular beef and the other horrible stuff your seeing on the news maybe hunting for elk and such would be better for my children. Hopefully I bought a gun capable for doing such a thing. I bought it at an auction and they could not tell me much. I doubt when I take it in to have it checked out and cleaned the person doing so would be able to tell me much, because it is suppose to be Swedish. Well, Thank you for your time.

Answer:
Monica- We don't know much about cloned cows or nutrition, but we know about guns.

The Swedish Mausers are very well made guns of the finest materials. The 6.5 x 55mm Swedish cartridge is an excellent one, although not always easy to find. I believe that the ballistics make it suitable for most North American big game, but I am not a hunter and would defer to the knowledge of others.

Reportedly they are a very pleasant gun to shoot, and quite accurate. Collector values are modest because large numbers of them were imported as surplus over the last 25 years, so if you (or someone else) altered it to make it better suit your preferences for hunting, it is not destroying valuable history. Enjoy! John Spangler

# 13176 - M1903A3 Stock Types
5/24/2008
Tom

Is a straight stock without finger grooves correct to any Springfield 1903-A3. My research is sketchy at best but it seems the stocks changed to the scant type or even \"C\" with these rifles but I still see some with straight stocks.

Answer:
Tom- NO, repeat NO M1903A3 rifles were delivered with anything but straight stocks without finger grooves.

M1903A4 sniper rifles (although they are marked MODEL 03-A3 offset to the left to be read with the scope mount base in place) were ONLY delivered with scant or full pistol grip stocks.

If anyone says otherwise, challenge them to show you a scant or full pistol grip stock with genuine Remington or Smith-Corona cartouches.

There are 03A3s with scant or full pistol grip stocks around, but they are all replacement stocks (including two on display at the Cody Firearms Museum- the curator checked them for me!) Be alert to the fact that some scumbags are stamping fake cartouches on all sorts of guns, so you need to be very careful about accepting them as original any more, especially on a non- standard configuration. John Spangler

# 12373 - Stolen Winchester Model 70 Value
5/24/2008
William Field, Lakewood, CO.

This was a rifle my father owned along with 11 other rifles. This rifle was stolen and I am trying to find an approximate value. This rifle had a nice scope, lather sling, and checkered forearm It was in mint condition noting it had been fired few times. Please provide your best guess as to the value of such a rifle.

Answer:
William, your question is harder to answer than it appears that it should be because there are several complicating factors. Probably the biggest is that Winchester rifles manufactured before 1964 are worth about twice as much as those that were made after 1964. To make things more difficult, in the 1990s Winchester introduced a Model 70 Classic Sporter which was based on the pre-64 Model 70 design. Model 70 Classic Sporters are worth more than the regular Model 70s that were manufactured after 1964, but less than a pre-64 Model 70 is.

If I knew your serial number, it would be easy to determine when the rifle was made, but without it, there is not much that can be done. It may help you to know that value for a pre-64 Model 70 in the condition you describe would be around $650 - $750, about $350 for a regular post-64, and $550 for a Classic. Add $100-$200 for the scope if it was one of the more expensive brands like Leupold or Nikon. The sling and less expensive scopes brands like Bushnell or Tasco do not add enough to the rifle's value to note the difference. Marc

# 12369 - Winchester 1890 - ''22 Short-long Or Long Rifle''?
5/20/2008
Sandy, Kearney, MO

''22 short-long or long rifle'' on side of barrel. From prior Q&A's, it seems that the Model 1890 was manufactured to fire only one type of ammo per rifle. The marking on this barrel would indicate otherwise. I inherited this rifle from my Dad, and would like to know more about it. Thanks.

Answer:
Sandy, Henshaw's excellent Winchester book indicates that Model 1890 rifles were only made for one caliber and that they were not interchangable. Without seening your rifle I can not be sure, but my guess is that it is not an 1890 or that the barrel has been changed. Marc

# 12365 - Rusty Iver Johnson
5/20/2008
Steve Troy, Idaho

A.Uberti & C.Gardone VT Italy, three screw brass frame date of manufacture and potential value with minor surface rust.

Answer:
Steve, your revolver sounds like Iver Johnson's Cattleman Magnum. The Cattleman Magnum was an Italian manufactured single action, 6 shot Colt replica with case colored frame, blue barrel, and brass grip frame. Revolvers were available with 4 & 3/4, 5 & 1/2, or 7 & 1/2 inch barrels in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, or .45 Long Colt calibers. The model was discontinued 1984. Prices for the Cattleman Magnum in the blue book range from around $100 to $275. I would expect to see a rusty example sell for around $150. Marc

# 13175 - Standard Arms .25 Caliber Pump Rifle
5/20/2008
Gerry

I recently inherited a Standard Arms .25 caliber pump rifle. I have not been able to find any information on this gun either on-line or through two local gun collectors. Can you point me in the right direction to find out more about this rifle, including its potential value?

Answer:
Gerry- Standard Arms rifles were made circa 1909-1914 in 3 or 4 calibers, and in two different models, with about 12,000 total production. Although made in low numbers, they turn up on the collector market fairly often and buyers seem to be scarcer than the rifles. Values seem to run in the several hundred dollar range, if there is a buyer interested.

The Model G would function as a semi auto "Gas operated" or manually like any other pump gun. The Model M was only Manually operated. Other than a couple of short paragraphs in Flayderman's Guide on these, I do not recall seeing any other info on them. Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 13173 - British .303 Enfield- Another Pancho Villa Gun?
5/17/2008

I recently bought an Enfield .303 from a guy who said that it was one of the weapons that Poncho Villa and his gang stole during their assault on Columbus, New Mexico. He told me that he'd bought it from a man who's uncle had been in Villa's gang and was a part of the attack. I'd like to know if there are any sources you'd know about that may prove or disprove a story like this. Thank you!

Answer:
Jeff- I cannot think of any logical explanation for an Enfield .303 being in Columbus, NM prior to about 1940. I have heard rumors for years that Mrs. Villa made quite a fortune selling off "the General's guns" to various gullible parties.

Most Enfields have a date on the butt socket and that should be well before the raid in 1914 if there is even a remote chance that somehow they got some (not yet surplus) British military rifles to use. Otherwise the story falls apart at that point. John Spangler

# 13172 - Old Colt Value ( Not Old! )
5/17/2008

I recently came into possession of a colt 45 black powder pistol. One individual told me it is worth 27,000.00 and another said I would be lucky if it is worth 100.00. Here is the info on it. If you could give me your opinion of its value, I would greatly appreciate it. AP 48329 ASM Black Powder Only Made in Italy Engaged May 1843. Thank you in advance for your prompt reply.

Answer:
Sir- Someone has been watching Antiques Roadshow too much, and not paying attention to details. Cars have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, but a 1998 Chevy made in Detroit is not the same as a 1936 custom built Rolls Royce.

Sam Colt built pistols in Hartford, CT (and Paterson, NJ before that) but never in Italy. If someone offers you $100, take the money and be very happy to get it. Or, give the guy who thinks it is worth $27,000 a heck of a deal at only $500. John Spangler

# 12354 - What Was It Used For???
5/17/2008
Anthony Louisville, KY US

It has a bull on the handle. What era was it made in? What was it used for and what is the potential value of the gun?

Answer:
Anthony, F.I.E. is an acronym for Firearms Import & Export. If memory serves me correctly F.I.E. was located in Hialeah, FL and they imported many inexpensive firearms during the 1980's. F.I.E. filed bankruptcy in November of 1990 and all of their models were discontinued at that time.

I am not sure that I understand why you would ask what was your revolver was used for? As with all guns, putting holes in things is the intended use. Although in my opinion, many FIE revolvers that I have seen might be better used as a hammer or boat anchor (for a small boat). Values for most FIE .22s are not high, they are usually less than $75.00. Marc

# 12351 - Need More Info
5/13/2008
Ryan, Havana, Fl

DWM on top of gun in cursive, the word Gesichert is located were the safety is My question is, how much is this gun worth?? A gun store looked it up in an 10 year old book and come to the conclusion that it was worth in between 2000 and 2800 according to this 10 year old book. So if you could tell me more about it I would really appreciate it.

Answer:
Ryan, DWM is the manufacturer of your Luger, the initials stand for Deutsche Waffen & Munitions Fabriken. Gesichert is the German word for safe. The pistol is designed so that Gesichert is visible when the safety is in the on position, thus indicating that the safety is turned on.

Without more details about condition and markings than you provided, it is just about impossible for me to give you an estimate of value. I can tell you that most 7.65mm Lugers were made for commercial sales, and that commercial Lugers are less popular with collectors than their military counterparts. Marc

# 12346 - Walther Mod. 8
5/13/2008
Edwin

''F'' stamped on left side behind trigger. Left side of grip has a blue circular emblem with a ''W'' superimposed on top of a ''C''. Right side of grip has a blue circular emblem with ''6.35'' inside. Right side of slide is marked ''Waffenfabrik Walther Zella-Mehlis(Thur.)Right side of frame & slide has an ''N'' lying on its side with what looks like a crown with a cross on top of it just to the right of the ''N''. Can you please offer some history and approximate original value and current value of this handgun? It was purchased in Germany by a friend many years ago. I apologize for not knowing the exact calibur. It looks as though it could be a .25 or a .32.

Answer:
Edwin, it sounds like this pistol is a Model 8. Walter introduced the Model 8 in 1920, it was chambered in .25 ACP, and had a 2 & 7/8 inch barrel, fixed sights, black checkered plastic grips with round medallions and blue or nickel finish.

The Model 8 was the first Walter to use the trigger guard as a stripping catch. The guard pivots and an extension of the front edge passes through a slot in the frame below the barrel where it limits movement of the slide to the rear. To remove the slide, the guard is released by depressing a spring catch on the right front side and then pulled away from the frame. After that the slide can be pulled back far enough to free it from the frame at the rear so it can be lifted and removed.

Walter produced about 250,000 Model 8 pistols from their introduction in 1920, until 1943 when the model was discontinued.

I have been unable to find any information about prices when the model was first introduced but current blue book values range between $125 and about $700 depending on condition, markings and type of finish. Although bluebook prices are high for this model, it has been my experience that it is often hard to sell most .25 caliber pistols. Marc

# 13171 - Another Wells Fargo Shotgun
5/13/2008
Don California

On right side of trigger housing it is marked ''SYRACUSE FORGING'' and directly under it has ''SYRACUSE NY''. On the left side of the trigger housing it is marked ''NEW BAKER''. There is what appears a later non-factory stamping on the right side of trigger housing ''8 16''. On the right stock is stamped ''WELLS FARGO & CO.'' under it ''SAN FRANCISCO 8 16'' I know L.C.Smith produced the Baker Shotgun for a time in the 1880's at their Syracuse, NY, factory and they did do business with dealers that supplied Wells Fargo. Is what I described a ''Wells Fargo'' Coach Gun? It is good condition overall and appears unaltered. If a serial number is present I cannot find it. Please advise. Thank you.

Answer:
Don- Sorry, we cannot help with that one without a great deal of specialized research in records not available to us. In my opinion, probably more than 99% of the purported "Wells Fargo" guns are merely junky old shotguns worth almost nothing that have been converted to "valuable collector items" by unscrupulous fakers.

Probably a nice wall hanger for a western themed restaurant or den, but I would not be willing to authenticate it under any conditions. John Spangler

# 13170 - SL 42 .50 Caliber Machine Gun Case Found In Italy
5/10/2008
Max Tuscany, Italy

Hi to everybody, I'm an Italian guy, and I've found in my field, in Tuscany, a bullet [cartridge case] that has, on the bottom written S L 42. What does it means?, and what is it? it's bigger than a 30- 06 , it is like double the size. Thanks a lot for your reply.

Answer:
Max- Your cartridge was is a .50 caliber machine gun case made at St. Louis Arsenal in 1942, and probably fired during WW2. The .50 machine gun was used in most US aircraft, and also by some ground troops. In Europe the cartridge is known as the 12.7 x 9mm Browning. Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 13169 - Nickel Plated Colt Navy
5/10/2008
Dave, Ontario

I have two Colt 36 cal. pistol, that appear to have a Navy design on the chamber. However, they have been nickel plated. Now I know my Grandfather was in law enforcement. My question is, did Colt ever nickel plate any of his revolvers? Can nickel plating be removed? Thanks.

Answer:
Dave- Nickel plating was not a commercially viable process until about 1868, but after that most makers offered nickel finish as an option on most handguns, and of course would be willing to refinish older guns in the new fashion for a price.

Nickel plating can be removed but I am not sure of the details but it is not something that is easy to do, nor are the results as pretty as most people would hope for. It is best to leave the guns alone and accept the nickel as part of their long history. John Spangler

# 12337 - Savage DOM
5/10/2008
Vic, Spencer, IN.

Savage Arms Corporation, Chicopee Fall, Ma. I am attempting to determine the value and the location of the serial number on this little pump gun. Hopefully the Model Number and the location of the Savage Arms company (above)will be able to tell us approximately when the rifle was made

Answer:
Vic, references indicate that the Savage Model 29/29A was manufactured from 1929 to 1967. The rifle was a slide-action design with a 22 inch barrel and open sights, it was chambered to accept .22 Short, Long, or Long Rifle carriages. Prior to the 1968 gun control laws, it was fairly common for inexpensive rifles and shotguns to not be serial numbered. If you can not find a serial number on the gun, it probably never had one, that will make it difficult to determine a date of manufacture. One fact that may help you to narrow the time is that pre WWII Model 29 rifles had an octagon barrel and checkered pistol grip stock while post WWII models had a round barrel with plain stock. The blue book lists values for Savage Model 29/29A rifles between $100 and $350 depending on condition. Pre WWII models are worth $50 to $100 more than comparable rifles that were manufactured after the war. Marc

# 12330 - Spreewerke P.38 Information
5/6/2008
Matt

cyq (Spreewerke), eagle-over88, 4862 x, jvd on clip. Eagle88, eagle over swastika and eagle over 84( I think) on right side of slide. Black grip. Overall, good finish with a few scratches and obvious machine marks. No rust. Seems to be in fine working order. Holster is soft-body with extra clip in storage. Holster marked dkk 44 as well as p38. Extra clip simply marked p38 and eagle over359. Any history, as well as value would be appreciated. Was among my grandfather's possessions at his time of death. He served in France and Italy during WWII, infantry

Answer:
Matt, as you know "cyq" is the WW-II German ordnance code assigned to Spreewerke GmbH, Metallwarenfabrik, Berlin Spandau, Germany. Spreewerke got it's name from the company's main offices, located on the bank of the Spree River in Spandau, a suburb of Berlin. Spreewerke serial numbers are limited to four digits and a letter suffix but they did not start over at the beginning of each year and there is no year marking. For P.38 pistols manufactured by Spreewerke, collectors use the letter suffix to estimate the year of manufacture. My calculations tell me that Spreewerke P.38 pistols with "x" serial number suffixes were manufactured in November and December of 1944.

Spreewerke P.38 pistols typically exhibit rough machining with visible milling marks like you describe. Your pistol should be stamped with an eagle over a swastika on the right hand side of the slide and an eagle over 88 twice on the right hand side of the slide, once on the frame above the trigger, once on the right hand side of the barrel locking block and once on the left side of the barrel group. The eagle over 88 stamping is a German WW-II Heerswaffenamt inspectors mark for the Spreewerke P.38 pistol and the eagle over a swastika is a military acceptance stamp.

Your pistol sounds like a nice memento of your grandfather and I am glad to hear that it is still in your family. I would expect to see a P.38 pistol with holster like you are describing sell at a gunshow in the $850.00 - $900.00 range. Not quite as much as a comparable Luger with holster would bring, but not bad either. Marc

# 12322 - Walther DUO?
5/6/2008
England

I apprenticed as a gunsmith some 25 yrs ago and was lucky enough to be working on a small cache of captured German guns. One of these were unable to find any record of at the time and I still to this day cannot find anything. It was described by it's collector as a German officer's boot pistol. Made by Walther and named as a 'Duo'. It is very similar to a colt .25 having a grip length of little more than 2''. Can you provide any info in relation to this gun. I no longer have access to it but remember when working on it that it was stamped with the ss insignia. Kind regards. Phil

Answer:
Except for the PP and PPK, all of the war time and pre-war Walter models listed in my reference books are designed by numbers. I could not find a Walter Duo model and this leads me to suspect that the small pistol you remember was not a Water. I was able to find that DUO was a trade name used on small pistols manufactured by Frantisek Dusek of Opocno, Czechoslovakia from 1926 to 1948, and by Ceska Zbreojovka in 1948. It is likely that the pistol you remember was one of these. Marc

# 13168 - Jacob Harder Swivel Breech Rifle
5/6/2008
Tiny

Years ago I acquired a rifle that is a 50. cal black powder made by J. Harder of Lockhaven, PA. It is a double barrel that twists once you fire a shot. I have been unable to find any information other than 50 of these rifles were made also would like to know its value if possible. Thank you for any information you may give.

Answer:
Tiny- According to Frank Sellers' American Gunsmiths" book, Jacob Harder worked in Athens, PA from 1838 to 1860 and then at Lock Haven from 1860 to 1888. He made multi barrel percussion rifles and then after receiving a patent in 1885 for a breechloading design, made breechloaders. Sellers got some of this information from the December 1944 issue of Muzzle Blasts.

It appears your rifle would have been made circa 1860-1885, towards the end of the percussion era. The "swivel breech" design is fairly common and was used by many makers, some even in flintlock very early in the 19th century.

I do not follow values on this type of rifle, but my educated guess is that they would bring something like $500-1500 depending on condition, maker, quality of workmanship and visual appeal, with early guns bringing more than later ones. Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 13167 - Hall Carbine With Sliding Bayonet
5/3/2008

For years there has been an old gun above our fireplace. Now, my next generation has questions about this firearm. Can you help with any info about the following? The gun (I say gun because I don't see any rifling in the bore, is a breechloader. there is an integral bayonet that slides out under the barrel and locks with a spring clip. it fires by a percussion cap. a small reverse trigger is located in front of the trigger and this moves backwards to raise the breech. the markings on the top of the breech are: "U S S. NORTH MIDLtn CONN. 1839." Thank you and the youngster thanks you. Sir- Your gun is a "Hall Breechloading rifle" invented by John H. Hall and made by Simeon North at his factory in Middletown, Connecticut in 1839.



Answer:
The Hall was the first practical breech loading rifle adopted for U.S. military use in 1819 and the first examples were made at Harpers Ferry Armory (the one later seized during John Brown's raid). North made many of these rifles under contract, and both those and the ones made at Harpers Ferry were the first use of truly 100% interchangeable parts in U.S. small arms. The Halls were made in several different rifle and carbine models, and only two of them had the sliding bayonets, the Model 1833 and the Model 1836, and production overlapped in 1839 so yours may be either one. The .52 caliber Model 1833 had a bayonet that was 25 1/4 inches long, while the .64 caliber 1836 had the bayonet 22 1/4 inches long. Both were smoothbores. In NRA antique good condition the value for either model is roughly $1,500 and nicer condition raises the value. Many of these were used in the Seminole Wars in Florida and in the Mexican War in 1847-47 and a few were still used in the Civil War, but by then better breech loaders had been developed.

In firing, the breech was opened up and the paper cartridge's powder and ball were placed in the breech. Then the breech was closed, the hammer cocked and a percussion cap placed on the nipple and it was ready to fire. This could be done on horseback, unlike conventional muzzle loaders with long ramrods involved, so they were popular with mounted troops. Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 13166 - Authenticating Pancho Villa's Colt .45
5/3/2008

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

# 12314 - Savage 32
5/3/2008
Bernadette, Hfd, CA

on the top it has Savage arms corp. Utica NY USA CA32 patented November 21, 1905-7.65 m-m everything seems to work has a safe lock with the words safe/fire. It has a clip when u pull the lever it releases it. Upon my aunts death we found this in the basement beams behind the OLD pipes. I would like as much information as possible. Thanks for any help I cant find anyone who seems to know anything about the manufacture let alone the gun

Answer:
Bernadette, Savage pistols of this type are not uncommon. They only made three models, so your pistol is either a Model 1907, a Model 1915 or a Model 1917.

The Model 1907 was manufactured from 1910 to 1917 and it was available in.32 or .380. It came with a blue finish, fixed sights, exposed cocking piece (hammer) and metal grips on early .32 ACP models or hard rubber grips on all others.

The Model 1915 was manufactured from 1915 to 1917, it was similar to Model 1907, with a grip safety, but it had no visible cocking piece.

The Model 1917 differed from the Model 1915 in that it had a spur hammer (cocking piece) and trapezoidal grip frame, it was manufactured from 1920 to 1928. Marc