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15949 -
12/31/2018
Terry Meridian, Id USA

Maker: Smith & Wesson, Model: S&W D.A. 45, Caliber: .45, Barrel Length: 5 1/2, Finish: Blue, SN: 27011

Markings:
US Army Patented Dec.17, 1901 Feb.8, 1902 Sep.14, 1909

Question:
Gun was given to son in law by his grandfather and would like to know the value and age. It is not pristine condition but in my opinion average condition with a small crack at screw next to the hammer just behind the cylinder. It doesn`t appear to have ever been modified in any way. I don`t find anywhere to send pictures of this gun. Thank you, Terry G.

Answer:
Terry, handguns chambered for 45 ACP were desperately needed once the USA had entered the First World War. To meet wartime demands, both Smith and Wesson and Colt modified their standard large caliber revolvers to chamber 45 ACP. The Smith and Wesson Mod. 1917 was just a Second Model .44 Hand Ejector chambered in .45 ACP, with the cylinder shortened to accept the special half-moon clips required for speedy ejection of spent .45 ACP casings. The first Model Smith and Wesson Model 1917 was completed on September 6 1917. Model 1917 revolvers were serial numbered in a separate sequence beginning with serial number 1. According to production records 163,476 Model 1917's were manufactured during WWI. Smith and Wesson sold some Model 1917's that had been produced during WWI on the commercial market after the war had ended. Commercial sales of wartime production Model 1917's ended after Smith and Wesson had depleted it's wartime production supply on January 5th 1921. After January 5th 1921 Smith and Wesson began producing a commercial model 1917 that was the same as the wartime model except that it had checkered walnut grips.

My records indicate that your revolver was manufactured in March of 1918 so it is now more than 100 years old. Values for S&W 1917 revolvers depend on condition with examples in poor condition selling in the $500 - $600 range and examples in excellent condition bringing $1700 or even more. Marc

15945 - MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEARTO ALL!
12/22/2018

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

Answer:

It's almost Christmas, John and Marc hope you are spending time with family and friends, laughing, enjoying each other's company, and eating good food.

Please remember our troops who are still overseas. Let's not forget their sacrifice as they're away from their families. If you know someone who is serving, please give them a big thank you and a Merry Christmas.

We would like to thank all of our visitors, customers, old friends and new friends that we have made this year for helping us have a great year this year. We appreciate your support, business, the questions that you send us and your friendship. We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Remember, though, if Santa forgot to bring that special gift, we just might have it! Check all of our catalog pages to see if there is something that maybe you should have asked for... but forgot to. Then let us know and we can do the job when you're in town, or something festive like that.

Marc Wade and John Spangler

15926 - Winchester Model 72 Information
12/18/2018
Roxanne GAP, PA

Maker: Winchester, Model: Model 72-22 Short, Caliber: 22?, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: ?, SN: NONE

Question:
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. Marc

15917 - Marlin Model 1893 Date
12/18/2018
Ken

Maker: Marlin, Model: 1893, Caliber: ?, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: ?, SN: C9587

Question:
Hello, I have a Marlin 1893, serial number C9587. Caliber 30 30. Can you tell me when it was made? I tried your web page but for some reason it's not returning me an answer. Thanks

Answer:
Ken- Sorry, we cannot help with that one. Marlin numbers are a mess, and they used the same series of numbers across several different models for a long time.

Your best bet is to check with the Marlin Collectors Assn to see if anyone there can help. John Spangler

15915 - Info On The "Cash" Pistol And Its Cartridges
12/15/2018
G.B.

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

Question:
Hello: What do you know of very old gun called the CASH pistol and its cartridges. It uses a cartridge that must be used in the CASH gun only. Thanks.

Answer:
G.B.- Sorry, we cannot help with that one. No idea at all. John Spangler

15927 - Ortgies Value
12/15/2018
Gary, Lebanon, Indiana

Maker: ?, Model: ?, Caliber: 7.65. 32 Cal, Barrel Length: 4 In, Finish: Blue, SN: 44637

Markings:
Left side of slide has..Ortgies`Patent. Deutsche Werke Aktiengesellschaft,Werk Erfurt. Back of butt looks like a M, then looks like a square leaf or badge same size as the M. Then 24... So looks like ..M#24. Then on right side slide right behind trigger has a matching mark, one on body, and one on slide. They are lined up ,one on top of the other. Looks like a crown on top of a N. It also has wood grips with a gold badge in middle, looks like a O on top of a H it also has B K underneath the wood grips. And the serial # is at the front of trigger guard on bottom side. Has a squeeze handle safety. and the release is on left side towards the back.

Question:
My father recently died, leaving me the firearm. I'm trying to figure out what it is and its value. Any help would b appreciated, thanks!

Answer:
Gary, I can tell you a little about Ortgies. The founder of Ortgies (Heinrich Ortgies) was a German but he lived in Liege for many years, and may have been connected with the firearms business there. During his residence in Belgium, Ortgies designed an automatic pistol incorporating certain ingenious details which he patented in about 1916. After WWI, Ortgies returned to Germany and set up in business in Erfurt manufacturing the Ortgies pistol. Ortgies manufactured upwards of 10,000 pistols and they proved to be such a great success that Deutsche Werke of Erfurt made him an attractive offer to buy his business which he accepted. In 1921 Deutsche Werke took over the Ortgies patents, tools and stock, and began making Ortgies pistols. Original Orgies made pistols are marked on the slide 'Ortgies & Co Erfurt Ortgies Patent', the grips came with a bronze medallion with the intertwined initials 'HO', these grip medallions were retained by Deutsche Werke for some years, and they also retained the wording 'Ortgies Patent'. Later production dropped both these features. Unfortunately there is not much collector interest in Ortgies pistols I often see them offered for sale at gunshows in the $125.00 - $250 range. Marc

15936 - Rem 11
12/11/2018
so dak

Maker: Remington, Model: 11, Caliber: 12ga, Barrel Length: 26, Finish: Blue, SN: 329462

Question:
what year was it made

Answer:
so, about 300,000 Remington Model 11s were made between 1911 and 1948. The design was based on the John M. Browning patents granted on the dates marked on the barrel, it was very similar to the Browning shotguns. Remington made these for U.S. sales under license from FN.

Remingtons manufactured in 1921 and after have a code, usually located on the left side of the barrel near the frame that identifies the year and month of manufacture. The Remington Society of America has a great page that gives information on Remington markings and dates.

If your shotgun does not have the code on the barrel, then it must have been manufactured between the year that the model was introduced (1911) and 1921. Marc

15914 - Date For Remington Double Shotgun Pre-1920
12/11/2018
Larry

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

Question:
I have what I believe to be Remington Model 1889 double barrel 10 GA and looking to date the gun with serial number but can’t find pre 1920 manufacture dates

Answer:
Larry- Sorry, we cannot help with that one. We just do not do much with shotguns. I know on the early hammer types there are subtle differences in the hammer shape which help with dating, but past that I just don't know anything about them. Search for Remington Society of America and they might have something. John Spangler

15913 - Winchester Model 1902
12/8/2018
Graeme Australia

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

Question:
hi there I have a model 1902 .22 boys rifle but its stamped model 02A and I am looking for more info on this rifle any info u can give me would be helpful thanks Graeme I live in Australia

Answer:
Graeme- Maybe what we think of as a strange accent by Australians comes from the lack of punctuation, but who knows. They are good folks anyway. Sorry, we cannot help with that one. We just do not know much about the Winchester Model 1902. Recommend you ask over on the Winchester Arms Collectors Association page. John Spangler

15935 - Inland Carbine Value
12/8/2018
Joey Ft. Collins Colorado US

Maker: Inland General Motors, Model: M1, Caliber: .30, Barrel Length: Standard, Finish: Blue, SN: 6656058

Markings:
Top of barrel says . Inland mtg div General motors 11 -44 other stamps include a.P., M, H1 U, O

Question:
Wanting to sell need to know value of the rifle basic research says there was only 35000 made so anything more would be appreciated .. thank you

Answer:
Joey, it is amazing to realize that during WW2 about 6.5 million M1 carbines were made (including the M1A1, M2 and T3 variations), nearly all of them in the two years between mid-1942 and mid-1944. There were 10 manufacturers of carbines, ranging from traditional firearms companies like Winchester to juke box makers like Rockola with several companies who made business machines and automotive parts like Underwood, IBM, Inland, Standard Products, Quality Hardware, and Saginaw. Inland manufactured more carbines than any of the other companies, 43% of the 6.5 million M1 Carbines produced, or about 2.67 million and are the most common maker encountered.

Value for M1 Carbines depends on many things but the most important factors are maker, condition configuration, original parts and wether or not the carbine has import markings. I often see Inland M1 Carbines selling at gunshows at prices between $600 for examples in poor condition or that have import markings and $1200 or more for examples with early features and in excellent condition. Marc

15932 - Browning Model 1900
12/4/2018
Thomas Marble Hill MO

Maker: Browning, Model: Model 1900?, Caliber: 32, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: Blue, SN: 84476

Question:
Wondering about this handgun. I have no information about it.

Answer:
Thomas, the Model 1900 was the first design ever to use the 7.65mm Auto (32 ACP) cartridge. It had a four-inch barrel and a seven-shot magazine. The pistol was adopted by the Belgian army in 1900 and then offered commercially. It was used by many European military and police forces. Early examples had thin grip plates embossed with a representation of the pistol and a small 'FN' logo; later grips were more robust, bearing a florid 'FN' monogram. A lanyard ring was added to the left rear of the butt soon after production began. FN manufactured 724,500 Model 1900 pistols between 1900 and 1914. The 1900 will be remembered, if for no other reason, as the pistol with which, in June 1914, Gavrilo Princip murdered Austrian Archduke Ferdinand and his wife to precipitate the First World War. Marc

15912 - Finding Grandfather’s Military Rifle
12/4/2018
Chris

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

Question:
I’m trying to find my great grandfather’s rifle from WW2 but I don’t have the serial number. I know the date he enlisted, where he enlisted and his serial number but not the serial number of the rifle. Can you help me?

Answer:
Chris- Sorry, we cannot help with that one. Such information probably does not exist any longer. Records of which guns were issued to an individual were temporary records, and thrown away when guns were returned and a unit disbanded or after a short period of time. In some cases people know the number of the rifle, but even then finding the rifle is nearly impossible. I admire your desire to do this, but in reality it is an impossible quest. John Spangler

15916 - Italian Carcano Rifle?
12/1/2018
Matt

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

Question:
I might be interested in buying a rifle from a coworker but only markings are on barrel YE 3254 under that a cat head maybe then RE under that. Can you help please? Said it shoots 6.5x52mm. I was intrigued and couldn't find any information about it on the internet. It has a Fajen stock and he didn't have any information besides the ammo size.

Answer:
Matt- The “cat head” is probably the crown marking used on Italian arms, and the RE and alpha-numeric serial number format sure sounds like it is an Italian Carcano rifle to me, and you have identified the correct caliber for one.

Ammo is basically not available, and if you have ammo, you also need a special 6 round clip or have to fire it single shot. They are ugly, clunky and have little collector interest. With the Fajen stock it was probably "sporterized" in the 1960s when there was still some surplus ammo available that worked some of the time, but it is all unusable due to age now. Sporterized value is probably $25 max.

I would strongly advise you to NOT buy that one based on the value of the gun. If you do it just to help a friend, fine, but do it with the understanding you will probably be stuck with it forever. John Spangler

15928 - Pistol With `HS` Grips
12/1/2018
Beverly

Maker: ?, Model: ?, Caliber: ?, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: Don`t Know, SN: 295773

Markings:
It has a HS on handle.. it looks like it may be older...

Question:
Was just wondering what kind of gun..

Answer:
Beverly, you did not give me much information to go by, the first manufacturer that comes to mind is High Standard but most of their grips that I can remember are not marked with "HS". I searched through my records and found that some pistols manufactured by Haenel came with grips that were marked with a stylized "HS" that almost looks like a U.S. dollar sign. The following information comes from Pistols of the World:

C.G. Haenel Waffen - und Fahrradfabrik of Suhl dates back to 1840, for much of its early life it was a gunsmithing and metalworking business. The first contact with handguns appears to have been as a contractor, making the Commission-designed Reichsrevolver (q.v.) in the early 1880s. Gunmakers V.Chr. Schilling and Spangenberger & Sauer formed a co-operative venture with Haenel to produce the guns.

In 1921 Hugo Schmeisser, who had been working for Theodor Bergmann, came to Haenel as chief engineer. He brought a 6-35mm blowback automatic pocket pistol design which he had patented in 1920. The gun had several unusual features. The barrel was held in place by the recoil spring guide-rod passing through a lump beneath the breech into a recess in the frame, and the safety catch was linked to the magazine catch; the magazine could not be removed unless the pistol was set safe, nor could the catch be set to fire until the magazine was replaced.

Production of the well-made pistol began in 1922, continuing until 1930. The slide was marked C,G, HAENEL SUHL-SCHMEISSER'S PATENT and the grips carry an 'HS' monogram variously transcribed as 'Haenel-Schmeisser' or (more plausibly) 'Haenel-Suhl'. A revised pattern appeared in about 1927, whereupon the original version became Modell and the new one was Model 2.

Haenel moved away from handguns in the 1930s in favor of submachine-gun design and military weapon production. After the war the plant was in the Soviet zone of occupation, later East Germany, and was absorbed into the state-controlled VEB Fahrzeug- und Jagdwaffenfabrik 'Ernst Thalmann', making sporting guns. Hugo Schmeisser vanished into Russian hands in 1945 and has never been heard of since.

Hope this helps. Marc

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