airedaleman wrote:Oh, boy! They are really fine firearms. A couple bring back memories of my salad days. Could you give us a rundown on the transition carbine?
Never heard of one before.
First let me say thanks to all! Very kind comments.
Mike,
The 1894 "transition" gun is an unusual one indeed. I used that terminology, because that is what Bill Brophy called it when I asked his opinion on "what the heck do I have here?"
It was bewildering when I got it, as I thought it was a "parts gun", due to the 1889 barrel and frame, but 1894 lower tang. But when I disassembled it to clean and check it, I found all the serial numbers matched! Bill checked it in the records and said it was made in the first couple weeks of production for the 1894.
The ejector is the 1889 style, that is screwed in place. The firing pin is a one piece, like the 1889 used. The top tang is unmarked like an 1889. And the barrel has 1889 patent dates. Really the only thing that is 1894 is the lower trigger plate and lever, and the data in the records.
Bill noted that he had heard of some guns like mine, and seen numerous with 1889 barrels, but this was the first confirmed one he'd seen pictures of.