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16240  - SPRINGFIELD TRAPDOOR HISTORY
8/29/2020
Dan, Richland, WA

Maker: Springfield, Model: Trapdoor, Caliber: .45/70 Gov`t., Barrel Length: 33 Inches, Finish: Blue, SN: 357570

Markings:
''Model 1873'' on the `door`.

Question:
Years ago, I bought this old Trapdoor with no information from the seller. Given the barrel length (it has NOT been cut down) and the condition (bright, shiny bore, 100% function, dark stock with a missing chunk next to the action (everything is very stable and the wood where the missing piece is dark, same color as the remainder of the stock) , I am wondering if it is a Cadet model, used at the academy for drills. I do not know the manufacture date or if this is indeed a Cadet model and would love any information you can provide. Thanks!

 Answer:
Dan- There is no documented history for your rifle 357570. Based on the serial number, it was made sometime in 1886, and there may be an inspector`s mark on the left side of the stock, opposite the lock plate with the initials S.W.P. over that date. There is some history for a few nearby numbers showing use by various volunteer units in the Spanish American War. All the numbers nearby are regular infantry rifles, with barrels 32 5/8`` long (measured from the front of the closed breech block to the muzzle). There are a couple of cadet rifles (with 29.5`` barrels) not too far away, but based on your measurement it is pretty obvious that your rifle is the infantry model. The stock damage hurts the value, but could be repaired by a good craftsman, but it is okay as a collector piece as is.

Hope that helps. John Spangler



16343  - dou K98k
8/29/2020
Pierce, Roy, UT

Maker: ?, Model: Kar98K, Caliber: 8mm, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: Blue, SN: 6016

Markings:
dou. 44 ff under serial number

Question:
I would like to know what exactly it is I have. This rifle doesnt have a nose plate and the stock is shorter compared to the barrel length. Did someone modify it, or is it a special model?

 Answer:
Roy, `dou` was the WW-II German ordnance code assigned to Waffenwerke Brunn, Bystrica, Czechoslovakia. It sounds to me like your rifle has been sporterized but I can not be sure without seeing it. Please send us some pictures and I will be able to provide better information. Marc



16340  - Model 12 Value
8/25/2020
Shelly Mueller Kansas City, Ks USA

Maker: Winchester, Model: ?, Caliber: ?, Barrel Length: 29, Finish: Blue, SN: 1321144

Question:
Can you tell me what this shotgun might be worth? model 12- 12 ga-3 in. cham. serial # 1321144 Pat. June 6, 1922. its in good shape

 Answer:
Shelly, the Model 1912 (shortened to Model 12 in 1919) was Winchester's first slide-action hammerless shotgun. It was in production for over 50 years and in that time over 1,900,000 were manufactured. My references indicate that your shotgun was manufactured in 1950. The Model 12 was dropped from regular product line in 1963, but a special model was produced in the Custom Shop until 1979. In 1972 Winchester resurrected the Model 12 in its regular production line in 12 gauge with ventilated rib only. The reintroduced Model 12 was dropped in 1980.

The Model 12 shotgun can be found in many different combinations of gauges, barrel lengths, ribs, and stocks, all of which determine value. The more rare a particular combination, the higher the price.

Our main focus at FineOldGuns.com is military firearms. We sometimes list sporting shotguns for sale in our catalogs but we do not have a lot of interest in collecting them and are by no means experts in this field, this is why we request visitors to NOT submit questions about shotguns. Since I do not pay allot of attention to shotgun pricing and values, the best that I can tell you is that value will probably be in the $100 to $1500 range. Marc



16234  - RUSTY GUN QUESTION
8/25/2020
Michael Jones

Maker: ?, Model: ?, Caliber: ?, Barrel Length: 49 3/4, Finish: Rusty, SN: ?

Markings:
The barrel has Small what look like stars****. Its a half stock. The push rod is open except where it enters the stock. It has a brass butt plate and a some what plain trigger guard.

Question:
any info you can pass on, would greatly appreciated.

 Answer:
Michael- I really cannot add much to what you already know. Photos would be a big help.

A 49 inch barrel is unusually long, and I am not sure if it is a thin shotgun or fowling type barrel, or a heavier musket or rifle barrel. Sorry. John Spangler



16338  - HSC Identification
8/22/2020
Anders Welin Sweden

Maker: Mauser-Werke A:G Oberndorf A.N, Model: HS C, Caliber: 7.65, Barrel Length: Unknown, Finish: Blue, SN: 758.255

Markings:
On the right side of the trigger guard an eagle over the letter N. Very good condition.

Question:
Date of manufacture? What branch of the German armed forces used this? Value?

 Answer:
Anders, Nazi HSC pistols were made from 1941 until the end of the war, serial numbers began at 700,000 and ended at 951,000. Pistols used by the German armed forces will have an Eagle over "WaA135" markings on the left side of the trigger guard where it meets the frame. This marking is the German WW-II Heerswaffenamt inspector's mark on arms produced at Mauser Werke AG, Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany. The Eagle over the letter N marking that you describe is a commercial test proof and it should be located in 3 places. 1- on the right side of the chamber (barrel), 2 - on the right side of the trigger guard, and 3 - on the right side of the slide near the muzzle. HSC's issued to the police have an eagle over an x inside a circle with the letter L to the right stamped on the left side of the trigger guard. If your HSC does not have Heerswaffenamt inspector's marks, it is doubtful that it is of military issue. Normal HSC values are in the $175 to $700 range depending on condition and markings. Values for special variations like Political Leader or Kreigsmarine pistols can be over $1000. Jan Still wrote an excellent book "Axis Pistols" full of good information on the amazing variety of handguns used by German forces, both German made and from over-run countries. Marc



16232  - WINCHESTER MODEL 1903 SEMI AUTO SAFETY
8/22/2020
William Stroudsburg Pa

Maker: Winchester, Model: 1903, Caliber: 22 Auto, Barrel Length: 20, Finish: Blue, SN: 136

Question:
My question is I have a 1903 Winchester 22 auto serial number 136 that has a safety behind the trigger is this a factory safety?

 Answer:
William- You are correct, the safety behind the trigger on the M1903 is a factory safety. The M1903 was one of the first guns introduced by Winchester in over 20 years that was NOT designed by John M. Browning. But, it was still a pretty good gun, other than being made for an oddball cartridge used only in that model. Later, when redesigned to use regular .22 long rifle ammunition it became the Winchester Model 63 and was quite successful. John Spangler



16337  - Low Number Remington UMC 1911
8/18/2020
Frank

Maker: Remington?, Model: 1911, Caliber: 45, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: Parkerized, SN: 5508

Question:
Hello I've tried looking everywhere to find out the year this 1911 was made has a colt slide but I think Remington. Serial number. Can you help? Thank you for your time . have had this for 30 yrs looks unfired.

 Answer:
Frank - it looks like you are correct, the `E.E.C`. inspector markings stand for E.E. Chapman Maj., USA who inspected Remington-UMC M1911 .45 Pistols in 1918 and 1919. Remington UMC serial numbers for 1918 fall between 1 and 13381 so your serial number supports this conclusion. The `AA` marking on the frame is an Augusta Arsenal government arsenal rebuilding mark. The original finish for this pistol would have been blue, it probably picked up the Colt slide and Parkerized finish during a rebuild at Augusta Arsenal. Marc



16228  - MARLIN MODEL 1898 PUMP SHOTGUN
8/18/2020
Donald Newman Taylor Texas

Maker: Marlin, Model: 1898 / Model 19?, Caliber: 12 Gauge, Barrel Length: 29/30 Inch, Finish: Blue, SN: 39641/ 41775F BARREL

Question:
Need Help identifying this shotgun. Marlin pump action hammer shotgun.It says Marlin firearms Co New Haven Ct USA. Patented Nov. 6. 1894, May 12th 1896, and June 2 1896. Cant find any help and the serial number is 39641. And the Barrel is stamped 41775F. Any help would be Greatly Appreciated

 Answer:
Donald- You did a pretty good job and that is indeed the Model 1898 Marlin shotgun. About 55,000 were made circa 1896 - 1905. Even though they are called Model 1898, production started in 1896. Factory barrel lengths were between 26 and 32 inches long. The numbers on the barrel are NOT supposed to match the serial number of the gun, so that is perfectly normal. The barrel number has a letter suffix indicating C for Cylinder bore, F for Full choke, etc, so you have one with full choke. They were made in A,B,C and D grades with A being the typical field gun; B a bit fancier wood and checkered, with a matted barrel; C even nicer with some engraving and D even nicer wood and game scene engraving. Based on the serial number yours was probably made around1902-1903.

Although pretty good guns, with no real mechanical issues, they were far surpassed in popularity by Winchester`s excellent marketing of the great Model 1893 and 1897 pump guns, designed by John M. Browning.



16219  - Model 1895 Winchester Rifle Age
8/15/2020
gary gray

Maker: Winchester, Model: 86188, Caliber: 30, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: Blue, SN: 86188

Markings:
Nickel Steel Barrel Specially for Smokeless Powder. Top of barrel has marking 30 U.S.

Question:
How old is this rifle?

 Answer:
Gary- The key to solving this mystery is the ``.30 U.S.`` marked on the top of the receiver ring, even though you called it part of the barrel That indicates it is in .30-40 Krag caliber, often called .30 Army or .30 U.S.. The Model 1895 lever action rifle designed by John M. Bronwing was one of the few guns Winchester made in this caliber, so that confirms you have the right model. It was made in 1914, according to the excellent serial number/date lookup tool on the Winchester Arms Collectors Association site: https://winchestercollector.org/dates/

Hope that helps. John Spangler



16335  - Sauer Model 1913
8/15/2020
Ted

Maker: J. P. Sauer And Sohn, Model: 1913 Pocket Automatic, Caliber: 32 Cal, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: Blue, SN: ?

Markings:
Has Black Plastic handle marked S&S. Serial number is well marked but I do not have the weapon available as I write this. How many of these weapons did JP Sauer and Sohn make.

Question:
This weapon was found at the Battle of the Bulge by a WW2 Vet. How many of these weapons did Sauer and Sohn make.

 Answer:
Ted, the Model 1913 was introduced in 1913, and was the first Sauer pistol to be sold under the Sauer Company name. The model 1913 is a 7.65mm blowback pistol that has a 7-shot detachable box magazine, fixed barrel, coaxial recoil spring and a tubular slide. The breech block is retained by a knurled screw cap at the rear end of the slide which is locked by a spring catch forming part of the rear sight mount. The safety catch is on the left side, it locks the sear and disengages the trigger when set. The Sauer company name is marked on the top rib of the slide, the word 'Patent' is stamped on the left side, and the calibre is stamped on the right. The word 'Sauer' is at the top, of the left grip and 'CAL 7.65' at the bottom, the right grip is marked 'S&S'. The Model 1913 was manufactured until about 1930, approximately 175,000 were produced. Marc



16217  - SEARS ROEBUCK MODEL 54 LEVER ACTION CARBINE
8/11/2020
David, Daphne,Al

Maker: Sears And Roebuck, Model: 54, Caliber: 30/30, Barrel Length: Carbine, Finish: Blue, SN: 19022

Markings:
Lever action

Question:
Date of manufactur ?

 Answer:
David- All I can tell you about this one is that the Sears Model 54 was made by Winchester as basically a slightly cheaper version of the venerable Model 94 (or 1894) .30-30 carbine. I think these were post WW2, perhaps almost up to the time around 1968 when Sears got out of the gun business.

There are some people interested in the old ``house brand`` guns and a few actually collect them, but in general they seem to sell at a very steep discount from their ``real`` name brand cousins.

John Spangler



16209  - SHELL MARKED FN 58
8/11/2020
Randy Thomas Des Moines iow 50315

Maker: ?, Model: ?, Caliber: F N 58, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: Blue, SN: ?

Question:
I was wondering what kind of shell this is it's marked top left with a f top right with a n and bottom is marked 58

 Answer:
Randy- Sorry, we cannot help with that one without photos or dimensions. John Spangler



16336  - Should I Mess With My Colt Peace Maker?
8/11/2020
brad

Maker: Colt, Model: Peace Maker, Caliber: 45 Long Colt, Barrel Length: ?, Finish: Blue, SN: ?

Question:
i have a colt ssa made in 1886 that has been passed down through the family. it shoots very well but it has a very hard hammer pull. do not really know of I should loosen the hammer spring. do I have to do that?

 Answer:
brad, there is allot collector interest in Colts like yours and values can be quite high, especially for firearms that are in original condition. My free advise (given, as always, with a full money back guarantee) is to not try to do any gunsmithing on your Colt because even a small thing like buggering up the head of a screw can hurt value. If you want a nice gun to shoot, I recommend purchasing a moderrn Ruger single action revolver. Hope that this helps, Marc.



16207  - UNIDENTIFIED RIMFIRE CARTRIDGE
8/8/2020
Colin M, Vancouver B.C. Canada

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

Markings:
Dual rim fire shell. Length 1 1/2 - rim width 5/8 - casing width 9/16

Question:
I found this 6 inches in the ground while metal detecting in a field and I could not identify the caliber or maker of this shell, and when was this ammunition used?

 Answer:
Colin- I cannot ID this item based on the info provided. Photos would help, or more precise measurements, It sounds like it would be about .52 to .56 caliber. Since found in Canada, it would be reasonable to expect it to be a cartridge commonly used in Canada. My initial guess was maybe .577 snider, but they are about 2`` long and centerfire, One of the .50, .52 or .56 rimfire Spencer cartridges would be my second guess, but they are all too short. When Lou Behling gets his definitive book on rimfire cartridges complete, we will probably find the answer there. But, not until then. John Spangler



16334  - Benjamin Model H
8/8/2020
Austin

Maker: Benjamin Franklin Pellet Gun, Model: H, Caliber: 177, Barrel Length: 19 Inches, Finish: Blue, SN: 33XXX

Markings:
None

Question:
Would like a price on what it is worth and any information you may have on used Benjamin Air Rifles.

Answer:
Austin ,I don't have much experience with air rifles (I liked them when I was a kid, but lost all interest in them when Dad gave me my first Remingtion pump .22 rifle). The gun value book describes the Benjamin Model H (no mention is made of any Benjamin Franklin brand name) as being a pump action with walnut grips that will fire a pellet at 400 FPS. Model H values are in the $50.00 range if the gun is in excellent condition... Marc



16206  - SMITH & WESSON .38 SPECIAL
8/4/2020
Patrick, Rendon, Texas USA

Maker: S&W 38 Special Revolver, Model: 1890, Caliber: 38 Special, Barrel Length: 5”, Finish: Blue, SN: 357580

Markings:
Serial number 357580

Question:
You I have a Smith and Wesson .38 special CTG, circa 1890 that belonged to my great great grandfather , a US deputy Marshal in old ham county, Texas. I also have the holster and his badge. There is no military and police designation marked on the revolver. I do have a lone serial number of 357580 on the butt plate at the bottom of the pistol grip. This is the only number on the revolver. On the barrel it says simply Smith and Wesson where the cylinder releases. On the other side of the barrel it says 38 S&W special CTG. That is all the writing on it with exception of trademark stamp.

 Answer:
Patrick- I cannot help from your description. There were a number of mostly foreign makers who made guns and prominently marked the .38 S&W CRTG (or similar) hoping that buyers would think the gun was made by S&W, not that it merely took a S&W caliber cartridge.

It sounds like a neat bunch of gear and it is good to see it stay in the family. John Spangler



16326  - Stain 1909 Argentine Handguard?
8/4/2020
Erl Schmiesing Erlschhlnd@aol.com

Maker: Mauser, Model: 1909 Argentine, Caliber: 7.65 Mm, Barrel Length: 29.13 In, Finish: Blue And Bright Bolt/reciever, SN: E XXXX

Markings:
All numbers match including muzzle cap, gun appears as issued and bore is very bright. Gun was in the grease when I purchased.

Question:
The stock is dark walnut and the upper handguard is a much lighter color. were any of these guns issued with mis-matched wood? should I restain the handguard to match?

 Answer:
Erl, it is hard to say whether or not your handguard is original to rifle, over the years the handguard could have been switched for a thousand different reasons. Check for matching numbers, your 1909's handguard may have a number stamped underneath in the barrel channel. If the mis-match in color bothers you I would see nothing wrong with staining your handguard darker... Marc



16201  - SHARPS NM 1863 CARBINE VALUE
8/1/2020
Thomas, Staten Island, NY

Maker: Sharps, Model: 1863 New Model, Caliber: 53, Barrel Length: 22 Inches, Finish: Blue, SN: C18136

Markings:
R.S. Lawrence 1859

Question:
I am interested in selling my firearm and was inquiring as to the approximate value? Thank You, Thomas J Marino

 Answer:
Thomas- It is hard to put a specific value on a gun we have not seen in person, or at least through some good photos. There is no documented historic usage for that serial number, although some nearby numbers were in the hands of various Union cavalry units as early as September 1864, so it probably saw similar use, but exactly what unit, where and when will forever remain a mystery. The Sharps carbine was one of the most widely used cavalry arms of the Civil War, relatively easy to load either mounted or dismounted, and they were available in quantity. There were some better breechloaders using self contained metallic cartridges which saw less use, mainly because the guns were in short supply, and ammunition for those was hard to get.

Value will depend on condition and any alterations, since there is no historical factor in the equation for this number. I see similar guns typically selling at gun shows or auctions in the range of $1,000-2,000 retail range. A doggy example would bring less, and a pristine one would bring more.

Hope that helps. John Spangler



16325  - Shotgun- J.P. Lovell, English Made
8/1/2020
Tammy

Maker: 10ga Shotgun, Model: ????, Caliber: 10ga, Barrel Length: 28¨, Finish: ?, SN: ?

Question:
10ga Side by Side shotgun Markings England John P. Lovell Arms Co. Boston MA. Eurema Gun Fine Damascus all three of these markings are in the ribbing between the barrels Hammers need to be cocked before firing All metal parts are highly scrolled. There is a projection off the top of the barrels that fits into the stock like a puzzle piece. Underside of the barrels have the folowing markings 11 then what looks like two crossed swords with a crown and diamonds. the swords and diamonds appear twice on each barrel. Next a large diamond shape with a 1o and a cin it on 1 side. and a large diamond with a 1o with a' on top of the o and a c. with the word choke next to the diamond. There are 2 indentations (symbol) next to the word choke on each ! barrel The right barrel has 3 notches on the inside evenly spaced at the backend of the barrel. The left side is smooth. There are also the letters JPD stamped on the stock and barrel butt suspect these maybe my great great grandfathers initials. What is the meaning of the choke markings and the notched in the barrel. Also any history and or information of this type of gun.

 Answer:
Tammy- all the markings you describe on the bottom of the barrels are normal English proofmarks. The choke markings indicate that the barrels are slightly smaller diameter at the muzzle than normal. "Choked" barrels keep the shot pellets from spreading quite as much as they otherwise would, theoretically making it possible to get kills at slightly longer ranges. (Just the opposite of pirate blunderbusses where the wide part at the end of the barrel is intended to spread the shot to get more kills at close range.) I cannot explain the notches on the inside of the right barrel. Since the right barrel is usually the first one fired, it may be that the extractor that pulls the fired shell out got worn and these were put there to make it easier to pry the shell out with a knife or something. Just a guess... John P. Lovell Arms Co. operated in Boston from 1890 to 1897, the last of several companies involving Lovell which had started business around 1840. Unlike the Belgian shotguns frequently mentioned on these question and answer pages, your English made gun was a higher grade piece, and much better made. Your great-grandfather had good taste, and invested a little more money for his gun. However, due to their "laminated or Damascus" barrels, they are considered to be unsafe to fire. Therefore the value is not great, and it is an interesting family heirloom. Enjoy it and take care of it... Marc Wade