# 4164 - Colt .44-40 Texas Ranger Presentation
7/28/01
Jeff, Shreveport, LA

Nickel Plated. Engraved name of original owner. Said to be gift from factory to Texas Rangers. When is the date of manufacture on this gun? and where can I go to see what approximate value that it has? Thanks, Jeff

Answer:
Jeff- Assuming this is a "Frontier Six Shooter" (the name given to the Single Action Army in .44-40 caliber) it was made in 1926. You can probably get a "Factory Letter" from Colt (at a pretty hefty price) to show where it was shipped. If actually a presentation from Colt to a Texas Ranger, then that would greatly increase the collector value. Placing the value on something like this is tough, as Single Actions (of all variations) start off expensive and run though the gamut to outrageous, astronomical, and obscene quite rapidly. Throw in a hefty bonus for Texas Ranger connection and it could get to be an interesting bidding war between folks fascinated by such things. (Myself, I would rather get a Ruger Vaquero for about $350 and go have fun with it.) You might want to locate and contact the Texas Ranger Museum and see if they can tell you anything about the owner. If in fact a Ranger, then it may be worth the cost of the letter from Colt to check that piece of the puzzle. This is an item which may sell best in one of the big firearms auctions, or something related to Texas stuff. Sounds like a nice gun. John Spangler

# 4160 - New England Westinghouse Rifle
7/28/01
Richard, Mesa, Arizona

In a stamped circle AHIJIIHCKIN US Has flip up rear sites with distance adjustment Just what type of rifle is this? Any value?

Answer:
Richard- Most likely your rifle is a Mosin-Nagant rifle made under contract for the Russian Czar during the first part of World War One. New England Westinghouse and Remington both had contracts for these rifles, and produced something like a million of them in 1916-1917. They were five shot repeaters in 7.62x54mm Rimmed (Russian) caliber. The Russian Revolution overthrew the Czar (and murdered him and his family), negotiated a separate peace with Germany, and refused to accept or pay for the remaining rifles from the American contractors. The U.S. Army purchased the remaining inventory (about 280,000 rifles) and these were used for training, and perhaps for home front security forces. A small number were issued to US troops sent to fight in Russia on the side of the "White Russians" against the "Red Russians" in both Northern Russia and Siberia. Along with our British allies, a small number of US troops remained fighting against the Communists in Russia for a couple of years, finally coming home in 1921 or 22. This little known episode helps explain the hostility of Russian Communists towards the U.S. for many decades to follow. (The sacrifices of American life and treasure to support the heinous dictator Stalin during WW2 against the more reprehensible dictator Hitler have been conveniently overlooked by the Commies.) Anyway, that is the origin of your rifle. Large quantities were sold through the Director of Civilian Marksmanship DCM) program in the 1920s or 30s. Some were converted to .30-06, usually involving setting the barrel back and rechambering it, and flattening out the walls of the magazine a bit.. Such conversions are considered to be highly dangerous and I would NEVER fire one. You are welcome to check with a competent gunsmith and follow their advice, and then sue them if it blows up. Unaltered rifles have some collector interest, but if converted to .30-06 I would hesitate to even hang it on the wall, and sure would not pay much for the "privilege." John Spangler

# 4033 - Brevette? Modle C
7/28/01
John, Littleton, Colorado

I have this old gun, I don't even know where I got it. It is a Brevette. On the left side of the slide it say's (pistolet Auotmatique MAB Brevette Modele C) on the right of the slide it say's (Made in France for W. A. C. ) Can you maybe tell me a little history on this gun ? Like when it was made and by whom ? And is the company still in operation ?

Answer:
John, brevette is the French word for patent, your pistol is a MAB (Manufacture d'Armes de Bayonne) Model C. MAB of Bayonne, France has been in business since 1921. From 1940 to 1944 the MAB factory, under German control, manufactured arms for the Wehrmacht and the German police. After WWII, MAB resumed production of commercial pistols. The Model C was originally introduced 1933 in 7.65mm (.32) calibre, then later in 9mm Short (.380 Auto). The model C design was based on the Browning Model 1910 but added a recoil spring around the barrel. If you want more information try a query to the OldGuns.net Q&A search engine using the search terms "French" or "MAB". You will be provided with links to questions that we have answered in the past about these pistols. Marc

# 4158 - Tilman, R.A.- Gun Maker?
7/25/01
Joe Bedford, IN USA

I am trying to locate information on a gunsmith named R. A. Tilman. I own a rifle made by this craftsman and would enjoy learning more about the gunsmith.

Answer:
Joe- Assuming it is an American made gun, we do not find any information about R.A. Tilman in the best reference, Frank Seller's "American Gunsmiths". There are listings for J.H. Tillman of Petersburgh, Indiana probably about 1860; M.A. Tillman of Otway, Ohio, and Jasper, Indiana probably in the first half of the 19th century, and William Tillman of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania about 1860. Often the style of the gun will provide clues as to the age and geographic origin of a gun, and further research in a book specializing in arms of a certain period or region might provide information. James B. Whisker has a number of books dealing with various regional makers, some of them not listed in the book I consulted. John Spangler

# 4157 - High Standard Model H-D Military .22 Pistol
7/25/01
Jean-Pol - Charleroi - Belgium

Property of U. S. / Crossed cannons / anchor of marine I don't have any idea on the origin of this weapon and his utilisation. Are you able to help me? Thank you.

Answer:
Jean- High Standard delivered about 50,000 .22 caliber semi-auto pistols for military training use during world War Two. The vast majority were the Model H-D. They were not delivered in serial number sequence but yours probably was among those delivered in early to mid 1944. Normally the crossed cannon "ordnance escutcheon" does not include an anchor, so I suspect you are being confused by other details of the design. The entire subject of secondary U.S. Martial pistols and revolvers in WW2 is covered in great detail in Charles W. Pate's "U.S. Handguns of World War II." This is an exceptionally well researched and written book, and is the definitive coverage of this often overlooked aspect of U.S. military armament. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in any type of U.S. military weapons. Reading this will give a much fuller appreciation of the way guns were procured and issued during war time, and the total involvement of the entire U.S. population in winning the war. Of course, the Belgian people did their share too, and suffered under German occupation, so this is not to say that the U.S. won the war alone. The book can be ordered from Man at Arms or gun book dealers like IDSA or Rutgers Book Center (see our links page for all these fine folks), or special ordered through your local book store. John Spangler

# 4030 - 98K Value
7/25/01
James Macomb IL

7.62 in large numbers above Israeli crest on the receiver ring. How much is an 7.26 (NATO) Israeli FN Mauser in 70% condition, nonmatching, with a refinished stock worth?

Answer:
James, there are not many aspects of your rifle that would be of interest to a collector, The poor condition of it's finish, the non-matching serial numbers and the re-finished stock will all detract from any potential value the rifle may have had. In my opinion, your rifle's main attraction is as an as an inexpensive shooter in the $200 or less range. Marc

# 4032 - Astra Constable II
7/21/01
John, Littleton, Colorado

**** # 1095 - Astra Constable 2/20/98 ***** I need a few parts for this gun, but I can't find anyone who knows where to get them. I can't find any web links to Astra. I don't even know when this gun was made. Could you give me any help on when it was made and how I might get a hold of Astra ? ?

Answer:
John, Astra is an old and widely recognized firearms manufacturer with a history dating back to the early 1900's. The Constable was one of Astra's more recent designs, that they exported to the USA from 1965 to 1991. The lack of Astra company links on the Internet and the scarcity of replacement parts is due to the fact Astra went out of business in 1998 and all inventory and factory spare parts are now held in receivership. A query to the OldGuns.net Q&A search engine using the search word "Constable" will provide you with more information on this firearm. Marc

# 4174 - US M73b1 Scope
7/21/01
Garrett Imperial Beach, Ca.

Hello Oldguns, The following information is located on the data plate: Telescope M73B1,stock no 7579931, serial # 7635029, and etched on the plate is #34152. The side of the tube next to the data plate is # 7669611. My question, When was this telescope manufactured and the significance of the etched numbers. The scope requires repair, the cross hairs is missing. Thank for any and all considerations

Answer:
Garrett- Your scope was made in 1943-44. All markings are normal, and most, except the serial number, reflect the drawing or part number used for procurement, supply or repair purposes. The etched number is usually a serial number, rather than a stamped number, but it may be some added inventory number from a later date. Cross hair replacement is not too hard, but not something that you would want to try on your own. These scopes were used on the M1903A4 sniper rifles, and reportedly also for other applications (anti tank gun sights, alignment of fire control radar, etc). Hope this helps. If you decide to sell, let us know. John Spangler

# 4156 - Remington 03A3 Value
7/21/01
Bill Salem Oregon

Is this a desirable Collectable? Can you give me a Ball park figure on what it may be worth ? it's in great condition. .

Answer:
Bill- "Great condition" can be very broadly interpreted. Some people tell us that and then add "and you can even see some of the markings through the rust" and others mean that the original grease has been slightly disturbed and the original box is dusty. Rather than us guess about what you have, we invite you to check our catalog page for similar items so you can compare condition and see what we think collectors will be willing to pay for them. Sometimes we are too low and have people fighting over them as soon as they go up, and other times we may guess a bit high, but most of the time we are pretty close. John Spangler

# 4153 - H&R Shikari .45-70
7/18/01
Michael, Milwaukie, Oregon

A "p" in the center of a circle followed by "CAL. 45-70 GOV'T. " The receiver has a weird sort of bluing that resembles carnival glass. Break action, plastic trigger guard. I would like to know around when this was made and if it would be safe to fire heavy loads in it. My grandpa gave it to me. I am not sure where he got it from. It is in good working order and pretty accurate.

Answer:
Michael- H&R makes good solid guns, although often somewhat plain and not as graceful as Remington or Winchester, but aimed at the thrifty shopper. They can also make very good quality guns at higher prices. I believe your gun is the one described as the Model 155, which is similar to a single shot shotgun action. These were offered in .44 magnum and .45-70, starting in 1972. The odd colors are color case hardening colors from the heat treatment of the receiver. As far as safety or suitable ammunition you need to check with a competent gunsmith. Personally, I would not shoot anything other than mild factory loads in it. If you need a really strong rifle in this caliber, a Ruger Single Shot would be a much better choice, although more expensive. You generally get what you pay for. John Spangler

# 4126 - Remington Rolling 7mm
7/18/01
Ross

NONE Someone tried to modify the wood work forward of the breech by shortening it and many fittings are missing. Any idea where I can buy all of the wood work and fittings including the bayonet fixture? The shoulder stock is in very good condition. I bought this rifle in 1960 for $15. No s/n is apparent--any idea of the age? Many thanks! Ross

Answer:
Ross- Your rifle is either the Model 1897 or 1901, and the difference between the two are very minor. These are good strong rifles and very popular with people wanting to make up single shot target guns. Collector interest is rather modest, so it may not be worth the effort to find the new forearm assembly and bands. Lots of them have been removed (and probably thrown in the trash!) but they do not seem to show up very often. You are welcome to post this on our free "Wanted" page and maybe someone will respond. As far as a serial number, you are not missing anything as these were not numbered. John Spangler

# 3874 - Winchester 1885 In .40-82
7/18/01
Bob Brennan Laporte CO.

IT has Winchester on the Barrel , right on top in front of Chamber it has 40-82 then on the lower tang it has Pat. Oct. 79 then the serial # 51166 This was found in a old saw mill around 1931 by my grandfather , it looks like it was there for many years, all pitted and the stock is in pretty bad shape, but the action still works ok. I think it is a 1885 high wall but can't find a model # on it, and I never heard of that 40-82 before , can you tell me if I'm right and tell me about that cal. it looks bad as far as finish goes , but is it worth any thing. I will probably just hang it on the wall and look at it as long as the Government will let me . thanks Bob Brennan

Answer:
Bob, the .40-82 WCF cartridge was introduced in 1885 for the Winchester 1885 single shot rifle, Winchester also chambered the Model 1886 lever action repeater for this cartridge. The .40-82 WCF gained a favorable reputation for hunting elk and other heavy animals because it developed a higher velocity than many black powder cartridges of it's time, making it more affective at greater distances.

The Winchester Model 1885 was John Browning's first high power single shot rifle design. My records indicate that The year of manufacture for your rifle serial number 51166 is 1891. During it lifetime, the 1885 was available in most popular calibers. Winchester manufactured over 139,725 Model 1885 rifles in various configurations from 1885 to 1920. Values for Model 1885 rifles range from around $300 to well over $5000 depending on condition and type. Because of it's condition I agree that your rifle would best be retired to an honored spot in the wall over the fireplace. Marc

# 4118 - Enfield Pattern 1853 .577 Musket
7/14/01
Kevin, Danbury WI

"S. P. & S. R. " beneath a small crown stamped ahead of the hammer on the lockplate. "51" stamped on several screws and back of lockpate. Five "H"s cartouched into stock, lock plate side, opposite lockplate and underneath ahead of the trigger guard. Ramrod is off an M1841 rifle. No proof marks on the rifle. Any ideas of the maker of this gun or its history.

Answer:
Kevin- British small arms manufacturing in the 1860s was a confusing situation, but one thoroughly explored by C.H. Roads' "The British Soldier's Firearm: From Smoothbore to Smallbore, 1850-1864". He notes that Pattern 1853 .577 muskets were produced in three grades, the first quality arms being intended for issue to regular troops. These were generally the arms made at the Royal Arsenal at Enfield with fully interchangeable parts on machinery provided by the American firm of Robbins & Lawrence. Second quality arms were those made by "the trade" or gunmakers in England or even in Belgium. These used hand made, non-interchangeable parts but followed the pattern of the official arm very closely. Second quality arms were intended for issue to Volunteer and militia troops. Third quality arms were intended for use in recruit training, or were sold on the open market for a variety of uses. Roads identifies the firm of Pryse & Redman of Brimingham [England] as one of 16 firms awarded contracts for some 4,472 .577 caliber carbines in 1860. It is reasonable to assume that they were also able to make the full length muskets, and had contracts for them at some point. Robert Gardner's "Small Arms Makers" identifies Pryse and Redman as operating in Birmingham 1857-1862. While there is listing for a Pryse with first name starting with S, the family names included Charles, John, Lewis and Thomas. Exact usage of your musket is unknown, but "Enfields" from any maker were highly prized by agents seeking arms for both Union and Confederate forces, and probably every shop in Europe produced as many as they could for sale to the Americans. Hope this helps. John Spangler

# 4095 - Colt 1909 Revolver
7/14/01
Mason Stewart

Left side of barrel "COLT D. A. 45"Bottom barrel "UNITED STATES PROPERTY" Then near frame "R. A. C. "Right frame near hammer "F. B. " Near grip "R. A. C. "Left frame near top of wood grips is a very faint colt rearing horse mark "Bottom of handle "No. 346654"stamped into the left wooden grip is the letter "D" over "15569"stamped into the right wooden grip is the "D3505" (maybe its deeply worn. ) The gun seems to have seen active duty or heavy use. the swivel ring on the bottom is missing. Curiously, There does not appear to be any evidence of Army, Marine, Navy, etc. issue or mark on the bottom, as I have seen on other models. It is rumored to have seen service in South Africa and killed several people, but I have no way to verify it. Any info. Military, civilian, Govt. ? Thanks, Mason

Answer:
Mason- All the markings that are present are typical for the M1909 military issue revolver, however these were all marked on the bottom of the butt with the military markings and military serial number. Both the Model 1909 and 1917 revolvers were fairly popular items. Many returned home with veterans of WW1, under somewhat unclear circumstances. (A Missouri National Guard artillery Captain named Harry Truman brought home both a Model 1917 revolver and a M1911 .45 automatic.) Many were transferred to the Post Office for use in guarding the mail from robberies common in the 1920s, and some of those may have strayed as well. Large scale releases of these revolvers took place after WW2. Regardless of the circumstances, the civilian owners often decided that the butt swivel was a nuisance, and even a total klutz could easily remove this part, either with a hacksaw, or by neatly punching out the retaining pin. Many owners decided that the military markings on the butt were undesirable for reasons known but to them, and removed them by grinding or filing. It sure sounds like your revolver fits into this pattern. As far as South African usage, I don't know how you could prove or disprove. A once prosperous and peaceful country under the "oppressive" colonial influence of the Boers and/or the British, it is now plagued by violence as the "evil" colonial values of civilization are slowly stripped away and replaced by tribal warfare and murder instead of work being the preferred route to wealth. Of course, the local politicians solution is to disarm the intended victims. John Spangler

# 3871 - Speewerke P.38 Number 424X
7/14/01
Ivan P. S. - Brazil

Just one eagle over nazi cross swastika on right side slide and also what looks like part of an eagle or a WWI bi-plane over an 88 ( both slide & frame). Has a CYQ on left slide and under the barrel. On the left side of the frame it has a capital P after serial number. There is no year of mfg. indication after CYQ. You also can see many machining tool marks on the slide.20 Please, tell me about this gun and its approx. value.

Answer:
Ivan, cyq is the WW-II German ordnance code assigned to Spreewerke GmbH, Metallwarenfabrik, Berlin Spandau, Germany. Spreewerke P.38 pistols typically exhibit rough machining with visible milling marks. The eagle over 88 stamping that you describe is a German WW-II Heerswaffenamt inspectors mark that was used for Spreewerke P.38 pistols. Unlike Mauser and Walther, Spreewerke did not stamp their P.38 pistols with the year of manufacture. Even though Spreewerke pistols have no date stamping, it is still possible to determine the year and even the month a Spreewerke pistol was manufactured from the letter portion of the serial number (the P that you mention). It is unfortunate that you were unwilling to furnish us with the your P.38's complete serial number. I have determined that your P.38 pistol was manufactured between April X 194X and May X 194X. Values for your pistol will range form $X50.00 to $X50.00 depending on condition. Marc

# 4089 - Iver Johnson .22 caliber M1 carbine
7/10/01
Sabrina Dyersburg, TN

The stock of the gun has a square type hole in it for the use of a sling and it also says on the gun that it was made in Germany. The man who owns this gun states that it is a military issue gun which was last made in 1951 by Iver Johnson and that there were only six of these particular guns made. There are 15 rounds per clip and it is semi-automatic, I need any info I can get to as the trueness of the information I was told and an approximate value of the gun.

Answer:
Sabrina- The owner is either (a) badly misinformed; (b) hallucinating; or (c) assuming that a woman does not know anything about guns and will believe just about anything. These were made 1986-1988, not 1951. These were actually made by ERMA in Germany, who had introduced them under their own name in 1966. These were made in large numbers (probably several thousand at least). There was NO U.S. military use of .22 rimfire carbines, even on an experimental basis. Other than that, you are welcome to believe anything else the owner tells you. (He is single, and rich, and he loves you.....) A recent value guide indicates the Iver Johnson .22 caliber carbine would sell in the $75-125 range. It is probably a nice gun to shoot, but certainly is not a collector treasure. Caveat emptor. John Spangler

# 4080 - Winchester 1873
7/10/01
Leslie Curlew, Washington

Repeating Arms New Haven Conn. Kings patent March 29th 1856 or 1866, My father inherited this gun and has gotten very conflicting appraisals on it and we were wondering if there was anything that you could tell us about the gun and about the approximate value of it?

Answer:
Leslie- If people who have seen the gun give you differing appraisals, we will be happy to confess that we certainly cannot do any better than they have done. We have a serial number that is not clear, no barrel length, and no indication of type of finish or amount left. Value for a rusty but mostly intact Model 1873 may be something like $300 as a decorator or parts gun, but one that has special features and excellent original finish may be several thousand dollars. It was made in 1876 or 1880, Sorry we cannot be more specific, but we don't have much to go on here. John Spangler

# 3863 - Winchester 9422
7/10/01
Robin Marquiss, Fairbanks, Alaska

I am just curious as to the value of this wonderful old gun. I looked up the serial number and found out it was made in 1897, the finish isn't perfect, but it is still in very good condition.

Answer:
Robin, I am afraid that you are mistaken about the date of manufacture of your Winchester, the 22 magnum cartridge did not even exist in 1897, Winchester first introduced it in 1959. Form the information that you have provided I suspect that you have a Winchester Model 9422. The OldGuns.net Winchester serial number program does not have information for the Model 9422. Possibly you entered your serial number into our Model 94 section, this would account for the erroneous 1897 date of manufacture that you mention.

The Winchester Model 9422 rifle was designed to look and feel like the popular Model 94 30-30 center fire rifle, it was introduced in both 22 rim fire and 22 magnum rim fire chamberings in 1972. Winchester intended the 9422 to represent a reaffirmed commitment on to quality and workmanship, as a result no expense was spared on design, quality control or production. Due to it's great design and the overall quality of workmanship, the 9422 rapidly became one of the most popular Winchester rifles of this century with over 1,000,000 rifles having been manufactured. Values for Winchester 9422 rifles range from $100 to around $250 depending on condition and features. Marc

# 4173 - Whitney Percussion Revolver
7/7/01
Daryl Alexandra, Victoria, Australia

I have a family heirloom which is a six shot .36 cal? .27 cal? percussion Revolver. It has an 8 inch barrel and the words "E. Whitney" over "N Haven" It has a brass trigger guard. The cylinder is engraved with a scene of a sailing boat and a vessel that is very low in the water. There appears to be a town or harbour in the background. It also has a lion standing next to a coat of arms. Also a shield device with what seems like "Whitneyville" engraved across it. It has the serial number 27483 under the barrel with a Z closer to the cylinder. The back of the cylinder is engraved with 27783 F. Just in front of the trigger guard is 17430, this is very small and hard to read there is also J.R or 3.R in this area but it is very small and hard to read Handguns are not all that common in Australia and I have no idea of the age or history of this firearm. The gun is in very good condition and I can remember my grandfather firing a round through it some time in the early 1970's. You have a very good web site. Thankyou

Answer:
Daryl- Thank you for the excellent and detailed description which allowed us to make a positive identification for you. Your revolver was made by Whitney Arms Company in New Haven, Connecticut, the same city that Winchester was located, and only about 40 miles from Colt's factory. About 33,000 of the "Navy Model Percussion Revolvers" were made in the late 1850s and early 1860s. Having the solid top frame, many people consider them superior to the Colts. A fair number were used in the Civil War by both Army and Navy units. The mixing of serial numbers suggests that yours saw military service, and there are some nearby numbers listed as in use by the 19th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry in 1864, or at the Washington Navy Yard. There is no information on any of your specific numbers. Following the Civil War, some of these guns were taken home (with or without permission) by the men who used them, and large numbers were turned in and eventually sold off as surplus. Once in the surplus market they could have been shipped just about anywhere for sale in the UK, Australia, or somewhere else. Given the criminal background of many of the early emigrant to Oz, it may well have been stolen property sold amongst gun traffickers before reaching your family. In the U.S., these are fairly popular with collectors and sell for about US$ 600-1400 depending on condition. John Spangler

# 3867 - K98k Marking Identification
7/7/01
Brian, Mpls, MN

Can you give me any manufacturers information pertaining to the markings on my Mauser. I can't seem to find anything. On the top of the receiver where the codes are, it appears that there are 2 cursive type Capital L's stamped with year 41 stamped below them. On the left side of the receiver it says "Mod 98". Under the serial number (on the left side of the barrel and receiver) there is a mark that appears to be a cursive lower case L. On the right side of the receiver there are 3 "waffenampt" stampings, one says 359, next to that is 37, and another 37. Above the receiver, on the barrel, going across, there are stampings of "37441DS", this series of numbers and letters are of different sizes. Any information you can give us, would be greatly appreciated. Thank You. Brian

Answer:
Brian, in 1940 a coding and dating system for manufacturers of K98k rifles was ordered by the Heereswaffenamt. A one, two or three letter code was assigned to each manufacturer and the last two digits of the year of manufacture were to be used for the date. I can find no reference to any K98k manufacturer being assigned the code "LL". JP Sauer was assigned the code "ce" which they stamped on top of the receiver of the rifles that they manufactured (above the year) in lowercase scriptive letters. Sauer's "ce" code could be easily mistaken for "LL". I suspect that your rifle is really stamped "ce" and therefore was manufactured by JP Sauer und Sohn.

The "Mod 98" stamped on the left side of your receiver is the model designation.

Early K98k serial numbers were limited to four digits, numbers started out at 1 or 0001 at the beginning of each year, when 9999 was reached a letter suffix was added starting with "a" if the letter "z" was reached, the letter suffix would be doubled. The lower case single "l" that you refer to is part of your serial number.

The stampings on the right side of your receiver are Wehrmachtabnahmestempel (Armed forces inspection stamps) commonly called "waffenamts". Wehrmachtabnahmestempel were applied by inspectors to various parts of K98k rifles to verify that they had met Wehrmacht requirements. The Waffenamt inspectors at the Sauer plant in 1941 used the numbers 359, 37, and 280. It is estimated that 210,592 rifles were made that year. Sauer turned out about two million K98k's between 1934 and 1944, making them the second largest K98k manufacturer next to Mauser.

The "37441DS" stamped on your barrel is called a "band". Bands commonly contained manufacturing company, production year, steel works, and acceptance stamp. Band markings were used to identify the manufacturer of the steel used in the rifle, and the lot number of steel which the steel maker provided to the manufacturer. Many of the steel maker codes have not been identified.

For more information on K98k rifles, I recommend the book "Backbone of the Wehrmacht The German K98k Rifle 1934-1945" by Richard D. Law. Marc

# 4078 - Mannlicher Schoenhauer M1950
7/7/01
Roberto, Miami, Florida

Steyr Daimler Pusch AG; Made in Austria; Original Mannlicher Schonauer My father bought this rifle new, I wanted to know more about this type of rifles. Were they for hunting or military use? . My father used it for hunting, it is in perfect shape. Also I'll like to know if it has any value. Thanks.

Answer:
Roberto- These were sporting rifles, made in Austria, although clearly targeting the American market. In fact, they offered both a modern stock which appeals to Americans and also the traditional European style stock, as well as mostly American calibers. The Model 1950 was made circa 1950-52 and a recent price guide listed them at about $600-750 in the condition you describe. Check our links page for a link to a site that specializes in these very finely made rifles. John Spangler

# 3872 - Watertown Musket
7/4/01
Eric, Syracuse, NE

My Grandpa recently had a farm auction, while I was looking through old junk and antiques I found an old gun, however it was missing it's barrel. But I did look on the metal underneath the Hammer and saw that it read "U. S. WATERTOWN" where on it where"U. S. SPRINGFIELD" would be read on an 1863 Springfield. It also had the U. S. bald eagle emblem stamped in it like on the Springfield and had a date of 1864 behind the hammer like on the Springfield. Is this a Civil War Rifle? If so who is the manufacturer, what model is it and how do you think a barrel would cost?

Answer:
Eric- The main reason for the defeat of the Confederacy in the Civil War was the disparity between the arms making capacity of the northern and southern states. In the south, Richmond Armory made excellent quality muskets using the machinery captured from Harpers Ferry Armory, while two or three other facilities struggled to turn out piddling numbers of rifles or muskets. Even Richmond's production remained limited by material shortages, so that their total production probably only amounted to 36,000 arms between 1861 and 1865. By contrast, at least twenty northern facilities were producing fully interchangeable .58 caliber muskets, with a total of about 1.5 million made 1861-65, not counting hundreds of thousands of different models of cavalry carbines and other arms. Among the twenty musket makers was Charles B. Hoard of Watertown, New York who delivered 12,800 muskets in 1863-65. These were all Model 1861 .58 rifle muskets, the standard infantry arm of the Civil War. These had a 40 inch barrel held by three barrel bands. Huge quantities were later shortened and bored smooth by surplus dealers for sale as cheap shotguns. If your stock has been shortened to a single band, we can probably find a barrel for you at a modest cost. If the stock is full length, finding an original length barrel will be much harder and more expensive. Robert M. Reilly's superb "U.S. Military Small Arms 1816-1865" has lots of details on all the muskets and other arms of this period. John Spangler

# 3876 - Spencer .22 Rolling Block Rifle
7/4/01
Michael Murrieta CA

This is a 22cal. rolling block rifle. a real old timer.20inch barrel. no other markings on rifle. have no info on this rifle. has no serial number. Do you have any info on this rifle? I do have pic's my e mail is mc_35@hotmail.com

Answer:
Michael- The J. Stevens Arms Co. of Chicopee Falls, Mass, introduced their Model No. 16 "Crackshot" rifle in 1900. This was also sold with markings as The Keystone, The .22 Marvel or The .22 Spencer. Sears Roebuck sold the Keystone (and perhaps other models) in the 1900 catalog for $3.00. These models were all discontinued in 1913 when Stevens introduced improved versions. All were intended for sale to parents or youngsters and fall into the category called "Boys' rifles" by collectors. Jim Perkins out of print book "American Boys Rifles" is the best reference on this topic. John Spangler

# 3869 - Stevens Pistols
7/4/01
Randy

J. STEVENS A. & T. CO. CHICOPEE FALLS MASS. USA When made? Super excellent condition approx value?

Answer:
Randy, Sevens manufactured two models of single shot pistol the Number 10 Target Single Shot and the Number 35 Target Single Shot.

The Number 10 Target was manufactured from 1919 to 1939, it was a tip up pistol with blue finish offered in .22 Long Rifle only. The number 10 had an 8 inch barrel, adjustable sights and hard rubber grips with a grip frame that was squared off to look like an automatic pistol.

The Number 35 Target was manufactured form 1907 to 1939, it had a blue finish and walnut grips. Number 35 Target pistols were available in .22 Long Rifle and .25 Rimfire calibers with a choice of 6, 8, 10, or 12 & 1/4 inch barrels.

Values for Stevens model 10 and 35 target pistols are in the $100 to $250 range depending on condition. Marc