Dates:
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Model Year
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Patent Dates
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Manufactured Date
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Received in the warehouse date
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Shipped from the warehouse date
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“Parts Bin” Concept
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“Work Order” Number
Types:
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Rifle
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Carbine
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Musket
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Spanish Musket
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Short Rifle
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Baby Carbine or Trapper
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Shotgun
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Smooth bore
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Line throwing gun
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Models (Receiver style variations) – First Model, Second Model, etc.
Numbers and Markings:
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Serial Number
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Assembly Number
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Fitters’ and Assemblers’ numbers & marks
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Winchester “W” mark
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Martial Markings
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Proof marks
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Barrel address
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Tang Markings
Engraving:
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Factory vs. Non-Factory or “Outside” Engraving
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Factory Engravers – Hoggson, Nimschke, Ulrich, Stokes, Gough
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Signed
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Styles
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Relief Engraving
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$2.50 worth of engraving
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Inscription
Tang:
Wood:
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Forend
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Forearm
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Handguard
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Stock
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Heel
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Wrist
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Comb
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Whelen Fluted Comb (pp88 Renn. Book)
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Length of Pull
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Drop
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Inletting
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“Proud” of the metal
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Checkering
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Walnut
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Dense Walnut
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Gumwood
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Rosewood
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Birdseye Maple
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Deluxe
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Fancy Wood – x, xx, xxx, xxxx
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Presentation Grade
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Extra Finish
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Tiger striped
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Figuring
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Burl
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Oil Finish
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Varnish Finish
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Piano Finish
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Original Finish
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Refinish
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Sanded
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Repair
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Henry Bump
Barrel:
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Chamber
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Muzzle
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Length – how to measure
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Octagon
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Round
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Part Round
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Matted
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Heavy
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Extra Heavy, Bull or Buffalo barrel
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Tapered
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Rapid Taper
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Pencil
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Light weight
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Short
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Crown
Magazine:
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Full mag
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Half Mag
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¾ Mag
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Button Mag
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Cartridge Count Mag
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Special Mag
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Box Mag
Condition (Metal):
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% of Original Blue Coverage
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Thinning Blue
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Color Tone – Bright Blue, Blue, Brown, Patina, Silver, Mottled Appearance, Clean metal, Nickeled Appearance, Early Case Hardened, Color Case Harding, Vivid Case Colored.
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Forging Marks
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File Marks
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Brass – Butterscotch Patina, dark mustard color, crystal lattice, cleaned, polished.
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Buggered Screws
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Peened Screws
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Replaced Screws
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Bore – Bright, shiny, dark, pitted, ringed
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Rifling – sharp, shot-out
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Pitting
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Edge Wear
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Original
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Numbers Match
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Tinkered-with
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Outside work
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Breaking the “seal”
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Original Crud
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It Flows
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Touched-up with Cold Blue
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Truth Serum
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Cement Mixer Grade
Metal Components & Mechanical Assemblies:
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Receiver
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Action
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Chamber
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Caliber
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Rim fire, center fire, converted to center fire
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Elevator
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Lever
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Hammer
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Side Plates
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Toggles
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Timing Springs
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Barrel band
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Forend band
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Magazine retaining band or “hanger”
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Forend tip
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Follower
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Follower Stop
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Spring guide
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Loading gate (Spring Cove) – flat, conical
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Loading sleeve
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Dust cover
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Sling Swivel
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Screw Eyes
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Sling hooks
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Sling
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Saddle Ring or Sling Ring
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Bayonet lug
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Saber bayonet
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Angular bayonet
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Scabbard
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Firing pin
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Center fire
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Rim fire
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Conversion to Center fire
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Forend cap
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Butt plate – crescent, rifle, carbine, shot gun, Swiss, Schuetzen
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Trap door
Cleaning Rods:
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Three Piece - Carbine
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Four Piece - Rifle
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Five Piece - Musket
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Wooden Rod – Henry
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Steel & Brass Rod - Henry
Pre-’64 versus Post-‘64
Pre 1899 versus Post 1899
Sights:
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Rear
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Front
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Tang
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Vernier
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Receiver
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Windage Adjustable
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Graduations
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Military style
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Blade
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Bead
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Rocky Mountain
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Knife Blade
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Ivory
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Coin Silver
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Platinum & Aluminum Inlay
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Hood
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Winchester & Other Manufacturers
Standard Features versus Special Order Features
Documentation:
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Cody Letter
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“To Russ” - Typically referred to in the warehouse ledgers as “To Russ”. Leander Russell was a worker in the special order department who apparently specialized in receiving guns from the warehouse in which factory rework earmarked for (prior to final shipment to the customer). We see this notation on many sample or exhibition guns.
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Madis Letter – inspection, description & certification
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BATF Letter
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Springfield Research Letter
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Provenance
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Historical Documents
Valuation:
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Rarity
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Desirability
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Originality
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Condition
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