# 3849 - Winchester Model 72 Information
6/30/01
Roxanne GAP, PA

Would like to know any background information on this rifle. It was my fathers when he was young and it came to me when he passed. Trying to figure out if I should hold on to it for my nephew.

Answer:
Roxanne, The Model 72 was a strong, well built and well designed rifle, I think that it would be an excellent choice for you to pass down to your nephew. The Model 72 Repeating Rifle was Winchesters first bolt action rifle equipped with a tubular magazine and chambered for rim fire cartridges. Winchester introduced the Model 72 to compete with similar designs being offered by other firearms manufactures that were very popular at the time. Factory records indicate the first delivery of Model 72 rifles was made on April 18, 1938. The Model 72 was designed to chamber 22 Short, 22 Long, and 22 Long Rifle, cartridges interchangeably. The stock was plain walnut with a semi-beavertail, pistol grip. Weight was about 5 & 3/4 pounds. As an alternative to or open or peep rear sights, Model 72 rifles could be ordered with scope bases attached to the barrel for use with Winchester 2 & 3/4-power or 5-power telescopic sights. Rifles furnished telescopic sights could be ordered with or without standard iron sights attached. These rifles were not shipped from the factory with the scope attached to the barrel, scopes were packed separately in the same carton with the rifle. Production of the Model 72 was discontinued in 1959 after about 161,412 rifles had been manufactured.

# 3977 - M1903 Springfield Design
6/30/01
John, San Antonio, Texas

Why does the Springfield M1903 have a forestock that extends all the way up to the end and over the barrel?

Answer:
John- Evolution has been an factor in more than just monkeys changing into liberal politicians. Military small arms traditionally had a long wooden forend as a convenient place to hold the ramrod needed to load the gun, or later a cleaning rod when they switched to breech loaders instead of muzzle loaders. The change from single shot to magazine fed rifles dramatically increased the rate of fire. Smokeless powder ammunition with higher pressures and velocities combined with the higher rate of fire created a new problem, that of the exposed parts of the barrel getting very hot after firing a few rounds (maybe five or so). Soldiers become ineffective when they burn their hands touching hot rifle barrels, so handguards to cover the top part of the barrel began to be used. The change from socket type bayonets as used on the "trapdoor" .45-70 rifles to knife type bayonets on the Krag marked the shift to use of an upper band with a bayonet lug. The first version of the M1903 Springfield used a ramrod bayonet arrangement, but was quickly discarded in favor of a knife bayonet similar to the Krag (in fact, Krag bayonets will fit on M1903 and M1 rifles). The M1903 being shorter rifles than Krags, the M1905 bayonet was made longer, to ensure that the "bad guys" with longer rifles/bayonets would not stick the good guys with bayonets before they could skewer the bad guys.

Deer hunters and the like have no need to fire lots of rounds (unless really lousy shots) nor customarily bayonet the game, so sporting rifles omit the long forend, handguard and bayonet lugs. Military rifles with these features suffer the indignity of being stripped of these parts when "sporterized." John Spangler

# 3988 - Steyer Model 1912 Mauser For Chile
6/30/01
Jim Leonard, Nesbit, Ms

I got this rifle from my father in law upon his death. It was part of his will that I was to get his gun collection. We never really talked about his guns. But I am curious about this one. It is stamped with20WAFFENFABRIK STEYR with AUSTRIA under it on the left side of the receiver. Just forward of that is a serial number [? ] A9618. On the stock is a crest that is nearly rubbed off. It may have the number 1912 under the crest. I cant really tell. On the ball of the lever for the action is a circle with lines coming from it. It appears to be like a sunburst. Also stamped on the lever, the bolt just forward of the safety, and at the band around the barrel is what appears to be crossed hammers. It's really difficult to see. The rifle has a mount for a bayonet. On the end of the barrel near the muzzle is stamped M12 308 GEREMANY and below that is C. A. I. ST. ALB. VT. The barrel has no front or rear sites. It is set up now with a scope that my father in law put on for deer hunting. Any information that you can supply would be greatly appreciated. I have another just like this one only with out the scope. Thanks for a great site. Lots of info here. Jim.

Answer:
Jim- A good detective looks for clues, and you astutely observed and reported all the important ones. Waffenfabrik Steyer, the famous Austrian arms maker was the maker of your rifle. The crest on the stock (and often on the receiver ring as well) features a shield with a star and a rampant horse on either side. Some to think it may be a Texas symbol, but it is actually that of Chile, the country stretching along most of South America's Pacific coast. The sunburst and crossed axes are inspector marks. The barrel markings are very significant. The Gun Control Act of 1968 required imported guns to be marked with the importer's name and address, in this case Century Arms International of St. Albans, Vermont. It is a Model 1912 rifle, based on the 1898 Mauser action, an improvement over the earlier Model 1895 Mausers previously used by Chile. The "308" indicates that this was rechambered for .308 caliber ammunition from the original Mauser chambering. As for the Germany mark, perhaps the folks at Century are a bit fuzzy on their European geography. Once rechambered they lose most collector value, but would be great for use as hunting rifles. Enjoy. John Spangler

# 3889 - S & W Safety Hammerless
6/27/01
Kenny

do you have any history on this gun. are they rare? how many were made. thanks, Kenny

Answer:
Kenny, the Smith and Wesson Lemon Squeezer was known officially as the Safety Hammerless or the New Departure. The Safety Hammerless was a an excellent design, which was both safe and easy to fire accurately. Ease of accurate fire was due to the trigger design which had a short hesitation and then a lighter pull just before the hammer fell. The short hesitation allowed a marksman to correct his aim before he completed his shot. The U.S. Cavalry carried out tests to see if the Safety Hammerless was suitable for military use but it was concluded that the Safety Hammerless was too fragile and complicated. S&W manufactured over 250,000 .38 caliber Safety Hammerless pistols from 1886 to 1940. Values for .38 caliber Safety Hammerless revolvers range from $100 to over $700 depending type and condition. Marc

# 3990 - Japanese Rifle
6/27/01
Brent, Winona, MN

WWII rifle, used by Japanese in the Pacific. This firearm is a bolt action with a top loading clip, peep sites, full length, removable bayonet. The stock has been slightly burned in a fire when it was taken from the island in the pacific. Japanese symbols on the barrel including the Japanese chrysanthemum. When was this gun made? Did the Japanese use this weapon? Where was it made? What caliber is it?

Answer:
Brent- We would need to see the rifle or some good photos to be positive of our identification, but here are some guesses. With Japanese characters and the chrysanthemum marking it is almost certainly either the Type 38 rifle in 6.5mm or the Type 99 rifle in 7.7mm, or one of their carbine variants. These were all used by Japanese troops in WW2, and later many were used by Chinese Communist forces, and some were even modified to .30-06 and issued to South Korean troops during the Korean War. Japanese rifles were made at a number of different locations, which can be identified by the symbols on the left side of the receiver. Some of the common symbols are a pretzel shape mark, one that looks like "8" in a circle, but there are many others. Check our links page for sites that specialize in Japanese rifles for more info. John Spangler.

# 3996 - M1 Carbine Markings
6/27/01
Jamie, Haynesville, La.

on left side of barrel is marked E. SKY/ARLINGTON, VA. And on top of the barrel is marked by the front sight is a flaming cannon ball and below that is marked with UNERWOOD and below that is 11-43 can you please tell me any thing about the marking on my rifle. Thank you.

Answer:
Jamie- Markings on a gun may have been applied the day it was made, or at any time afterwards. UNDERWOOD 11-43 indicates that the barrel was made by Underwood-Elliot-Fisher, a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation and major producer of carbines during WW2, in November 1943. The flaming cannon ball is the symbol of the U.S. Ordnance department, showing this was made under government contract. After serving with U.S. forces for a number of years, your carbine was probably sent to Korea under foreign military assistance programs, perhaps in the early 1950s, or maybe later. In the 1980s, Blue Sky, Inc. of Arlington, Virginia bought up a huge number of M1 carbines and M1 rifles that the South Korean government sold as surplus. Prices dipped as low as $139 for carbines, and $219 for Garands but eventually climbed. There are hundreds of other markings on carbines, that help identify the maker of each part. Larry Ruth's "War Baby" (Volumes 1 and 2) are the definitive reference on the M1 Carbine and everything related to them. The "Carbine Club" collectors' group is a great place to meet other people interested in these. John Spangler

# 3895 - F N M1922 Date of Manufacture
6/23/01
Zarko, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Star (*) over letter M and simbol like dragon over letters P. V on slide, frame and barrel. Letters LG over * in circle with crown on top, on the barrel. Following text on the left side of slide:20FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE HERSTAL-BELGIQUE20 BROWNING'S PATENT DEPOSE This pistol belonged to my grandfather, it is in superb condition. I would like to know was it made before or after Germans occupied Belgium ( exact year of make ), since it has regular FN stamped handgrips and hasn't got any German code marks. Thanks.

Answer:
Zarko I have been unable to locate any data that would enable me to determine the data of manufacture for your pistol. Available data indicates that serial numbers had reached about 70,000 in 1940 when M1922 production was taken over by the Nazis. Unlike most Nazi small arms serial numbers which were limited to four digits and a letter suffix, M1922 serial numbers were allowed to continue in numerical order until about number 200,000 was reached. After this, numbers were reduced to a maximum of 5 digits and a letter suffix was added. There is a possibility that your pistol was manufactured prior to WWII as part of a military or police contract with a separate serial number range, but because of the Y prefix my GUESS is that the pistol was manufactured after WWII. Marc

# 4009 - Krag Rifle
6/23/01
Jennifer, Clarksburg, West Virginia

There is a U. S. Infantry Stamp on the left side of the stock of the gun above the gun. Also above Springfield Arms on the side of the bolt casing is stamped U. S. On the bottom of the gun, above the trigger there is a "31" stamped with another symbol stamped behind it. The symbol is nearly impossible to describe. It also has an adjustable 700-1800 yard peep site. My husband and I inherited this gun from his father. We have checked a recent "Blue Book of Gun Prices" trying to find the value of the gun, but it was not listed. We would like to know how much the gun is worth, and any other information you could tell us about it. Thank you for your time.

Answer:
Jennifer- Your rifle is a Model 1898 Krag (or Krag-Jorgensen) rifle made at Springfield Armory in 1898. (This model continued in production until about 1904). The hard to describe marking behind the trigger guard is probably a script "P" in a circle that indicates that the rifle successfully withstood firing of a high pressure "proof" cartridge. The markings on then left side of the stock are the initials of the inspector (J. Sumner Adams) and the date of inspection. Since you can see the markings, it is likely that your rifle is in fairly good condition. If all correct and original, value would probably be in the range of $600-1200 depending on condition. About 480,000 Krag rifles and carbines were made in the ten years it was in production (1894-1904) and they marked the shift from single shot black powder rifles to small caliber, smokeless powder, bolt action rifles. Anyone interested in more about Krag rifles should check out the Krag Collectors Association at http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.com/

If you had given the full serial number I could have checked to see if there is any history known about this rifle. I am always puzzled by the paranoid fear of some people to give serial numbers of a gun, unless they are thieves who know it is stolen, or criminals about to embark on a crime spree. However, just because someone is paranoid does not mean that nobody is out to get them. John Spangler

# 4015 - Spencer Rifle Data
6/23/01
Mike, Sacramento, CA

Can you tell me the production date of this weapon based on the serial number?

Answer:
Mike- Rifles in this serial number range were in use during the Civil War and available dates are as early as 1863, but I suspect they were actually made and issued prior to that. Roy Marcot's definitive book on Spencer rifles would probably have a lot more information that would help you. John Spangler

# 3893 - JC Higgins Model 103.18
6/20/01
Fred Tunkhannock Pa

I Know JC Higgins was a brand name of Sears Roebuck years back. But I was wondering the approx. manufacturing date of this 22.

Answer:
Fred, my references tell me that Marlin manufactured their Model 100 bolt action single shot rifle for Sears as the JC Higgins Model 103.18. Marlin manufactured the Model 100 from 1936 to 1941. Values for Marlin Model 100 rifles are in the $45 to $75 range. House brand firearms always bring a little less so value for your JC Higgins will be a $10 or $20 lower. Marc

# 4054 - Springfield .50-70 Rifle?
6/20/01
Pierre, Montreal, Qc. Canada

Been trying to identify this trapdoor rifle for some time now. The plate is marked "U. S. Springfield 1863 w/eagle insignia - breech block designated "Model 1873 US" and stamped inside "64". I've read that M1868's are marked 1863 or 1864 and that a number of them were modified with replacement breech blocks starting in the 1870's, while M1866's are marked 1864 and their breech blocks dated 1866 which leads me to believe that this rifle would be an M1868. Should you be able to offer clarification regarding this issue, I'd be most appreciative. Cordially, Pierre

Answer:
Pierre- I suspect you have a mix of parts that are creating confusion. The 32.625" barrel is correct for the M1868, 1870 and M1873 series .50-70 and .45-70 rifles. The locks with 1865 or earlier dates were salvaged from .58 caliber muskets Model 1861 or 1863 being broken down for parts to stay within the severely reduced funding levels for new arms production. These locks were used on the M1868 or 1870 rifles , but they also fit into the stock of the later M1873 .45-70 rifles, although they do not fit flush like the 1873 model locks with the thinner plates. Also, M1873 breechblocks fit (perhaps needing very minor tinkering) in the M1868 and 1870 receivers. Surplus merchants like Francis Bannerman Sons assembled large numbers of rifles from various vintage surplus parts, so my best guess is that they created this hybrid. While old, neat looking and perhaps even functional, these have somewhat limited value on the collector market, usually little more than that of the salvageable parts. John Spangler

# 4053 - Springfield Trapdoor 407451
6/20/01
Jim Grayslake, Il.

V P F(? ) A I am scattergun target shooter who is clueless to this firearm. There is a grove in the forearm, is this for a clean rod? Any information about the piece and its ammunition is appreciated. Condition "fine". Great site!

Answer:
Jim- Congratulations, your rifle is documented as being used by Co. H., 3rd Alabama Volunteer Infantry in 1898, along with a number of other rifles in the same general serial range. You are correct that the groove under the stock is for the cleaning rod, a vital necessity in the days when black powder with corrosive primers required very prompt cleaning. You can check our catalog pages for similar rifles to get a feel for their history and value. John Spangler

# 3906 - Sealed Eight Revolver
6/16/01
Denis Mountain Home AR.

I. J. A. & C. W. Fitchburg. Mass. U. S. A What is the approximate mfg. date of this pistol.

Answer:
Dennis, the Sealed Eight design was Iver Johnson's attempt to prevent early high-velocity .22LR cartridges which occasionally burst, from discharging fragments sideways. To accomplish this goal, Iver Johnson made use of a .22 caliber cylinder with chambers counter bored at the rear to surround the cartridge rims. Iver Johnson incorporated the Sealed Eight design into several different models including the 'Supershot Sealed Eight', the 'Protector Sealed Eight' and the 'Target Sealed Eight'. Iver Johnson manufactured the Target Sealed Eight from 1931 to 1957, Target Sealed Eight values range from $25 to about $100 depending on condition. Marc

# 4055 - Colt M1860 Army
6/16/01
Grant, Adelaide, AUSTRALIA

Inspectors' stamps on both sides of grips I hope someone might have some idea of what regiment this Colt revolver might have been issued to. Perhaps by other firearms with a known history with a close serial number match? It is in very good condition and has all matching serial numbers. The gun has been in our family for years. One of my great great uncles served in the Civil War and this was his gun.

Answer:
Grant- There is no documented history available on the military use of this pistol. Nor are there enough with nearby serial numbers to make an accurate projection. Those that are nearby seem to be concentrated in the 3rd New York Volunteer Cavalry, and the 14th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, although there are some noted with the 5th Iowa and 9th Michigan as well. There are a lot of sites devoted to Civil War soldiers and you may be able to find your relative's name on one of them with the unit identified. If you can identify his unit, then you may be able to get a copy of his service record. For information on records and how to get them check out the Fort Douglas Military Museum website http://fortdouglas.org/milrecords.htm John Spangler

# 4063 - Winchester 1894 US Military Use?
6/16/01
Barb-Winnipeg-Canada

On rear sight, Savage Arms Corp. Utica N. Y. pat. pending : On barrel ahead of rear sight, Manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. of New Haven Conn. U. S. A. : My father was told it was issued to the United States Calvary-is this correct and how valuable would this be? Also what is the correct history of this rifle?

Answer:
Barb- Your rifle was made in the first year of production, 1894. I don't think Winchester was using sights made by Savage, so it probably has seen a lot of use, and may have other replaced parts. As far as I know, there was NO usage of Winchester Model 1894 rifles by the U.S. Cavalry as combat weapons. There was a small number of Model 1894s procured during WW1 and issued in the Pacific northwest to troops or quasi-military units charged with protecting lumber crews harvesting spruce trees to be used in aircraft production. These were marked with a flaming bomb and U.S. on the barrel. They are considered an oddity and some advanced collectors of Winchesters or U.S. martial arms get fairly excited over them. John Spangler

# 3921 - French Model 1892
6/13/01
Mike, Comfort, NC

Ring on grip, E with crown over the top-inside cyl. B inside a coat of arms on the ejection rod inside cyl. what is this piece? Approx. Manufacture & Cal. Does it have any collector value?

Answer:
Mike, from the information that you provided, I suspect that you have a French Model 1892 revolver, these are also known as Lebels. The Model 1892 was manufactured by various state owned factories, it was a double action six shot revolver built on a solid frame. For loading and ejection of spent cases, the cylinder swung to the right. Some right handed shooters consider the right opening cylinder to be a design flaw which makes the revolver inconvenient to load. A useful feature of the Model 1892 is that the left side plate can be unlocked and swung forward to expose the lock and trigger mechanism for repair or cleaning. In the past French Military revolvers have had little collector interest and values have been in the $50 to $100 range but that seems to be changing. In today's market, I would estimate value for a French Model 1892 to be in the $100 to $300 range depending on condition. Marc

# 4064 - Mauser In .30-06
6/13/01
Dave, Ft Worth, TX, , USA

WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER A-G OBERNDORF AM NECKAR What is the status of this gun as a collectable and what is its history. Acquired it from my dad who was in WW II Germany? What is it's caliber? I found 30-06 shells and L G 43 Not sure which one it used?

Answer:
Dave- We are not sure what you have. I would assume that the U.S. 1906 indicates the caliber, and the headstamps are typical for .30-06 ammunition. (That assumes it is LC for Lake City, not LG which I cannot identify). My guess is that it was converted from 8mm Mauser to .30-06 when converted for use as a sporter. Very capable German gunsmiths did a lot of these for American troops in Germany following WW2. Also, since everybody and their brother brought home a Mauser rifle from Europe, huge numbers were converted by American gunsmiths, blacksmiths, cobblers and butchers over the following several decades. It would be prudent to have a competent gunsmith check your rifle to verify the proper caliber before firing it. John Spangler

# 4141 - M1917 Winchester Rifle
6/13/01
Steven

I am a police officer in Alabama. My partner owns a US model of 1917 Winchester 30-06. He was told that it was used by a Marine sniper in WW II. It has the Initials C.W.M. carved into the forearm part. This gun is in excellent condition, actually when I saw it I thought it was a fairly new rifle. We are trying to locate any and all info on the rifle possible. The serial # is 200118. Any info on this rifle it would be greatly appreciated. Also what is the value of it.

Answer:
Steven- We appreciate the great job that our law enforcement officers do, and wish that the courts and idiot attorneys would put away more of the bad guys after you catch them. There is no documented history on that rifle available, or even any with serial numbers that are close. However, as far as I know, there were NO M1917 rifles issued to Marines during WW2. Not entirely impossible, but I think I would have picked up on it if it had happened. It is possible that two separate facts got merged into one- Perhaps the previous owner was a USMC sniper, although this was not a rifle he used. Lots of these were sold to NRA members after WW2, and through surplus dealers from the 1950s onward. The C.W.M. markings are not ones that I can identify. We usually have some M1917 rifles on our collectible firearms catalog page and you can compare your rifle with the descriptions and prices there. John Spangler

# 3938 - Ithaca Model 49
6/9/01
Eddie Downing Montrose

What is the value? What year was it made

Answer:
Eddie, the Ithaca Model 49 is a single shot rifle with Martini-style action designed to look like a lever-action Winchester, complete with a dummy magazine tube beneath the barrel. Ithaca manufactured the Model 49 from 1961 to 1978. There is not much collector interest in Model 49 rifles, values are in the $100.00 or less range. Marc

# 4018 - .25-35 Ammunition Availability
6/9/01

My brother just inherited an 25-35 cal. rifle (sorry I don't know many details) We use to use it for shooting fish. Is there anyone who produces ammo for this cal. anymore and if so, how can I order some? Thanks

Answer:
Sir- Check our links page for the "Old Western Scrounger" for all sorts of oddball ammo. However, we feel it appropriate to caution against using guns around boats and water. Some people manage to shoot holes in their boat, and lacking the sophisticated damage control training that sailors have, they manage to sink their boat, and lose valuable motors, fishing gear and beer. Another danger is that bullets tend to ricochet off water unless fired almost perpendicular. Water is a very good medium for stopping bullets, and they will not do much to a fish unless it is on or extremely close to the surface (maybe 1 foot or less). John Spangler

# 4029 - Colt Single Action Revolver
6/9/01
Steve H.

Pat. Sept. 19 1871 Jan 19 72 Jan 19 75 I have the two usual questions. Can you tell me how old it is? ? Approximate value? My grandfather took this gun in on a loan owed him back in the 40's and it was used then. It's been in his dresser drawer for over 50 years. There was no model number on it that I could find. I hoped the serial number might tell us something. Thanks

Answer:
Steve- Sounds like you have a "Single Action Army" model, the typical western cowboy gun you see in the movies. According to the serial number it was made in 1904. The standard barrel lengths were 4.75, 5.5 or 7.5 inches, although thanks to the invention of the hacksaw just about any length can be found today. These old "first generation" Colt single actions are quite popular with collectors and value may run anywhere from $400 for a rusty or refinished piece of junk up to several thousand dollars for a really spiffy example. Let us know if you decide to sell and we will try to find it a good home and change the dresser drawer filler into some useful cash for you. John Spangler

# 3949 - Colt Pistol
6/6/01
Jake, Ardmore, OK

I inherited this pistol from my great-grandfather. When was this gun mfg. and where can I find info regarding it?

Answer:
Jake- Based on the 4 5/8" barrel length, and the serial number, I would guess that this may be one of the Single Action Army model revolvers. These were made in .32-20 caliber (also know as .32 WCF- for Winchester Center Fire), along with about 35 other calibers. However, Colt made many other revolvers in this caliber, so we cannot be certain unless we saw some photos. Two other candidates, the 1877 Lightning model and 1878 Frontier model were also made in this caliber, but serial numbers ended well before yours. If yours is a Single Action Army model, it was made about 1902. You can probably get a letter from the Colt Factory records telling when it was shipped and to whom. This is almost always a large retailer or distributor, not an individual. The cost for these letters is now at least $150 and perhaps as much as $350, so it may not be worth that much to find out something that is not likely to be very useful to you. John Spangler

# 3960 - CVA Percussion Pistol
6/6/01
Glenn, Bozeman, MT

Naval-engagement scene on cylinder. Never fired, in box, wood grip, brass trigger guard. Please assess the value of this revolver. Thank you very much! Your time and energy is greatly appreciated. Signed beginner in percussion. THANKS, Glenn

Answer:
Glenn- CVA, also known as Connecticut Valley Arms, began making guns (or actually importing guns from Italy) about 1970. You can buy all you want from retailers today, and prices are probably in the $150-250 range. We do not deal in these, so cannot really tell you much more about them. Nice guns, fun to shoot, but not among our collecting interests. We recently added a site on our links page dealing with Replica Percussion Revolvers aimed at folks who want to collect these. John Spangler

# 3978 - J. C Higgins Model 88
6/6/01
Kevin, Sulhur Springs, Texas

Under the name JC Higgins it has #'s 583.881. The pistol is styled as a .38 cal. It has a design of a circle with JC Higgins and 88 inside. I would like to know what year this pistol was made? What it might be worth?

Answer:
Kevin, I have been unable to find any information on this revolver that would enable me to determine a date of manufacture. Value for house brand revolvers of this type is modest, in the $25.00 to $75.00 range. Marc

# 3966 - Colt 1860 Army History
6/2/01
Bruce, Newport News, VA

Very clear (no rust) engraving of several ships on cylinder, good detail (i. e. you can see 'stars & stripes" flag and paddle wheel on one of the ships, etc. ). Serial numbers on all parts match. Patent info on cylinder reads "COLTS PATENT No 6375" and "PAT SEPT 10th 1850". Barrel is round outside, hexagonal inside. My Dad is a retired Infantry Officer, U. S. Army who bought this revolver from a collector/colleague in Virginia back in the early 1960s. We don't know anything about its history, and would like to learn more. In particular, we would like to learn about any military service it might have seen. Thanks for your help.

Answer:
Bruce- Springfield Research Service has dug through mountains of documents in the National Archives to track down records pertaining to specific serial numbers of small arms mentioned in official records and documents. Serial number records were generally considered to be temporary custody information and trashed after items were returned or declared to be obsolete. Your pistol is no among those for which documentation has been located. However, others in this general serial number range were in the hands of Union cavalry regiments in 1863, the year of the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and many lesser known engagements. John Spangler

# 3976 - Whine
6/2/01
Ron, St. Louis, MO

John - No questions, just some comments. You have a really neat web-page and I enjoy frequent visits. The answers that you and Marc give are not only deeply researched but also entertaining. However, I'm wondering why you haven't answered a couple of questions I submitted back in January? Okay, I was too cheap to pay $25 for a quick reply. Also, you get mighty testy sometimes. Like with the guy who asked about hammer-slipping problems with Marlin 39-A's (that is, unless you knew for a fact that he was a scum-bag attorney on a fishing expedition). Finally, from an earlier Q & A session, I gathered that you have a hang-up about the WWII Lend-Lease program. I'm not a huge FDR fan myself but he did out-maneuver an isolationist Congress and public to achieve the proper result (winning the war). We've gotta remember that Lincoln also bent the law when necessary to preserve the Union.

Answer:
Ron- Thanks for sharing your comments on the information we provide at no cost to our visitors. You are right, I have strong opinions on many topics, which you (and everyone else) are free to applaud or ignore. We cannot answer every question, so we pick those that are easy, interesting, or meet whatever criteria strikes our fancy. As you note, we also are happy to provide answers to questions for a modest fee- far less than the cost of a single reference book, or a brief time with any service person we can think of. You are welcome to resubmit your questions as paid items and we will be happy to answer promptly (and politely- I promise). If too cheap to do that, we would be delighted if you do the research on your own. That is one reason we try to mention some of the reference sources we use. We are not any smarter than most people, just better equipped and experienced in this field, so we know other people can find the same information, or often even more and better information. Of course, we do have a sneaky motive with our Q&A service. We figure that you might become so interested in some of this fine old junque that you will be eager to read our catalog pages and send us orders for the neat stuff that you suddenly discover you need for your collection. Sorry, gotta run and fill a bunch of orders!! ? John Spangler

# 3980 - .308 Spanish Mauser
6/2/01
Larry Fulmer, Newberry, SC, USA

Markings on all parts match. Rifle has been used for a number of years by a friend for deer huntingin excellent shape. I have read articles on these pages about it not being safe. Recently He gave me the rifle as I have been bugging him about it. (Ha ha) The gun was checked out by a local gunsmith and he finds nothing wrong withit. What other precautions should be taken to ensure I can use this rifle as my friend did. He used store bought .308 ammo for many years.

Answer:
Larry, you could not pay me enough money to get me to load one of the .308 Spanish mausers, put it next to my face and pull the trigger. I set too high a value on my eyes, ears, hands and other body parts. Since you asked for my opinion, here it is: the appeal of getting a rifle cheap, is not worth the risk of serious injury. I would advise you to wait until the next gun buy back program in your area and sell it to them. You may be saving your self from serious injury and you will also be decreasing the amount of funds available to evil left wing klinton lovers. Marc