# 12657 - Sharps Serial Number Info
6/30/2007
Carter

I have a sharpes [sic] rifle serial #C38002. I am interested in knowing the history of this gun. How do I obtain this information?? Thank you for your help!!

Answer:
Carter- The only source of usage information is Springfield Research Service, and your serial number is not listed among those they have been able to find in the records. Note that the above applies to usage, not information regarding original date of manufacture, configuration and shipping destination. This information may be available from the individual who owns the original Sharps Factory records. For military models, the guns were most likely standard configuration, and part of a large government contract, and will only list the arsenal to which it was shipped, not an individual unit or soldier. I believe that Dr. Richard Labowskie in Philadelphia is doing those letters, at a cost of about $100.00 each if you want to pursue that. John Spangler

# 12656 - Utah Mormon Made Colt Revolvers
6/30/2007
Denis

Can you get me through to somebody who can confirm or deny the production of Colt revolver copies in Utah in 1848?

Answer:
Denis- I only know one person who seems to have expertise on this subject, but do not have any contact information for him, and I am not sure he wants me to identify him to others. He has done extensive research for the Mormon church museum, and is very credible. What I recall from talking with him several years ago is that the guns in question are copies of the Colt Dragoon, with some obvious differences mainly in the hammer design but otherwise very similar to the Colt product. These were not done in 1848, but at a later date (after introduction of the Dragoon model, obviously). I think the date may have been around the time of the "Mormon War" or Johnson's Army invasion circa 1857. The guns do exist, in small numbers, and there is no written material on them that I know of. There is very scant period documentation that alludes to a "pistol factory" in Salt Lake City during the period, but apparently it was short lived. Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 12626 - Standard Arms Rifle
6/30/2007
Bruce, Magdalena, NM

Wood Stock, Brass Butt with elaborate inscription Can you please give me the history of this rifle, and if there is any antique value. It was given to me about 50 years ago by a close friend of my father's.

Answer:
Bruce, Standard Arms Company of Wilmington, Delaware manufactured rifles from about 1909 to 1911. Their rifle was the first gas- operated autoloading model to be sold commercially in the U.S.A. but it was susceptible to variations in ammunition pressures and as a result it tended to jam frequently. Because of the jamming problems, sales were slow, total production is estimated to only be a few thousand. Model G values in the blue book range between $200 and about $500. Marc

# 12728 - EIG With Colt Grips
6/26/2007
Jon, Okc, Oklahoma

Three different stamps located on the body of the gun just under the cylinder. One of each of the stamps are located (also) One on the barrel, cylinder and trigger housing. I have this 22 cal. LR Single Action Revolver that is marked Eig Modle E 15 Made in Germany. But it has Colt grips and I am unable to find a manufacturer by the name Eig. I also have not found any colts marked this way.

Answer:
Jon, the EIG Corporation was a distributorship that was active in 1960s. If I remember correctly, they sold an assortment of cheap European imports including Rohm revolvers and Tanfoglio automatic pistols prior to the passage of the 1968 Gun Control Act. My guess is that someone modified the Colt grips so that they would fit your EIG revolver. Too bad, because the Colt grips in original condition may have been worth more than an EIG revolver. Marc

# 12732 - FN 1922 Value
6/26/2007
Cris Canton Michigan

3 Straight winged eagles, MR on the trigger, clip has strange marking than 765below it. I'm trying to find out the value of a 1922 WW2 German hand gun I found it in a box of things my father had from the war. This is the only info I've been able to find on the gun. Model 1922 WaA140 .380 ACP D Armes De Guerre Herstal Belique Browning's Patent Derose than the eagle stamp one of 3 stamped on the gun. The gun has a clip and a case. I know nothing about guns, have become widowed in the past 8 months so if I could get a idea of the value it would be very helpful. Thank You

Answer:
Chris, sorry for your loss, I hope that we can be of some assistance.  The Belgian FN 1922 pistol was manufactured by Fabrique Nationale D'Armes De Guerre, Herstal (Liege), Belgium for military and commercial sales for several years prior to the German takeover of Belgium in WWII. After the occupation, the German designation for the pistol in 7.65 mm (.32 Auto) was "Pistole 626(b)" and  "Pistole 641(b)" was the German designation for pistols chambered in 9 mm Kurz (380). The (b) was the abbreviation for Belgian (Belgium). Another Heereswaffenamt name for the weapon was Die Lange Browning Pistole (The Long Browning Pistol). Prior to liberation in September, 1944, the Germans assembled or manufactured 363,200 of this model.

FN 1922 pistols procured by the Germans should have the following markings:

Serial number:

• Right side of the frame above the trigger.
• Right side of the chamber (barrel), on the inside rear of the slide.
• Right side of the slide extension (at muzzle).

Military Acceptance Stamp (eagle over WaA103, eagle over WaA140 or eagle over WaA613):

• Stamped Two or three times on the left side of the slide and/or frame.
• Sometimes stamped on the upper left side of the trigger guard.
• Stamped once or twice on the left side of the chamber (barrel).

Military test proof (eagle over swastika in a circle):

• Left side of the slide.
• Upper left side of the frame above the trigger.
• Right side of the chamber (barrel).

Slide marking:

FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE HERSTAL BELGIQUE BROWNING'S PATENT DEPOSE (left side)

Magazine:

FN trademark (and) 7.65 mm or 9 mm (right side)

# 12655 - ZULU Handgun
6/26/2007
Myra

I have the opportunity to purchase a Zulu hand gun, it's very old, but I don't know anything about it. I do not have the serial # of the gun be the seller mentioned the # was very low, I am thinking he said 3, but I'm not sure. If you could give me any information it would help and be a start.

Answer:
Myra- I am not familiar with Zulu handguns, only Zulu rifles. The term is usually used for cheap, obsolete guns made for sale to the African trade. They have almost no collector value and demand is mainly as decorators. Most guns of that period did not have serial numbers as we know them, only "assembly" numbers where they would be making a number of guns at one time and parts would be numbered so that they could be matched up later for final assembly. Since these numbers usually are for batches of less than 20 the "low numbers" are basically irrelevant. Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 12654 - Allegheny Arsenal Knife
6/23/2007

We just acquired a knife in a leather sheath with the words ALLEGHENY ARSENAL 1865 stamped onto it. The knife is a half moon shaped blade about 4 inches long with a wood handle. It fits into a leather 1/2 circle sheath with a tie around the handle. Any ideas about what this item is?

Answer:
Sir- Allegheny Arsenal was a U.S. Army facility in the Pittsburgh area which operated in the mid 1800s. The knife is almost certainly a tool used by saddle makers or leather workers, and although I am not sure of the precise name, I think it may be a "Saddler's knife". Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 12653 - General George Custer’s Pistols
6/23/2007
GA

As I understand from research I have carried out, George A Custer was in possession of two (2) short barreled pistols, Can you shed some light on this subject as to their history etc. Thank you for any information you may provide.

Answer:
Sir- I recall reading somewhere that Custer had two English made "Bulldog" pistols which had been presented to him some time earlier.

Frankly, there is so much dubious information and nonsense about Custer and everything related to him that I really do not pay much attention to any of it. I view with intense skepticism any claims made about anything that purportedly has the remotest connection with him. John Spangler

# 12733 - Military Mauser HSc?
6/23/2007
Donald Moran

Has and Eagle and WaA 135 on the left side of trigger guard and a Eagle and N on the right side of trigger guard same on the right side of slide by muzzle Can you tell me if it was military or not. Date of man. I have been on other sites and can not find any info by serial number. All numbers match in the gun. Thank You

Answer:
Donald, Mauser manufactured over 250,000 HSc pistols from 1940 until the war ended in 1945. The HSc replaced the earlier Mauser Model 1934 in 1940. HSc serial numbers commenced at about 700000, and they were a continuation of Model 1934 numbers. HSc serial numbers terminated at about #951000.

Pistols that were issued to the German military were marked with Heerswaffenamt inspector's proof stamp for arms produced at Mauser Werke (eagle over "WaA135"), so your pistol is a military issue model. HSc pistols issued to police departments were marked with police proof marks (an eagle over an "x" inside a circle with the letter "L" to the right) on the left side of the trigger guard. Pistols that were sold commercially do not have military or police proofs. Marc

# 12724 - Huh?
6/19/2007
Richard, Fort Collins, CO

Bottom of barrel engraved with KR30. Along barrel other stamped markings appear to be letters and/or numbers. Bottom of receiver has random letters stamped. What make/model/calibur is this rifle? Found in basement of home being remodeled. Homeowner has no info on rifle. Did not belong to them.

Answer:
Sorry Richard - my psychic powers don't seem to be working this morning. Marc

# 12749 - Valor Pisol
6/19/2007
Foster

Has words , gerstenberger u. eberweir sussertract. with number 67 and what looks like a antler horn above it. has eagle with letter z next to it. is this pistol from the WWII era? eplusyat@yahoo.com

Answer:
Foster, Valor is a name that was used by RG - Rohm GmbH of Sontheim/Brenz Germany, they produced cheap revolvers, starting pistols, gas pistols and alarm pistols for the U.S. marketplace during the late 1960s. RG revolvers were sold in the USA prior to the passage of the 1968 Gun Control Act. Values for these revolvers is in the $25 - $50 range if you can find a buyer. Marc

# 12755 - Re - Barreled Marlin 97
6/19/2007
Eddie

Several years ago I had a 39-A barrel put on my Marlin, which originally had the octagonal barrel. Can you give me an idea of the history and value of the piece?

Answer:
Eddie, the .22 caliber take-down Marlin Model 1897 design was an improvement of the earlier Model 92. Standard rifles came equipped with a buckhorn rear sight and blade front sight. Model 1897 receivers, hammers and levers were casehardened while barrels and magazine tubes were blued. The walnut stocks were varnished. Rifles could be ordered with round, octagon or part octagon / part round barrels in 24, 26, or 28 inch lengths with full length or half length magazine tubes. Total production of this model from 1897 to 1922 when it was redesignated as the Model 39 is estimated at about 125,000.

Values for 1897 rifles in original condition can go higher than $2500 depending on the condition, configuration and factory special options. Although your rifle is probably a good shooter, the replacement barrel kills most collector interest. I would expect to see a re-barreled 1897 Marlin sell at a gunshow in the $250 - 300 range. Marc

# 12501 - Springfield Armory Rework Cartouche
6/19/2007
Ron, Pewaukee Wi

Barrel marked SA over a flaming ordnance escutcheon over 1-33 Hello I am trying to find out who the inspector was for this Springfield M2. The stock Cartouche has S.A. with a R under the A. The box is open on the bottom. Thank you for your help Ron.

Answer:
Ron- The cartouche you describe is apparently a rebuild or overhaul marking used by Springfield, and definitely NOT one used during original manufacture. I seem to recall having seen it on M1903s, M1903A4s, M1 Garands and M2 .22 caliber rifles, so I assume it probably was in use circa 1940-1960, and perhaps only circa 1945-1955, but that is strictly a guess. I have no idea if it was a generic "R for Rebuilt" cartouche, or some one with a name like Robert Reynolds was working there. John Spangler

# 12500 - Colt Copy
6/16/2007
Don Toledo Ohio

None shown I bought this pistol in Jurez Mexico about 30 years ago and it looks like a Saa Colt but no markings exist. All it has is 131 serial number and on the butt is a swivel ring and pistol holds 6 rounds, I was told at a gun show it was a Mexican Colt but don't know.

Answer:
Senor- Loco Colto! For many years Mexican gunsmiths turned out copies of various guns, of varying quality. Given the popularity of the old Colt Single Action Army, it is not surprising that many were copies of that model. The ring on the butt also seems to be a common feature on Mexican copies. These are interesting old Western (Southwestern?) relics, and I am sure they have value to collectors. Certainly not a value anywhere near that of an original Colt SAA. I would never try to shoot one myself, but perhaps others are less risk averse. Apparently Mexico's laws are nearly as asinine as Kalifornia, constituting a virtual ban on gun ownership by law abiding citizens, but the rampant crime there, hordes of drug rival dealers and violent coyotes smuggling drugs and illegals in to the US all prove that bad guys have no problem getting guns if they want them. Gringos do NOT want to EVER go into Mexico or Kailifornia (but, I repeat myself) with a gun or ammo. Hope that helps. John Spangler

# 12490 - Holland & Holland Serial Numbers
6/16/2007
Rob Arlington, Texas

H Holland 98 New Bond St. London ,Sorta looks like double crown bottom to bottom, V with crown on top, JD stamped, P stamped Can you give me any info. about rifle? When was this rifle made? The rifle is a single shot w/hammer,release lever on bottom and is very petite. Total length is 43''.It has minimal engraving with a blue finish. It's possible a boys or woman's gun. Thanks

Answer:
Rob- The Blue Book of Gun Values has a list in the back of dates for H&H serial numbers, and 2737 was a number assigned in 1873. It is undoubtedly a fine quality gun, and probably has excellent collector value and interest. John Spangler

# 12730 - Capture Papers Question
6/16/2007
Greg, St.paul, MN

WWII Documented Luger signed by Capt. R.T. Schueler, Sept. 4, 1945. My dad was a tank driver during WWII he returned with a 1914 Erfurt numbers matching Luger with holster that included the disassemble tool and clip he traded the gun to my uncle for a rifle my uncle is getting up in years and wanted me to have the gun back I was going though some of my dads things when I found tucked in a book is the certificate dated Sept 4th 1945 Under the provisions of circular 217, Section VIII paragraph 5 My dad serial # XXXX is permitted to have as an authorized souvenir the following which was obtained from a armed enemy of the US item 1-German Luger Serial #663 signed by his captain have you ever seen anything like this and does the paper work add anything to the gun value Thanks Greg

Answer:
Greg, it sounds like you have a nice Luger in your family with some interesting history. Collectors call the papers that you are asking about ``capture papers`` and they can add from 10% to as much as 50% to the value of a firearm. You would be well advised to take steps to preserve the capture papers and make sure that they do not get seperated form the Luger again or accidentley lost. Marc

# 11958 - R J Marked PP
6/12/2007
Woody Oregon City Or.

R.J. stamped on front of grip Would like to know if R.J. means Reich Judicial, or Reich Jugen, pistol is in very good condition with slight holster wear, with original holster and extra magazine. It would be interesting to know current value. Thank You

Answer:
Woody, the R J initials would certainly be for the Reich's Judiciary, not the Hitler Youth which would have been HJ. The other use was by the Reich's customs agents. The marking was usually inscribed on the front grip strap and included a number that was almost certainly an inventory control number.

The presence of these markings does add some value to the pistol, but not as much as military markings. Nazi era PPs in 90% or better condition are selling in the $450 to $800. The RJ marking would probably add another $100 to the price. Marc

# 11950 - Junior Targetspot Scope
6/12/2007
Brian, Upton, KY

I have a Lyman Junior Targetspot scope that I got from an Uncle. Very cheap. I was looking on line to see what the history and worth would be but not much luck. Any information would be helpful.

Answer:

Brian, the first Lyman target scopes were the Targetspot 8X and 10X. They were introduced in 1934 and came equipped with Bausch & Lomb lenses. The Targetspot had a 1 .125-inch objective lens which was adjustable for parallax and an ocular lens which was adjustable for focus. Lyman provided screw-on metal lens caps to protect the lenses when not in use. The Junior Targetspot Scope was introduced in 1937, it was available in 6, 8 and, 10 powers. Stroebel's excellent book on scopes lists the following technical data for the the Junior Targetspot:

• Magnification 6X, 8x or 10X
• Field of view 16.0- 12.0 feet at 100 yards
• Luminosity 11.6-3.0
• Eye relief 2.0-1.875 inches
• Length 24.375 inches
• Weight 25.0 ounces
• Tube diameter 0.750 inch (1.34375-inch objective)

Production of the Junior Targetspot ended in 1957 Stroebel lists value for this model at $225 to $325 depending on condition. Add $50 if the scope comes with the original wood or metal case. Marc

# 12488 - Refinishing M1903 Springfield
6/12/2007
Mike

What is the best place to send your military guns to be re-blued. I have a 1903 I am restoring and need new bluing. Is this even possible? Thanks in advance.

Answer:
Mike- First, I would caution against rebluing any gun with collector value except under very unusual circumstances. Most gunsmiths who do blue jobs are only concerned with a shiny dark finish with no care for markings, etc. They buff the daylights out of the guns, then dump them in a heated tank of chemicals that will turn everything blue. Okay for a sporterized deer rifle, but sure to kill most of the value of a collector gun. A careful restoration will require careful hand polishing, and for a blue finish, a time consuming (and therefore expensive if done by a gunsmith) application of a "rust blue" finish. Specific chemicals originally used are listed in old manuals, if you want to be totally authentic, but there are some easier to find commercial mixes that do a nice job too. Basically it involves carefully degreasing the bare metal, wiping on the rust blue solution, allowing several hours for it to turn to rust, then careful cleaning with a very fine wire brush or steel wool. Repeat this process a number of times (maybe 4-10 times) and the final result can be very attractive and not damage the markings. Some parts were blued by dipping in melted chemicals, others were colored by quenching in oil, and some were case hardened, so a rust blue is not totally correct for the entire M1903 Springfield, but it will look okay if you cannot duplicate the original finish on some of the parts. John Spangler

# 12463 - Lee Enfield .303 Rifle
6/9/2007
Tim Hardy Yuma, AZ

N94MK1 ROF It is supposed to be a Enfield Model 1918 303. What do I really have ?

Answer:
Tim- The markings tell it all. Your rifle is a Number 4 Mark I rifle made at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Fazakerly, England. This design was adopted in 1942, and production ended about 1947. This was the standard WW2 era infantry rifle for British Commonwealth forces. John Spangler

# 12461 - Care For Finish On Old Mauser Rifle
6/9/2007
John, NY, USA

I have a 1913 Mauser 98a carbine made at Danzig. The gun is all matching and original as far as I am able to discern. My question is this: the exposed metal is unblued and developing a patina. I do not wish to do anything that would diminish the collector value. Should I leave the patina alone or remove it? If it is best to leave it alone, what do you recommend as a metal preservative? If removal is recommended, what would be the best method? Thank you for your time and advice.

Answer:
John- Collectors disagree on how much cleaning is appropriate. There are some from the "original rust" extreme who argue that it is blasphemous to do anything to remove any accumulation of rust or dirt. On the opposite flank, we will be assaulted by the "make it look like it originally did" crazies who will reblue, or repolish everything. I prefer guns somewhere between. I do not see anything morally wrong with removing surface rust and dirt to reveal original finish that remains underneath. In the case of parts originally finished bright, it is okay for them to end up a dull steel gray color, with staining and some stubborn rust spots remaining. Careful scraping with a palette knife or piece of brass lubricated with oil or WD-40 usually works well and avoids scratching the parts. Follow up with some 000 or 0000 steel wool, backed up by a strip of wood if you are working on flat areas and that should do the job. The same process will work for blued areas, and you need to be careful not to end up with some parts looking nice and clean and others sort or rusty and nasty. On a fairly common military arm this is probably good advice, but PLEASE don't try this on a really rare or valuable gun! In those cases, it is best to do nothing. John Spangler

# 11947 - S&W DOM
6/9/2007
Jim, Escanaba, MI

Walnut Checkered Grips What would the date of manufacture for this revolver be.? Thanks in Advance for your time, Jim

Answer:
Jim, Supica & Nahases excellent book on the subject, "The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" indicates that serial numbers C810533 - C999999 were manufactured in 1966 and 1967. Marc

# 12638 - Replica Black Powder Colt
6/5/2007
Jean, Grand Junction, Co

Readings on cylinder Engaged May 16 1843 and etchings of ships on cylinder, Barrel black powder Italy .36 Cal Navy Model Numbers: 58899 Patent N, AC, in a circle DGG? I got this black powder revolver? Is it worth anything? Is a replica of an original? Thanks allot.

Answer:
Jean, if it says Italy on it, it is a replica. Values for these are usually in the $100 - $200 range. Marc

# 12677 - CZ 27 Info
6/5/2007
Rod - Elmore, AL

fnh Pistole Modell 27 Kal 7.65 Can you tell me the manufacturer of this weapon, when it was made? Value? Pistol is in fair to good condition.

Answer:
Rod, it sounds like you have a Ceska Zbrojovka (better known as 'CZ') Model 1927 pistol that was manufactured under German occupation between 1941 and 1945.

The CZ Model 1927 was adopted by Czechoslovakian armed forces in 1927 and it remained in production under the German occupation until 1945. After the war, manufacture of the model continued on into the 1950s. Pistols like yours, manufactured after June 1941 under German occupation, are marked "fnh" "Pistole Modell 27 Kal. 7.65". "fnh" was the WW-II German ordnance code assigned to Bohmische Waffenfabrik, Strkonitz plant, Prague, Czechoslovakia.

The value of your pistol will depend on it's condition. I believe that we have one or two CZ 27 pistols listed in our online catalog that you can compare to your pistol to determine it's value. Mar

# 12459 - Sharps Old Reliable- Bridgeport
6/5/2007
Mike, Kansas City, Ks.

Top of barrel - Old Reliable Sharps Rifle Co. Bridgeport, Conn. Left plate - Cal. 45 2 1/10 and 2 7/8 Right Plate - C. Sharps Pat. Oct. 5th 1852 For the life of me, I can not find any type of serial number on this rifle. If it has been removed, there is no sign of that. There is a small plate of the left side of the stock, but has nothing on it, as if it where for a serial number. I know for certain this rifle is over 60 years old, since it was handed down to me, and I had fired it around 1953.

Answer:
Mike- Nice rifle! Sharps moved from Hartford to Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1876, and also began to use the "Old Reliable" marking the same year. As far as I know, (although I confess I don't know much about Sharps rifles) the serial number was placed on the upper tang. I suspect that you may have a tang sight mounted on your rifle which may cover the serial number. If that is not the case, then my back-up guess is that someone refinished the gun at some time, and removed the number in the process. If you can find a number, I would recommend getting a "factory letter" on it from the person who has the Sharps records. John Spangler

# 12458 - Richland Arms Revolver
6/2/2007
Nick Monclova, OH

A star within a circle with PN on the round chamber. I would like to know how much my 1859 Richland Arms Co. Black Powder Revolver is worth today in good condition?

Answer:
It certainly sounds like one of the modern replicas, and the mark you describe in an Italian proofmark, so I am confident this is NOT an old gun. I would expect to see similar items at gun shows priced in the range of $75-150. John Spangler

# 12457 - Trapdoor With No Sling Swivels
6/2/2007
Kris, Rigby, ID

Circled letter P (scroll). The numbers 20 (?) above it. And other possible letters or numbers below it. Our gun only has one sling swivel attached to the trigger. The front band does not look as though it has ever had a sling swivel on it. We are trying to find any information we can on this gun. We have only found one picture of it. We would like to determine possibly when and where this gun came from.

Answer:
Kris- Some of the trapdoors were made as "Cadet models" somewhat shorter and lighter to fit the youthful cadets at the Military Academy or the many Land Grant colleges then being organized and offering military training in the 1870s and 1880s onward. (The hostile takeover of academia by leftist professors in the 1960s led to the widespread ouster of "military presence" on many campuses. Many of these jerks and jerkettes and their pro- jihad fellow travelers are infesting campuses today across the country, brainwashing our youth. Only a few private schools --Hillsdale, Grove City and a few others-- and the Service Academies have remained unoccupied, although political correctness has diminished even some of the academies.) Anyway, the early Cadet trapdoors did not have any sling swivels on the trigger guard bow, while the upper band had just a stacking swivel. Sling swivels were added to cadet rifles by 1888 and retrofitted on many of the older rifles. Of course, the miracle of interchangeable parts allows a trigger guard with swivels to be installed on a cadet rifle, or a band without swivels to be installed on a regular rifle, so yours could be explained by either action. Cadet rifles had narrower buttplates than regular rifles, and people familiar with trapdoors can easily spot them. The regular barrel length from the face of the close breech block to the muzzle was 32 1/2 inches, and on cadets it was 29 1/2 inches, so that should help you sort out which you have. There are a number of cadet rifles with serial numbers very close to yours, but also some regular rifles, so we are not sure what the answer will be. Your rifle was made sometime around 1881. John Spangler

# 12735 - Nickel Luger Value
6/2/2007
Rick, Oracle, AZ.

I have a chance to buy this nickel plated Luger and I'm not sure if it is a good deal or not. The nickel finish is in very good condition - about 95% or better. The grips are standard black plastic. All the numbers match and the pistol shoots/fires great. Is there anything special about the nickel plating? What is a reasonable price for this weapon?

Answer:
Rick, the nickel finish is not original and it ruins most collector interest in the gun. I think that a reasonable price would be in the $350 range. Marc