Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
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- KirkD
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Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
I sold my only 38-55 about a month or so ago, with the objective of finding one in slightly higher condition. I was surprised how hard it was to find older Model 1894 38-55 rifles with full octagon barrels. I finally had an opportunity to purchase one last week and I went for it. This one has a lot of strong blue on the barrel and mag tube, and I paid for it! Here’s a couple photos …
Serial Number: 19670 (with the funny '1' ... see photo below)
Factory Info:
SN applied: 26 January 1897
Date in: 9 June 1897
Type: Rifle
Caliber: 38-55
Barrel: octagon
Trigger: plain
Date shipped: 8 July 1897
Order #: 9428
The bore is shiny with strong rifling. The barrel and mag tube still have strong blue, and there is still some case colour on the lever, as shown in the photos below ...
Sights: The sights are interesting on this rifle. I have no idea if they are factory or not, but a peek under the tang sight shows 100% factory blue under it, with a couple small rust spots where water seeped under it.
The tang sight is a Lyman No. 1, second variation. The front sight is a Globe sight with a gold post. It can be flipped down for a much lower front sight which would be for the rear sight. The rear sight I am not familiar with. It has a flat top, low profile and no adjustable insert. Does anyone know what it is? The whole sight set up allows the tang sight to see over the rear sight, due to the low rear sight profile and the higher front sight post inside the ring. Here are some poor photos ....
It will be warmer weather in spring before I take this vintage 38-55 to the range.
Serial Number: 19670 (with the funny '1' ... see photo below)
Factory Info:
SN applied: 26 January 1897
Date in: 9 June 1897
Type: Rifle
Caliber: 38-55
Barrel: octagon
Trigger: plain
Date shipped: 8 July 1897
Order #: 9428
The bore is shiny with strong rifling. The barrel and mag tube still have strong blue, and there is still some case colour on the lever, as shown in the photos below ...
Sights: The sights are interesting on this rifle. I have no idea if they are factory or not, but a peek under the tang sight shows 100% factory blue under it, with a couple small rust spots where water seeped under it.
The tang sight is a Lyman No. 1, second variation. The front sight is a Globe sight with a gold post. It can be flipped down for a much lower front sight which would be for the rear sight. The rear sight I am not familiar with. It has a flat top, low profile and no adjustable insert. Does anyone know what it is? The whole sight set up allows the tang sight to see over the rear sight, due to the low rear sight profile and the higher front sight post inside the ring. Here are some poor photos ....
It will be warmer weather in spring before I take this vintage 38-55 to the range.
Last edited by KirkD on Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Rear sight is a Rocky Mountain very similar to what Marlin used. Note the "harpoon" elevator.
Very nice rifle!
Very nice rifle!
I know a whole lot about very little and nothing about a whole lot.
Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Dang right that`s nice Kirk
Because I Can, and Have
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USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
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USAF-72-76
God Bless America.
Disclaimer, not responsible for anyone copying or building anything i make.
Always consult an expert first.
- KirkD
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Glad you two like it! I've been admiring it on a regular basis myself since I got it two days ago. I forgot to mention, it has a shiny bore with strong rifling. Yee Haw!
Thanks for that info, Jdad.
Thanks for that info, Jdad.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
- Griff
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Griff,
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There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93
There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Nice Kirk, and I Shall have one. Yes U did mention it has a shiny bore with strong rifling-twice-
Perry
Perry
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
That is one nice Winchester Kirk & a nice shiny bore to boot
ollogger
ollogger
Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Very nice I will be impatiently waiting for spring and your range report
Jeremy
GySgt USMC Ret
To err is human, To forgive is devine, Neither of which is Marine Corps policy
Semper Fidelis
GySgt USMC Ret
To err is human, To forgive is devine, Neither of which is Marine Corps policy
Semper Fidelis
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Sure glad you found another one, it is a beauty. I really enjoy shooting your loads in mine,very accurate.
JerryB II Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Very nice!!!
- Aussie Chris
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Nice '94! My 30wcf has a funny '1' also, missing it's top stem.
Look foward to the range report
Chris
Look foward to the range report
Chris
A man can never have too many WINCHESTERS...
Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
early on-set old-guyism who is very excited with a new shinny object...that is one nice levergun...i thought you might have regretted getting rid of your other 38-55...but man you sure can find them...congrats... :)pwl44m wrote:Nice Kirk, and I Shall have one. Yes U did mention it has a shiny bore with strong rifling-twice- 8)
Perry
- KirkD
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Well, to tell the truth, I did regret it, and regretted it even more when I kept thinking of the beautiful bore in my old '94, and regretted it still more when I realized it was going to be harder than I thought to find another one. I had about given up when this one came out of the blue. I am one happy fellow for sure.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
- Borregos
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
See Kirk I really did you a favour when I bought your first one
Marbles tang is at the post office, load development starts soon!
Marbles tang is at the post office, load development starts soon!
Pete
Sometimes I wonder if it is worthwhile gnawing through the leather straps to get up in the morning..................
Sometimes I wonder if it is worthwhile gnawing through the leather straps to get up in the morning..................
- Borregos
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Kirk, now we both have 38-55's with beautiful shiny bores
Pete
Sometimes I wonder if it is worthwhile gnawing through the leather straps to get up in the morning..................
Sometimes I wonder if it is worthwhile gnawing through the leather straps to get up in the morning..................
- KirkD
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Yep, two old 38-55's , both with nice bores. I think we are pretty fortunate. It is doggone hard to find a 38-55 dating back to the late 1890's that had a nice bore.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
- Borregos
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Looking forward to a summer shoot with them both
Pete
Sometimes I wonder if it is worthwhile gnawing through the leather straps to get up in the morning..................
Sometimes I wonder if it is worthwhile gnawing through the leather straps to get up in the morning..................
- Rube Burrows
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
My dream gun.
I want one of those like that or with the 26" round barrel.
I want one of those like that or with the 26" round barrel.
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
WOW! WOW! WOW!
That is a fantastic example!
I'd love to know what that ended up costing ya!
That is a fantastic example!
I'd love to know what that ended up costing ya!
Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Kirk, right now I am a very, very jealous man!
I assume that the vintage limits you to black powder?
I assume that the vintage limits you to black powder?
Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Nice looking rifle.
Last edited by veeman on Sat Jan 26, 2013 9:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Man Kirk, that is one nice 94. Was on the phone when I got to looking at your pics and the case colors on the lever and hammer just left me speechless.
M. M. Wright, Sheriff, Green county Arkansas (1860)
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- Shasta
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Wow Kirk that is a dandy Winchester! I can't wait to see the range report on this one!
I have a book called Old Gunsights by Nick Stroebel, and it describes your front sight as a No. 71 "Beech". A very similar rear barrel sight is pictured on page 187 of another book "Winchester Model 94" by Robert Renneberg. He describes it as a flat-top sporting sight with the 1A elevator, and says it was particularly popular on short rifles but was available on all variations of Model 94s.
SHASTA
I have a book called Old Gunsights by Nick Stroebel, and it describes your front sight as a No. 71 "Beech". A very similar rear barrel sight is pictured on page 187 of another book "Winchester Model 94" by Robert Renneberg. He describes it as a flat-top sporting sight with the 1A elevator, and says it was particularly popular on short rifles but was available on all variations of Model 94s.
SHASTA
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avatar pic is Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, & Mt. Shasta
- KirkD
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
No, I'll be using my own smokeless loads. I have a copy of the December 1896 Winchester catalogue. They list smokeless cartridges for the 38-55, $40 for a case of 1,000 rounds. If only they were that cheap today. They don't say what kind of smokeless powder they used but they do say how much ... 19 grains under a 255 grain bullet. That suggests a burn rate somewhere around 2400, IMR 4227 or 5744 or SR4759, roughly. I'd like to develop a load using 19 grains of one of these powders and see which one gives me 1,300 fps.homefront wrote:I assume that the vintage limits you to black powder?
Shasta, thank you for that info on the sights. I could not see any markings at all on the rear and front sights. Some others have told me the same thing about the sights.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
That's a beaut! Art in metal
Mike Johnson,
"Only those who will risk going too far, can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
"Only those who will risk going too far, can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Kirk the load data for the 38-55 255gr cast with 18 grains of 5744 at 1300fps is a great load in my carbine. I reckon I'll try a few with 19 grains at 1400fps and compare them.
JerryB II Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
JOSHUA 24:15
JOSHUA 24:15
Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Removed
Last edited by cshold on Sat Apr 13, 2013 12:08 am, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
Kirk, Very nice rifle ! I have seen a 95 savage with the same front sight.
Can't wait to hear your range report.
Can't wait to hear your range report.
Last edited by EdinCT on Sat Jan 26, 2013 9:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
One of the finest looking 1894s I have ever seen. Just lovely.
Oly
Oly
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Oly
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Oly
I hope and pray someday the world will learn
That fires we don't put out will bigger burn
Johnny Wright
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Re: Got a 'new' 38-55 circa 1897 (photos)
+ 1.....olyinaz wrote:One of the finest looking 1894s I have ever seen. Just lovely.
Oly
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