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16041 - L.A.R. Grizzly Info
5/28/2019
Nathan, Eau Claire, WI

Maker: L.A.R. Grizzly, Model: Mark I, Caliber: .357 Magnum, Barrel Length: 6.5'', Finish: Other, SN: A001431

Markings:
Tan Duracoating. Unknown when and by whom.

Question:
I would like to know the date of manufacture. How early or late in production it is. Sold as .45 win mag and converted to .357? Or sold as .357 right away? Thanks.

Answer:
Nathan, the Grizzly Win Mag pistols were conceived, invented, designed, engineered and developed in the 1980s by, Perry Arnett (the ``A`` in L.A.R). The L.A.R. Grizzly was the most powerful semi-automatic pistol ever commercially produced. The L.A.R. factory was located in West Jordan, Utah (a few miles from my home) so I have always been a fan of theirs. At one time I was interested in collecting magnum semi-automatic pistols and I have owned several Grizzlies over the years including two that I purchased from an L.A.R employee, serial numbers PPP0011 and SA000888. I was told that the ``PPP`` in PPP00011 stood for pre production prototype and the ``S`` part of SA000888 indicated that this pistol was a second which was sold to the employee at a discounted price.

I do not have any information on your pistol, you might try asking the people at http://grizzlypistol.blogspot.com or https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=838241. Marc

16020 - MOSIN NAGANT DATE OF MANUFACTURE
5/28/2019
Peter-

Maker: ?, Model: Mosin, Caliber: ?, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: ?, SN: ?

Question:
I see some Mosin Nagant`s advertised to sell without FFL due to the fact that the receiver was made before 1896, even if the actual firearm was put together in 1941. What is your take on this - legal or not legal?

Answer:
Peter- BATF considers the date of manufacture to be that of the receiver, so for antique instead of FFL status of any Mosin Nagant made in 1898 or earlier should qualify as antique. However, when dealing with post 1898 ``C&R`` versus non-C&R FFL status BATF apparently requires them to be in unaltered condition. Sporterized Mosins are probably not eligible as C&R items, but would about a 1960 Ukraine refurb of a 1940 Ishevsk be considered to be inoriginal configuration or not? How about one of the Model 1891 rifles made in 1896 converted to 91/30 in 1940? Chances are BATF doesn`t care to pursue any of those, although technically they could.

Best thing to do is ask the BATF in writing, not verbally as BATF agents often interpret the law and regulations very differently, so verbal info is worthless. John Spangler

16019 - DANISH TARGET RIFLE
5/25/2019
Sonja-

Maker: ?, Model: 1867 ELG, Caliber: ?, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: ?, SN: ?

Question:
I have what appears to be a 1867 ELG rifle. I was wondering if I sent pics could you possibly give me some info on it? Thank you for your time

Answer:
Sonja- Thanks for the photos, they help a lot. It is a full stock percussion rifle about .45 caliber. It is a neat gun, but too bad it is missing the lock, which will be very difficult to replace, perhaps even impossible. It is a muzzle loading percussion target rifle in Scandinavian style (Norway, Sweden and Denmark were more or less connected in the last half of the 19th century). The ELG on the barrel indicate the barrel was made in Belgium, but the rifle may have been completed in Denmark or somewhere else.

The presentation plate on the stock is most helpful, marked ``Skytteforeningen 3 die premie 1867 to aalborgogn: Sundby.`` This appears to be Danish language which I think very roughly translates to something like `` Skytteforeningen (the name of the range or match)/ 3rd Place Prize 1867/ awarded at Aalborg to Sundby (presumably the shooter`s name).``

Skytteforeningen is still involved with shooting sports in Denmark, and their web page (in Danish, translated to English) can be found at https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=da&u=http://www.lindsf.dk/&prev=search or a Danish version at http://www.knabstrup-skytteforening.dk/

In 1867 Denmark adopted a Remington designed rolling block rifle for military use, but not yet in full production. Muzzle loaders were still used in many civilian target matches, and perhaps this was an obsolete rifle used as a prize for the 3rd place while a newer rifle might have been 1st place.

As far as value, my guess is that it might bring about $200-400 retail in present condition. If it had the original lock, it probably would have brought twice as much. There still may be interest, especially from Danish collectors, and as this is an antique made circa 1867 or earlier it may be legal to ship to Denmark, but you need to verify that with postal authorities first, both in the US and a Danish buyer can confirm it on their end. Hope that helps. John Spangler

16039 - Remington Model 81 Value
5/25/2019
Randy ,Johnson City Tx USA

Maker: Remington, Model: Model 81, Caliber: 300 Savage, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: Don`t Know, SN: 24014

Question:
value? Barrel code says manufactured Nov. 1945

Answer:
On October 16, 1900, John Browning was granted U.S. Patent 659,786 for a semi-automatic rifle design, which he sold to Remington. Browning`s design was the first successful high-powered semi-automatic rifle to be manufactured in the United States and quite possibly anywhere else in the world.

The rifle introduced many features that were copied by other gun designers. John Garand and Michel Kalashnikov copied the U shaped sear mechanism. Kalashinikov took the safety for his AK 47 from this rifle. The spring loaded ejector of the M1 Garand also came from this design.

Inside the U.S., Remington manufactured and marketed Browning`s design as the Model 8 and outside the U.S., this rifle was manufactured by Fabrique Nationale of Liege, Belgium, and marketed as the FN Browning 1900. The rifle offered the hunter a choice of four calibers, 25, 30, 32 and 35 and was powerful enough for deer, elk and even bear. There is a picture taken about 1910 of John Browning getting ready to clean a large elk he had just shot with his personal Model 8.

Because of the automatic loading feature, the rifle was popular with U.S. law enforcement. In 1934, legendary Texas Ranger Frank Hamer purchased a Model 8 in .35 Remington at Petmeckey`s Sporting Good Store in Austin and then had it fitted out with a 20-round magazine manufactured by the Peace Officer`s Equipment Company of St. Joseph, Missouri. He took the rifle along with him when trailing bank robbers Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker and found it more than up to the task of punching through the couple`s Ford V-8, as well as the couple themselves. Today, many Model 8s and some 81s will be found with police markings.

Remington discontinued the Model 8 in 1936 and introduced the Model 81 Woodsmaster with improvements by C.C. Loomis. The Model 81 was offered in .300 Savage and the .25 Remington cambering was dropped after a limited number of 81s were chambered in this round. The Federal Bureau of Investigation acquired some Model 81 rifles chambered for .30 Remington and .35 Remington in response to the 1933 Kansas City Massacre. Production of the Model 81 ceased in 1950.

The blue book indicates that the model 81 was available in 5 grades. Better grades bring higher prices. Values in the blue book for this model range from around $400 to over $1200 depending on condition.

Add 15% for early mfg. with beavertail forearm.

Add 75% for stamped B and C grades.

Add substantial premiums for higher grades D, E, and F.

Add substantial premiums for FBI ``Special Police`` rifle and ``Special Police`` rifle with extended detachable magazine.

Hope that this helps. Marc

16018 - GUN QUESTION FROM A NOVELIST
5/21/2019

Maker: ?, Model: ?, Caliber: ?, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: ?, SN: ?

Question:
Imagine a poor farmboy in East Texas, circa 1920s. He`s short, with correspondingly short arms. He cuts his shotgun down to size so that it will be easier to handle, but he`s got to weight the stock so that the gun will maintain its proper balance. He`s got access to common tools, but not to molten lead. How would he do it? Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer:
I`d write this: ``Bubba-Bob carefully unscrewed the two screws holding the buttplate and removed it. He then took his brace and bit and drilled a hole into the rear of the buttstock. He had some extra shells for his shotgun, each containing an ounce of number 8 lead birdshot pellets. He took his knife and slit open the cardboard end of each shell and dumped them into the

hole in the butt. To keep them in place he then poured in some glue and allowed it to dry overnight. The next day he put the buttplate back on and hefted the gun and decided it was what he wanted.`` John Spangler

16036 - Gecado 38
5/21/2019
Joan Washington Pennsylvania

Maker: Gecado, Model: Could Not Find It, Caliber: 38 Special, Barrel Length: 4 /6, Finish: Don't Know, SN: 664

Markings:
Made in Germany

Question:
1. Where can I find the model number 2. What is this gun worth

Answer:
Joan, Gecado pistols were marketed by the Dornheim company (Dornheim G. C. Dornheim AG, Suhl. Germany). Pre-war Gecado pistols were low quality 6.35mm and 7.65mm 'Eibar' type automatics, manufactured by SEAM (q. v.). They bore the word 'Gecado' in a diamond.

Post-war Gecado models were manufactured in West Germany and they included various .22 and .38 caliber revolvers and a blowback operated semi-auto model much like the pre-war versions except for a difference in the location of the safety catch. .

Collector interest in this type of pistol is typically low, they often sell in the $50 - $100 range. Marc

16035 - Savage Mod. 220A
5/18/2019
Robert

Maker: Savage Arms Corporation, Model: 220A, Caliber: 20 Gauge, Barrel Length: Unknown, Finish: Unknown, SN: UNKNOWN

Markings:
2 3/4¨ chamber

Question:
What year was this gun produced and what is it's current value?

Answer:
Robert, The Savage model 220 is a hammerless single barrel shotgun that originally was furnished with a plain pistol grip stock. Savage manufactured the model 220 from 1938 to 1965 in 12, 16, 20, 28 and 410 gauges, barrel lengths ranged from 26 to 32 inches. I could find no mention of a model 220A but there is a model 220 AC that came equipped with a Savage adjustable choke. There is no collector interest in the Savage model 220 or 220AC, values are in the $50.00 range... Marc

16017 - Mauser Rifle With Bnz And BRNO Markings
5/18/2019

Maker: BRNO, Model: Bnz 43, Caliber: ?, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: ?, SN: ?

Question:
Hi I have a bnz 43 rifle with some odd mark on it such as ``zber brno``. I want to know that is a rare kind of brno type?

Answer:
Sir- We cannot help much with that one.

The code ``bnz`` was used by Steyr-Daimler -Puch, A.-G., Werk Steyr, Steyr, Austria on K98k Mauser rifles they made during WW2.

The other marking is probably for the Czech factory in Brno, officially ``Ceskoslovenska Zbrojovka, A.S., BRNO`` which also made fully interchangeable K98k Mauser parts. During and after WW2 many rifles were rebuilt or salvaged from battlefield recover rifles, or surplus inventory sold on the commercial market which could account for parts from a mix of makers.

Without knowing more details about your rifle, what numbers do/don`t match, etc it is impossible to tell you more. Collector interest and value are probably a lot less than a matching example all from one maker. Hope that helps. John Spangler

16031 - Danzig 1918
5/14/2019
Ian, Jefferson City, MO

Maker: Kar 98a, Model: Danzig 1918 Mauser, Caliber: 7.92x57, Barrel Length: 24, Finish: Blue, SN: 8436

Markings:
Crown stamp above Danzig 1918 logo on the receiver

Question:
I have an opportunity to purchase this gun from an acquaintance. The stock has been altered from the original military issue full stuck with upper guards. Otherwise all the number match. I am curious of the value of this gun. It is in relatively good condition. I am having a difficult time finding much information about this particular gun. Thank you for your time, knowledge and consideration.

Answer:
Ian - my guess is that this is a G98, before you purchase, here are some things that you should consider if you want to return the rifle to original configuration. On this type of rifle, all of the parts are numbered including the stock and handguards. If you are able to find replacement parts, all of the numbers on the replacement parts will almost certainly not match the rifle. At the very best, you will end up with a non-matching parts gun. Unless you get lucky, the replacement parts will probably run in the $250 - $350 range. Value for mis-matched K98 rifles usually runs in the $400 to $600 range depending on condition. Hope this helps you to calculate your offer for the rifle. Marc

16016 - OLD .30-06 AMMUNITION
5/14/2019

Maker: ?, Model: ?, Caliber: ?, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: ?, SN: ?

Question:
When my grandpa passed recently I received some of his old firearms, and ammo. I have 12 30 06 rounds linked together in a loop. 2 are orange tipped, 4 are black tipped, and the rest don`t seem to have been tipped. They are all head stamped TW 5 3. Could you tell me if they might be worth anything?

Answer:
Sir- The black tips are armor piercing, the orange tips are tracers, and those with no color are ball rounds. It was common for machine gun belts to be filled with 1 tracer for every four rounds of ball or AP ammunition to help gunners see where their shots were going. They really don`t have much collector value, but will probably still function just fine. Keep them for sentimental value, but cash value is probably only a couple of dollars for the lot. John Spangler

16009 - Savage Model 99F
5/11/2019
Chris csmith@netusa1.net

Maker: Savage, Model: 99F, Caliber: .300, Barrel Length: 27¨, Finish: Blued, SN: 779913

Markings:
The only markings found were- SP with a circle around it.

Question:
I would just like to know some general information on this gun i.e.when it was made, how many were made, etc. Anything would be muchappreciated! Thanks!

Answer:
Chris, well over one million Model 1899 Savages have been manufactured since production started in 1899. Production of your model (the 99F) was discontinued in 1970. The original Savage model 1899 was an improvement of the model 1895. Savage has offered many variations of the model 99 over the years in many different calibers, including a takedown version that came with a .410 GA shotgun barrel. My references list over 35 different types and models, of 1899 Savage and I seem to always be running into a new variation that isn't listed in my books. Values for Savage Model 99's can range from under $100.00 to over $40000.00 dollars depending on condition type and rarity. My records indicate that your Model 99F was manufactured in 1940. If you want more information about the Model 99 Savage, there is a book "The Ninety Nine" by D.P. Murray which tells all about this model... Marc

16027 - WWII 1911A1 Magazine Information
5/11/2019
Bryant

Maker: Remington Rand, Model: 1911A1, Caliber: 45, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: ?, SN: ?

Question:
I have a US Army Issued Remington Rand M 1911 A1. It is a 1943 model. I do not have a magazine for it and I am unsure of the right one to purchase. Do you know the correct magazine I need?

Answer:
Bryant, WWII Magazines were full blued with spot welded bases. The top of the lip of the base is marked with one of the following markings:

`` L `` M.S. Little Mfg. Co.
`` R `` Risdon Mfg. Co.
`` S `` Scovill Mfg. Co.

The General Shaver Division of Remington Rand manufactured mags that were issued with Remington Rand pistols only and were: full blued, spot welded base, marked with a `` G `` on the top of the lip of the base, and had spot welding down the back of the tube.

(S) Scovill, (R) Risdon, and (L) Little mags were used by Remington Rand, Ithaca, and US&S

(G) General Shaver Div mags where used by Remington Rand.

Sometimes present on the bottom of the base a C-L, C-R, C-S which implied it was subcontracted for Colt.

Hope that this helps, Marc

16008 - Weaver K8 60B Telescope
5/7/2019
dustywilson@spintmail.com

Maker: Weaverscope, Model: K 8 60-B, Caliber: ?, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: ?, SN: ?

Question:
This scope is mounted on a modified 308 Springfield my father converted into a .300 H&H mag. It has on the far optical a range ring that can be set from 50 ft to 1000 yds. What I need to know is if when changing this ring does it reset the sight point or is it just a way to show the distance you have sighted the scope in for. Thanks for your help in this. If you cannot answer my question could you please give me a way to get in touch with weaver as they may know.

Answer:
Dusty- I dunno! I could guess, and maybe fool some people, but someone might tell me I am wrong. (Hey, people tell me I'm wrong sometimes when I know I am right, so that doesn't bother me anymore.) I think Weaver is out of business now. Sorry... John Spangler

16007 - Marlin Scope Clearance Problems
5/7/2019
michael, michm00v@ciao,trail.bc.ca

Maker: Marlin, Model: Model 882, Caliber: .22 Winchester Magnum, Barrel Length: 22 Inches, Finish: Blue, SN: ?

Question:
I would like to know how to mount a scope on the ¨factory grooved¨ receiver. it appears that operation of the bolt handle would interfere with the scope and mounts. is this true, or can I mount a scope in the regular fashion?

Answer:
Michael, The fact that your receiver has scope mounting grooves means that the rifle was designed to be used with a scope and should have proper clearance if the correct mounts and scope are used. The two main factors that can affect bolt handle clearance when mounting a scope are the height of your mounts and the shape of your scope. For instance if your Marlin was designed for a .22 type scope that has a 3/4 inch tube and you tried to mount a regular 1 inch rifle scope you might run into some clearance problems. When I encounter clearance problems I try a different style or height scope mount, or maybe even a different scope. I would advise you to take your rifle and scope to a local gunsmith and buy a set of rings that are the proper height to give you the clearance that you need. Good Luck.. Marc

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