Question on Winchester 1894 serial numbers

[kragnut]

Whats the cutoff number for 1894 lever guns manufactured before Jan 1st 1899? Are online sources like Armscollector reliable for Winchester serial numbers?

[Emri]

Whats the cutoff number for 1894 lever guns manufactured before Jan 1st 1899? Are online sources like Armscollector reliable for Winchester serial numbers?

For 1898 was 147684 according to Blue Book of Gun Values. Winchester records are mostly complete and accurate, though SOME years the last number is an estimate. Those years usually ending in an even number i.e.- 2596500. I believe then that the number above (147684) is an absolute.

HTH,

Emri

[mike webb]

Usually reference books are accurate but I had a 1894 rifle S/N 189xxx and it was supposedly made in 1900 but it was a .32 special which wasn't introduced until 1902. It wasn't a rebarrel either as it was half round and had Winchester .32 special smokeless sights. Maybe receivers were numbered and then pulled off the line for a special order that was later cancelled and put back in the line.
Anybody got any explanations or maybe had a similar experience?

[kragnut]

That gun was probably sent back to the factory for a rebarrel job, a not uncommon thing in those days. I had an 1886 that was done that way, converted to a short rifle early in the 20th century, and both were in the letter.

[Emri]

Just looked in "The Winchester Book" by Madis. Start date for 1899 was #147685.

FWIW,

Emri