“Current law allows anybody to purchase the state's full permit database for $32,” McClatchy-Tribune Information Services reported.
“It includes a permit holder‘s race, height, hair color, eye color and more.” In response, three state lawmakers recently introduced bills that would make the dissemination of the information illegal.
“To protect the safety of gun owners and non-gun owners, it is better to have this information available only to law enforcement,” said Rep. Mike Murphy (R-Indianapolis), who submitted a bill to block access to permit holder data.
Added State Senator Greg Walker (R-Columbus), “The list has intimidated some of the people whose names could be on it. It puts them at risk of predators who are looking for a source of handguns.” The various bills should see action in the near future.
Microstamping — the process by which firearms manufacturers would have to micro laser-engrave a gun's make, model and serial number on two distinct parts of each gun, including the firing pin, so that in theory the information would be imprinted on the cartridge casing when the pistol is fired — must be certified as patent-free by the California Department of Justice before the law can go into effect.
Though microstamping cannot be certified because the technology remains covered by patents, last month the California Department of Justice issued proposed regulations for the technology, a move that was questioned by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) — the trade association for the firearms industry.
“In the midst of California's budget crisis and despite the possibility this law may never go into effect — as the technology remains encumbered by patents — one has to question the decision by the California Department of Justice to spend its time and limited resources on drafting regulations for the flawed technology,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. Read more
It is almost a certainty that if it’s a lead nose bullet it will be damaged, so use a bullet comparator to see if it has migrated out in the case.
I have an email buddy who recently sent me a description of his sheep hunt in the Yukon. To say it was “snake bit” would be an understatement. Bad weather, a bad outfitter and bad timing all conspired against him.
The last straw came when his equipment failed. After an aborted stalk, he tried to unload his gun and found the bolt would not open. He and the guide (perhaps foolishly) beat it open with a rock. The problem was that the bullet was jammed into the rifling of the barrel and when they beat the bolt open the bullet stayed in the barrel, pulling out of the cartridge and plugging the bore. This made the rifle inoperative. That was the last straw for my friend and he openly admitted to sitting on the rocks and crying while his embarrassed guide tried not to notice.
I wrote him back that only somebody who has experienced this kind of failure can understand. It’s an overused cliché, but a hunt like this for most people truly is “once in a lifetime” and it requires a huge investment of time, money and emotion. It is, in all probability, the one shot at this that will ever happen in that hunter’s life, and it is something that he has been dreaming about and working toward for most of his life.
For any hunt, but especially for something as important as a sheep hunt, you must check your equipment, including handloads to eliminate any problems.
Only somebody who has been there can truly understand the bitterness when it goes wrong. I know, I have been there and I can’t say I handled myself well either. But then, the hunter who takes this without some sort of emotional display would be suspect in my mind. When hunting stops being an emotional experience it is probably time to put away your guns and take up golf.
So what went wrong with the sheep hunt? Handloads. Don’t take that to assume I am in league with those hunters who claim handloads can’t be trusted, I am not. Many of my most important hunts have been trusted to handloads. I have hunted sheep, Cape buffalo and most recently brown bear with handloads. But there are a few things to keep in mind.
First off, my friend reported that his gun closed hard on his handloads. This is always an indication of a problem. In his case it likely meant that the bullet was seated out too far and was contacting the rifling lands. The problem with this is that it often results in excellent accuracy, so the hunter thinks he has the perfect load. If the contact does not stick the bullet in the barrel as happened to him and the cartridge can be extracted intact, the hunter assumes things are fine. They are not and this is a recipe for disaster.
What I suspect happened with him with the cartridge that did stick is that the cartridge was in the magazine of the gun while he fired to check his sights. If the handload is not done correctly the bullet can migrate out in the case each time the gun is fired. If the shooter keeps “topping off the magazine” after shooting, some of the cartridges can be in the magazine through several firings of the rifle. This can result in the bullet moving forward in the case a considerable distance.
Bullet migration can be a huge problem with dangerous game rifles. The stiff recoil and heavy bullet compound the effect. If, during a charge, the cartridge will not chamber, as is often the case after bullet migration, you are in big trouble. If it happens during a sheep hunt, you probably will not be killed by a charging ram. But, you may feel like killing yourself when you realize that your $30,000 hunt is over.
So what’s the solution? Easy. Make sure there is plenty of neck tension so that the case is firmly holding the bullet. Seat the bullet so that it is well off the lands, never touching. Leave a gap of at least .010-inch, but more is better. With dangerous game loads, always crimp the case mouth to the bullet. That’s not a bad idea with any hunting load if there is a cannelure on the bullet to allow crimping. Just remember to trim all your case necks so that there is a constant case length and so a constant crimp from case to case.
Rotate the ammo in the magazine. During my recent brown bear hunt I emptied the magazine in my guide’s .338 Winchester and clearly the cartridges on the bottom had been there a while. They were beaten and battered from smashing into the magazine well during recoil. They were crimped and sealed Federal factory loads and the bullets had not migrated. Still, when I showed them to him and explained about what could happen his face turned white and he quickly replaced the cartridges with fresh ammo.
Finally, test your equipment. In my never-humble opinion, it’s foolish to gamble an important hunt (and they are all important) on something you can control. Before any big hunt you should have lots of range time with your rifle and loads. You should spend multiple days and hundreds of rounds of ammo making sure nothing is going to go wrong.
It is important to seat the bullet well off the rifling lands for any hunting handload. Double check the overall length.
Try loading the magazine and then shooting the rifle 15 or 20 times without changing the ammo in the magazine. Then try to chamber the cartridges in the magazine. If the bolt binds up, do not force it. Remove the cartridge and measure the length. It is almost a certainty that if it’s a lead-nose bullet it will be damaged, so use a bullet comparator to see if it has migrated out in the case.
Most problems will surface early. For example, I had a high-dollar, top name-brand scope turn to rattling trash this year before a big international hunt. If that had happened during the hunt, rather than at the range it would have been a disaster. I don’t keep records, but I would guess I fired about 100 rounds through my rifle before the scope turned belly up. It was a good example of the importance of plenty of pre-hunt trigger pulling. The practice will build your shooting skills, but even more important, it’s far less emotional to expose the problems before rather than during.
For the record, my friend solved the stuck bullet problem with some very creative thinking. But even after the rifle was repaired, the course of bad luck continued and his hunt was unsuccessful.
This article appeared in the December 21, 2009 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. Click here to learn more. Click here to load up on a subscription.
This exclusive collection centers on the 14th edition of Cartridges of the World, an indispensable guide for any cartridge collector or handloader. Inside you’ll find coverage of over 1,500 cartridges, ample illustrations, articles written by top experts, and more. You also get Ammo Encyclopedia, 5th Edition, Gun Digest the Magazine’s special Ammo Issue and the American Standard Bullet Poster.
This rifle started with an inexpensive Mauser action, a Douglas barrel, a nice piece of eastern black walnut. The money the client saved on components allowed him to buy Talley mounts and a good Zeiss scope. It is a .30-06.
We build custom rifles based on the customer’s wishes and pocketbook. We try to find out just what the client is trying to accomplish and tune the order to meet those needs.
Sometimes it is better to recommend that the client does some of the work himself; the satisfaction factor is pretty big on a gun that is a “partnership” between gunsmith and owner. If you’ve never had a rifle built here are a few tips that might save you some headaches and keep some of that stimulus money in your pocket. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist that one.) THE ACTION
The centerpiece of any rifle is the action. If you have in mind what you want in terms of make and model, you can save a bunch of money right off the bat if you use an action you already have, as in from another rifle.
Download the Digital Edition of Gunsmithing: Rifles by Patrick Sweeney. PDF Format. Download Now.
We do this for clients all the time; if the bolt face diameter and cartridge length is the same for the new caliber as the old the change-over is simple. You can’t make a .223-sized action work for a 30/06 without major metalwork, but if the new caliber is compatible with the size of the action you’re on the way.
A standard .30/06 length action can be used for dozens of calibers, even those .308-length if a magazine cut-off is used and if the rim diameter is the same. Getting an action the right size for your intended cartridge is always better than modifying an action to fit the round.
Good Mauser actions abound, as do 700 Remingtons, 70 Winchesters, and 77 Rugers. The more modern actions of American manufacture can be had in various sizes for different classes of cartridges. Modern actions usually have been drilled and tapped for scope bases and usually have serviceable triggers and safeties. This will also save money on the semi-custom gun.
THE BARREL
Barrel blanks can be ridiculously expensive or downright cheap. Good, accurate and serviceable barrels can be had from a dozen manufacturers, the choice is yours to make based on your budget and needs. We’ve used about all of them and only once have ever seen a “bad” barrel, one that was actually too rough down the hole to shoot accurately. If you stick with a known brand like Shilen, Douglas, Hart, or any of the other “name” brands I doubt you will be disappointed.
Thin, lightweight barrels can be finicky and harder to find the proper load for than standard or heavy tubes. You should decide what bullet weight you intend to shoot in the gun and choose the twist accordingly, this is a decision that is very important. For instance, if you choose the .223 Remington caliber and want to shoot the newer heavy bullets over 55 grains get the fast twist tube, not the slow 1:12 of the old days.
I have a .223 that we built for groundhogs and 50 grain hollowpoints and with its 1:14 twist it will keyhole any bullets over 55 grains, splattering them all over the target at 100 yards. You can expect to pay from $250 to $400 to have a barrel threaded and chambered and fit to an action and this does not include bluing (if necessary) or drilling and tapping for sights.
Walt Hampton is a professional gunsmith and writer from Virginia. He and his son Wade operate Buck Mountain Rifle Works, manufacturing semi-finished gun stocks and building custom rifles on order. Visit his website at www.buckmountainrifleworks.com or write him at [email protected].
A New Bloomfield man was fatally shot while he apparently attempted to rob a beverage distributor in Carroll Township, Perry County Saturday night, state police said.Perry County Coroner Michael Shalonis said he pronounced Jeffrey Thomas Harless, 25, dead at Shermans Dale Beer & Beverage at 10:55 p.m. Saturday from a single gunshot wound to the chest.At about 9:44 p.m., an alarm sounded at the 4946 Spring Road beverage distributor and an employee arrived at the store to find the front door’s glass broken out, a news release from the state police said. The employee entered the store and confronted Harless, an apparent burglar, police said.A confrontation ensued, police said, and the employee shot Harless once in the upper chest with a pistol. Harless was also armed, police said. Read moreSource: cumberlink.comTactical Gear Tip: Order the Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry so you too will be prepared when danger strikes. Learn More
SELAH — It began when two young men with machetes walked into a Union Gap convenience store early Wednesday morning and demanded cash.What they didn't expect was a second clerk who pulled a handgun and held one of the men until police arrived. The other ran off.It didn't end there. Hours later more than a dozen officers — including the Yakima police SWAT team — encircled a Selah house and after a three-hour standoff forced out three other people suspected in at least one other machete-point robbery in Yakima.”It was a busy morning,” Yakima police Sgt. Kelly Willard said Wednesday evening. “We had a real quick turnaround.” Read moreSource: yakima-herald.comTactical Gear Tip: Learn how to shoot back when you study the Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery. Click Here to order.
COEUR D'ALENE — The owner of Sunshine Espresso in Coeur d'Alene fought fire with fire – literally – when she pulled a handgun on a 17-year-old boy who tried to rob her stand Wednesday morning.Police arrested the teen shortly after the incident, which took place just before 6:30 a.m. in the 1900 block of Government Way.Sunshine Espresso owner Michelle Cornelsen said the teen walked up to her stand and demanded cash without showing the gun at first“He didn’t have it at first, he was playing with his pocket, I had a bad feeling though. I had a bad feeling about him,” Cornelsen said.What the robber didn’t know is that Cornelsen has had her concealed weapons permit for seven years and she had received a new 9mm handgun for Christmas from her husband.“My husband got me a 9mm for Christmas … I was pretty excited about that. It made it's debut this morning,” she said.“I’ve never had to use it, thank God, but this morning it came in fairly handy.”She stalled the teen by talking to him about why he was trying to rob her, to which he replied that he didn’t have any money.”He was like ‘I'm really sorry, gotta make some money' and I said ‘I do too, I'm a business owner and I will protect what I have, I don't wanna give you the money. I don't',” she said. Read MoreSource: kxly.com
If you think the Obama administration doesn't need help in dreaming up new schemes to reinterpret the Constitution and add new restrictions on our freedom, think again.
President Bush, for all his mistakes and miscalculations, never allowed his U.N. representatives to participate in such negotiations. But Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reversed course and agreed to join the negotiations.
Secretary of State Clinton announced in October that the U.S. would join the negotiations “if they are based on consensus,” implying that the U.S. could exercise a veto if negotiations went off course. That implies that the U.S. would reject any treaty that violates our Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms. The problem is she can't make that promise or guarantee that outcome.
The truth is it is very dangerous for the U.S. to go down this road no matter how many assurances are given by Obama and his minions. Once committed to the “process of negotiations,” it is hard to reject a product based on “international consensus.”
There are good reasons why the U.S. ought to stay out of such negotiations, and many good reasons to be wary of any international treaty on the subject.
Prepare for the coming global crackdown on guns when you order the Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons, 7th Edition. Order Now.
To put this whole matter in perspective, ask yourself how well existing arms-control agreements are working and how well international agencies are enforcing those agreements.
There is an existing conventional arms-control treaty among nations in Latin America. How well is that working? Does it prevent the Mexican drug cartels from buying advanced weapons on the black market in Asia and Europe? Hardly. Does it prevent Hugo Chavez from buying arms from Iran, North Korea and Russia and providing them to rebel groups in Colombia and Central America? No.
Has the U.N. and the International Atomic Energy Agency stopped Iran from developing a nuclear-weapons program? Shouldn't we expect some semblance of success from such existing agreements before launching new ones?
What conventional arms treaties do is constrain the actions of law-abiding nations and law-abiding citizens while allowing outlaw nations and leftist guerrilla groups to build their arsenals.
If you think such international treaties apply only to sales and exchanges among nations and not to individuals, you have not been paying attention to the Obama administration's agenda and to what activist judges have been doing in American courts.
What is especially galling is to hear gun-control advocates use the Mexican drug cartel violence as an excuse to further restrict gun sales among private citizens inside the United States. This is exactly what the Obama Justice Department and its sister agencies have been doing lately. Read more
FAIRBANKS – A Fairbanks lawmaker has proposed the Alaska Firearms Freedom Act, which seeks to stop the federal regulation of guns and ammunition made and sold within Alaska.
Republican Rep. Mike Kelly said federal rules should only apply to firearms sold across state borders, where the U.S. government has constitutional authority to regulate interstate commerce.
The bill easily passed the state House of Representatives in April after picking up 11 co-sponsors. It now sits before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Its chairman, Sen. Hollis French, D-Anchorage, said he will schedule a committee hearing this winter.
The bill could place Alaska into a broader national discussion. Similar bills have passed in Montana and Tennessee, and Fairbanks attorney Lynn Levengood said the shift in Congress and the White House to Democratic control has gun-rights advocates following the debate and planning ahead.
“It's a fail-safe position,” Levengood told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. “If federal law tries to undo our Second Amendment rights, we've got a fail-safe.”
The bill would require the guns to prominently display the words “made in Alaska.” The state attorney general's office would defend businesses prosecuted by the federal government. Read more
In summary, HB 873 would repeal every Code section from 16-11-101 through 16-11-173. The bill offers to replace these Code sections with nothing.
Analysis: Rep. Franklin has been way out in front of right to bear arms legislation in Georgia. He introduced a bill to decriminalize carry in restaurants long before HB 89 became law, and he has introduced in previous sessions Alaska/Vermont-style concealed carry bills seeking to mimic the law in those two states that does not require a license for concealed carry. These bills seem to fit with his extremely principled view of constitutional rights.
For example, Rep. Franklin recently introduced a bill to repeal Georgia driver's licenses, as an infringement on the right to travel freely, and two bills seeking to enforce the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution against the federal government.
Order the Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery, Click here.
HB 873 will not, however, accomplish its laudable purpose, stated in the legislative findings of fact:
(1) Our founding fathers, in the unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, acknowledged that the purpose of civil government is to secure God-given rights;
(2) As such, civil governments are to punish the criminal acts that deprive their citizens of their God-given rights to life, liberty, and property;
(3) The mere potential to deprive someone of life, liberty, or property should never be considered a crime in a free and just society;
(4) Evil resides in the heart of the individual, not in material objects; and
(5) Since objects or “instrumentalities” in and of themselves are not dangerous or evil, in a free and just society, the civil government should not ban or restrict their possession or use. Read more
As the New York Daily News reported, “Bills obtained by the Daily News show the city Law Department has paid almost $1.5 million to Kroll Associates, a high-end detective firm, for its undercover probe of out-of-state gun sales.
The mayor announced the results of that investigation with a big splash in October, playing secretly recorded videos of dealers improperly selling guns at gun shows.”
That “big splash” was pricy. The Daily News noted that, “The investigators and their bosses billed the city between $225 and $325 an hour each, some of them for more than 100 hours per month.
As they traveled to gun shows in Nevada, Ohio and Tennessee, they spent tens of thousands of dollars on airfare, hotels, meals and other travel expenses. They also billed the city for tens of thousands of dollars for background checks, research costs, cash payments for guns, and equipment – including $58,100 for recording gear.”
A Bloomberg spokesperson insisted that city residents “got their money’s worth.” But what’s the total price tag?
Bloomberg, for example, also initiated legal actions against many gun shops across the nation. NewYorkers have yet to see the bill for those.
Wade Hampton bore-sights his 95 Mauser before load testing.
Being a rifle crank and generally obsessive-compulsive in my relationship to all things gun, as usual this year I decided to change loads for my 6mm Remington deer rifle. This had the added entertainment factor of getting the attention of Wade, my eldest son and business partner, since he owns a neat little 6mm I built for him many years ago on a 95 Mauser action. Of course since I was going to try something new he wanted to be included.
My 6mm is a Remington 788 (that I may have mentioned in my Gun Digest writing before) to which I have done a little work, changing the stock somewhat, bedding, painting, all the usual suspects and it shoots wonderfully with 100-grain bullets. Why, one might ask, would a normally sane fellow such as myself dare to interfere with such perfection? First of all, Wade has not finished the re-barrel job on my low-wall .357 Magnum that I was planning to carry during this year’s firearm deer season and second, if you have to ask, then you are not in the same class of gun nut that I am.
Years ago, about 1984, I built the 95 as the “ultimate” whitetail gun for our Buck Mountain deer, a Shaw-barreled little darling with a hand-carved black walnut stock (carved completely by hand from a blank given to me by David Terry of Cedar Springs, Virginia) that was to be Wade’s deer rifle when he grew up. At that time I experimented with 87-grain Hornady boat-tail hollowpoints in Winchester brass and found that the short, stiff 20-inch barrel loved them.
While I was going over my load diaries the other evening I found the write-up I had done on the load along with a few photographs of the deer the rifle took. I decided it was what the doctor ordered, something a bit flatter and a bit faster than the 100-grain slugs I am shooting now. It has been 25 years since I loaded 87s for the caliber so it was back to the drawing board, not only for Wade’s gun but of course for the Remington.
The great pleasure, to me, of handloading is the experimentation, the attacking of a new problem to achieve an accuracy goal.
I pulled together and sorted the brass on hand (Remington and Frontier/Hornady), selected the primers (Federal magnum large rifle) and settled on the powder (IMR 4831), based on the notes from the original loads. Since the 95 is a long-throat chamber and the Remington is limited by the length of the magazine, we would be looking at two final seating depths and of course separation of the finished ammo so there would be no mixing.
I started with the Mauser. Using The Remington brass I weighed out and charged five cases in each of three powder weights, working up toward the powder weight of the old accuracy load, giving us five at 45 grains, five at 46 grains and five at 47 grains, which was one-half grain below what I had previously found to be maximum for this bullet in this gun. I then turned to the 788 and loaded 15 more rounds with the same prescription, varying only the seating depth of the bullet, bringing the shoulder of the slug to within .007 inches of contacting the rifling. Then, with much anticipation, and with Wade and our Pact chronograph in tow, we headed to Buck Mountain and our shooting bench.
I don’t think you could have prescribed a better day to range test loads, temperature in the low 60s, bright sunshine and no wind. Wade began our testing with the Mauser, shooting from a clean barrel, letting it cool two minutes between shots. All loads were fired through the screens and velocities averaged for each charge weight. On the target board we closely measured the group size, photographed the groups and made notes for future reference.
The Mauser was true to form; with 47 grains of IMR 4831 and the Hornady bullet, in the Remington cases with Federal magnum primers we started to see slightly flattened primers and our five-shot group averaged 3288 fps and center-to-center measured .312 inches. That, my friends, is “close enough”.
The 788 proved a bit more finicky. The starting load was unacceptable at 1.12 inches considering what I have seen this rifle do with 100-grain bullets (.460) but as we approached the 47-grain mark things tightened up. With no pressure signs whatsoever those five rounds averaged 3294 fps and clustered up center-to-center in .505 inches. Now, being of a curious nature I wondered if going to the listed maximum of 47.5 grains in this rifle would gain anything.
I did load five rounds with the maximum listed load and ran them through the screens, and got a bit more velocity but the group was now about the size of a dime (.775) so I backed off and settled on 47 grains IMR 4831/87gr Hornady BTHP as the new 788 load.
The first deer I shot with Wade’s 95 Mauser with the original load for the 87-grain Hornady was in 1984. I hunted all day on the Mountain in a more-or-less steady rain, finally taking a rest at 4 p.m. on an open ridge before the long walk out to the truck. Suddenly I saw a small buck running below me across the open meadow on an angle that would take him about 230 yards from me at the closest point before he hit the timber.
I swung the little rifle through him and fired when the crosshair reached the end of his nose. When I found him in the scope again after reloading all I could see was the white of his belly sticking up in the tall grass, flat on his back and kicking his last, hit squarely through the center of both shoulders.
With in-depth articles about today's most fascinating guns, both old and new, testfire stories on the industry's hot-off-the-line guns, insights on fine collectibles and custom creations, and up to date reports on new optics, guns, ammo, and reloading equipment, this book has something for everyone. Whether you're interested in the latest tactical firearms or the antiques of yesterday, new ammunition or the latest in reloading innovations, you simply won't find a more comprehensive collection of firearms information. Gun Digest 2015has it all!
These two views, shown by example of an extremely rare Model 94 factory cutaway (mid-1970s version) clearly illustrate the internal parts relationship with the action closed (top) and the action open (bottom.) The key to the success of this design lies in the much longer action “throw” afforded by the lever/link system and the solid breechblock that rises into place behind the bolt when the action is closed and locked. The longer throw allows a full length rifle cartridge to feed through the action, and the breechblock design provides the strength to withstand the much greater chamber pressure and subsequent bolt setback forces during recoil. Note how the cartridge seen through the cut-out in the forend on the upper photo has been fed toward the action by the magazine tube spring and follower.
The Model 1894 incorporated a newly designed action in a light, thin-walled frame (receiver) that was quite revolutionary.
The receiver is the part of the gun that houses most of the moving parts relating to the actual chambering, firing, ejecting, and rechambering of the cartridges. This group of parts is called the “action.”
Consisting of a simple, vertically moving breech block that rises to cover the entire rear of the breech bolt when the action is closed, the system is integrated and connected by an unusual (by previous lever action standards) link/pivot system. This arrangement at once provides the necessary length of throw for a true rifle cartridge, and the strength to withstand the increase in chamber pressure and heavier bolt set-back.
Also incorporated in the action is a newly designed safety system. Utilizing a lever actuated plunger and “safety catch,” this new system physically blocks the trigger and disallows hammer fall/cartridge discharge, until the action is fully closed and locked.
Throughout the evolution of the Model 1894/94, there were many changes in receiver design. Most of them were subtle – virtually invisible on a casual inspection – but glaringly apparent upon a serious study. In this chapter I will provide in-depth detail on all the internal/external changes, and will include a comprehensive study of the takedown model. In as much as a thorough study of markings on both the receivers and the barrels can be tedious and quite involved, and that a conscientious study of all Model 1894 markings is very important for the accurate evaluation and/or authentication of any given specimen, I’ve decided to detail and illustrate them in a separate chapter (Chapter 7).
This is an example of one of the more well-known problems in metal finishing that Winchester encountered, beginning during the early 1900s and continuing through the pre-World War II years.
Receivers were originally manufactured from a solid, high carbon ordnance steel forging. The “blank” forging was only a roughly shaped piece of steel, and required hundreds of separate machining operations and dozens of inspections before being inventoried as a usable part. The previous and highly acclaimed Winchester manufacturing methods, with all the usual high standards of quality and attention to details, prevailed for the Model 94.
The only changes of consequence on any of the first model/second model (through Pre-’64) versions of the receiver was the very early first/second model cartridge guide screw change, a change to the “extra steel” and “nickel steel” alloy also fairly early in the production cycle, and another and final change to “proof steel,” during the 1933-34 era.
The screw change is easily noticed and is detailed later in this chapter. The change to different alloys is also quite apparent. One can readily note the resistance to the bluing process and ultimate “flaking” problem encountered with the nickel steel frames, and the subsequent vast improvement in finish quality and durability after the introduction of the proof steel models.
As previously mentioned, the Post-64 receivers, until the introduction of the angle eject models, were “mystery metal” castings. The cutback in manufacturing steps, details, quality of finish, etc., is readily apparent in these models.
With the introduction of the angle eject series, we are pleasantly re-introduced to the 100 percent forged steel receiver, and with most of the old-time quality of workmanship returning as well. This receiver design is the latest in the series and was still in production to the end.
PRICING
The introductory pricing for the Model 1894 was about $18.00 for the carbine; $19.00 for the round-barreled rifle; $21.00 for the octagon-barreled rifle; $25.00 for a takedown round-barreled rifle; and $27.50 for a takedown octagon-barreled rifle. These prices are approximate and for standard specimens only.
METAL FINISHING
It is interesting to note that the bluing process used by Winchester was originally called “browning,” and the area of the factory where this process was accomplished was called the “Browning Shop.” While there is a method of metal finishing called browning, and in actuality it is exactly that (the metal acquires a distinct brown color), this was not a standard method employed at Winchester. True “browning” was a special order extra-cost option, and is extremely rare on any Winchester.
The bluing process was one of the many steps in manufacturing that in the early years of Model 94 production was accomplished by outside contractors.
These contractors employed many craftsmen, and most of these came with their own secret formulas and application methods. These different formulas, while being basically the same and deemed acceptable in meeting Winchester’s high standards, did produce some slight variations.
A clear view of the trigger block safety plunger and catch that was simply but cleverly designed to disallow the trigger from releasing the hammer unless the lever is completely closed and the action is locked.
As with the variations noted in stock finishing, bluing variations will be all but undetectable on any gun that is not absolutely pristine, and then only if you have several pristine examples from different periods of manufacture to compare with each other.
Also frequently occurring in the metal finishing areas, as in the stock-maker/finisher’s department, was the “pride factor.” Parts known to be going on the higher grade guns, often received a little “extra.” Men of this era were proud craftsmen; a little more time and effort to achieve a finer polish, or an extra coat or two of bluing solution to produce a richer, deeper color, was certainly not too much to expect – it was usually done as a matter of course.
Special guns were as special to these fine gunmakers as they were to the customer.
There were three types of bluing processes employed, and each was accomplished in its own special area. Each method had its own virtues and final result, and accordingly, each was applied to specifically different parts.
One method, called rust bluing, was precisely as implied. A part was swabbed with a solution of water, ferrous chloride, mercury chloride, alcohol, copper sulphate and nitric acid (the chemical mixture could vary slightly depending on the craftsman) and was left hanging in a damp, warm room called a “humidity area.” A fine coat of rust appeared in a few hours. This “controlled oxidation” was then removed by carefully rubbing the part by hand with a very fine grade of steel wool.
To develop the richest and deepest blue-black color, it took several cycles of swabbing with the solution, allowing the part to rust, and careful rubbing with the steel wool. The final step in the process was to rinse the part in very hot water, quickly blow it dry, and while still warm, carefully coat it with a good grade of oil.
Very time consuming but very beautiful, this method was used only on barrels and some receivers. It was usually reserved for “high grade” guns but was the method of choice for all shotgun barrels.
Note: The browning process was essentially identical to rust bluing, including the chemicals used, but there was no rubbing of the parts with steel wool between the coats of solution. The rusting was allowed to slowly and evenly build up. When a nice, even dark brown color was achieved, the part was dipped in scalding water to halt the chemical reaction/oxidation process. After quickly drying from the heat of the water bath and while still warm, a good grade of oil was carefully rubbed in with a cloth. The rubbing of the cloth during the oiling removed any remaining loose rust and the part was left with a fine, smooth, dark brown finish.
A second method was variously known as machine bluing, charcoal bluing,carbon bluing, or heat bluing. Parts were placed on racks and put into an oven containing bone meal, charcoal, and either pine tar or sperm oil. The parts were heated to a temperature of between 1,200 and 1,400 degrees and left for several hours. The combination of heat and the resulting smoke produced by the various ingredients gave the parts a deep blue color. When the proper color was achieved, the parts were removed from the oven, quenched in oil, and left to dry.
Not without drawbacks, this method left the parts with an unacceptably brittle nature. To remove this brittleness, the cooled parts were returned to the oven, reheated to a moderate 500 to 700 degrees and this time left to cool naturally.
The part was now designated as heat treated or tempered, and was extremely durable. Small parts such as hammers, levers, screws, and sometimes even receivers were blued with this process.
The third process, of which there are three variations, was the immersion method. The earliest and most dangerous variation was called nitre bluing. A solution of refined nitre and 10 percent peroxide of manganese was heated to 700 to 800 degrees. The parts were immersed in this solution for about 30 minutes.
The second method, called the “DuLite” process (the solution itself was named DuLite and was developed in the late 1930s) required a solution temperature of only about 300 degrees, but required several separate immersions to achieve an acceptable color.
The third method was a “black oxide” process using a solution of large amounts of caustic soda, sodium nitrate and sodium dichromate. This was the later method employed with marginal success on the “mystery metal” receivers of the late 1970s to early 1980s.
With all three methods, when the color was acceptably dark, the parts were rinsed thoroughly in boiling water, quickly blown dry, and dipped in a bath of oil. All parts post-World War II to present are blued with the immersion method.
Winchester, to the end, was constantly re-evaluating and experimenting with finishes. Many late model factory experimental specimens (and so marked) that are found in private collections are examples of different polishing and coloring techniques that may or may not have proven acceptable.
Various types of plating, such as nickel, silver, or gold, may occasionally be found on a Model 94 receiver, as well as casehardening or “color finishing.” Any of these finishes must be considered extremely rare and unusual. Guns found with these features must be reliably documented/authenticated as original before acquiring any collectible status or value.
Casehardening/color finishing is accomplished by surrounding the selected part/parts with a mixture of bone meal, charcoal, and small bits of scrap leather or even leather dust, and packing it all into a tightly sealed container. The container is then heated red-hot for several hours. After a formulated period of time, the part is removed from the mixture and quenched immediately in water. Hardening takes place only on the very surface of the part due to carbon absorption from the superheated mixture, but the original properties of the metal below the surface are left intact. The part is wear- and rust-resistant, but not brittle.
The combination of the ingredient mixture, the heat, and the quenching procedure produces the beautifully mottled and colorful finish so prized and admired by Winchester collectors.
This is an excerpt from The Winchester Model 94, A Century of Craftsmanship, 2nd Edition.
Learn More About Legendary Winchester
9 Greatest Winchester Rifles And Shotguns Ever Made
Winchester “A Classic Combination” Advertising Poster One Of A Kind
This is a wonderful and highly sought image from Winchester. Painted circa 1890 by unknown artist the piece was done specifically for Winchester we believe as a display piece for a fair or convention. This particular poster measures 20” x 24” with no bands. The poster does show some light wrinkling overall and has some slight edge wear overall, however the colors are rich and vibrant and the piece shows only light soiling overall. There is no restoration and the piece is the only known example in existence. This particular piece has never come to market and is extremely rare and sought by collectors so look close.
Estimate: $2,500.00 – $10,000.00 WW1 German Ace Adolf Tutschek Cases Blue Max, 1st Class Iron Cross and Pilots Badge Rare
WW1 Ace Adolf Ritter von Tutschek was a professional soldier turned aviator who became a leading fighter ace with 27 victories in the first world war. He was born 16 May 1891 in Ingolstadt, into the noble surroundings of the Bavarian court. After graduation from high school he joined in the “Prince Charles of Bavaria” 3rd Royal Bavarian Infantry Regiment as a Fahnenjager. Von Tutschek's regiment moved immediately into battle when World War I broke.
He commanded a company in France, Belgium, Galicia, Russia, and Serbia. In May 1915 in Gorlice, Poland, he was wounded in the foot by shrapnel. In early 1916, he was promoted to Oberleutnant. In March 1916, he was seriously wounded by poison gas during the Battle of Verdun. Upon his recovery, he requested pilot training.
He began flying with Jagstaffel 2 on 25 January 1917. Over the next three months, he flew 140 combat sorties, made seven victory claims and had three confirmed. In April 1917 he assumed command of Jasta 12 upon the death of it's commander. After victory number 23 he was wounded in August 1917. Returning to active service, Hauptmann von Tutshek was given command of the new Jagdgeschwader 2. He was given a new Fokker D-1 Triplane painted all green in color. After 4 new victories he was shot down after 27 kills on March 15. 1918 and killed in action.
Here we offer you von Tutschek's original named and engraved cased Pour Le Merit “Blue Max”, engraved on the sides of the maltese cross “Enas Lt. A. von Tutschek 3-8-17, with full neck ribbon. This beautiful one of a kind named piece is in excellent condition. Set in it's original hinged case with locking front. Next we have von Tutschek's Cased silver Iron Cross first class engraved on reverse “Lt. A. von Tutschek.”
Maker marked on pin S-W. Leatherette case with locking front and silver embrossed Iron Cross on lid. Cross retains a nice silver age patina. And our final offering of this great historical set is von Tutschek's cased engraved cut-out pilots badge. Engraved on reverse of badge is “Lt. Ritter A. von Tutschek, 3 August 1917” Maker marked Carl Poellath Schroben Hausen Silber. Also engraved with an image of the Blue Max at bottom. Black leatherette box has label of Carl Pollath on base. Medal and case are in excellent condition.,
Overall a rare one of a kind offering of great historical value in aviation history that will enhance any collection or museum.
Estimate: $30,000.00 – $65,000.00
Colt Third Model Shoulder Stock Provision Dragoon 1858 Production Extremely Rare Variation
This particular Dragoon has all of the correct characteristics of being one of the rarest of all third model Dragoons produced by Colt. The gun features the Colt patented detachable stock hardware which includes the two extra lug screws in the frame. It is also marked with the exceedingly rare “COL. COLT LONDON-“ barrel address of which only a handful are known to exist and all are found in this serial number range.
The gun features a 7 ½” barrel with the correct two leaf sight which was added by colt only for shoulder stock models. The cylinder retains over 50% original scene with the rarer of the two cylinder markings which is “MODEL U.S.M.R. 17482 COLT’S PATENT”. Every screw and inch of this pistol has been inspected and has been found to be correct. The stocks are original with left grip having a slight chip out of the toe.
The bore in the gun is in fair condition with moderate to heavy frosting but does retain good overall rifling. The serial numbers are all matching and the gun functions well in dry operation. The pistol has an overall plum finish with some light silvering to the high edges. This is an extremely rare Dragoon variation and would certainly be a highlight of any collection so look very close. Sn# 17482 Antique No FFL Required
Estimate: $4,500.00 – $16,000.00
This auction will feature a fantastic Third Reich badge collection with some of the rarest militaria items ever offered at auction. It will also feature over 200 quality firearms along with antique ammunition and advertising. This will be an auction you will not want to miss. Previewing is by appointment only with bidding by Soldusa.com website, phone and fax bidding. Highlight catalogs are available for $12.50 each including S&H.
In his recent article, Jeff Knox of the Firearms Coalition has brought to light some very disturbing components of the NRA’s proposed concealed carry bill in Iowa. He mentioned our organization, Iowa Gun Owners, as the state based group that is opposed to this bill. He is correct. The 5,000 members and supporters of Iowa Gun Owners are concerned with the direction this new bill is heading.
As the Executive Director of Iowa Gun Owners, I have been asked by David Codrea to address the concerns that we have with this bill and explain why we are pushing so aggressively to pass the REAL Right-to-Carry bill. I will address our bill first. First let me give you some context on the current Iowa law.
Currently in Iowa, you have to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. We suffer under a ‘may issue’ system that allows the sheriff complete discretion to deny permits for whatever reason he wants. Sometimes the sheriffs simply invent reasons or are bold enough to deny permits just because they don’t like guns. Likewise we have to obtain a permit to purchase a handgun in all but a few cases. Law abiding Iowans are not allowed to ‘open carry’ in any incorporated area, and most sheriffs will revoke permits and otherwise harass someone who open carries in a non-incorporated area. Iowa has no ‘stand your ground’ or ‘castle doctrine’ provision, and we can’t have class 3 weapons.
In this context Iowa Gun Owners produced and is fighting for the REAL Right-to-Carry bill. This bill would allow anyone, who is not a felon or barred by federal law, the right to carry a weapon for self-defense WITHOUT having to first beg government permission. This is currently the law in Vermont. Additionally, under this bill Iowans would be able to open carry if they so choose as well. Lastly, similar to the laws in Alaska, the bill would allow Iowans to apply for a ‘shall issue’ permit if they want one for reciprocity.
This is the best gun bill ever introduced in Iowa. We don’t believe that the 2nd Amendment talks about taking tests, begging permission, and paying fees before one should be allowed to exercise their constitutional rights. We do not believe that the best way to pass a gun bill is to make multiple concessions up front, trying to appease the anti-gunners at the capitol.
We want anti-gun politicians to vote on our gun bills in their pure form – declare their hostility to the 2nd Amendment in ways that we can use to show our members the true colors of their elected officials. If the anti-gun crowd wants to water down our bills on the floor, or outright ‘kill’ them, that’s on them. They may pay a price for that vote this November.
Our bill was introduced last session by Rep. Kent Sorenson. Despite pleas from both political parties to drop the bill, Sorenson held fast and forced a procedural vote on this bill in the final moments of the 2009 session. The result was an amazing 49-49 tie vote. Obtaining a vote, even a procedural vote, is vital because unless a politician is forced to vote on a gun bill they will continue to claim to be pro-gun without ever having to do anything to back that up.
For those who insist that this was an arranged vote or that it didn’t matter, they should have been there watching the Majority Leader (the Democrats currently have control of both chambers in Iowa) run from his desk to the ‘well’ and turn around and begin pointing to various Democratic Representatives making them change their votes to give them political cover in their districts. This only happened because even the anti-gunners realize that there is growing anger in Iowa over our bad gun laws. These Representatives don’t want to be on the wrong side of this anger. For that matter, why would any Democrat break away from their caucus and vote pro-gun on this bill if they weren’t concerned about possible backlash?
In this light, coming so close to passing the best gun bill in Iowa’s history through the House, we are disappointed that the NRA, with the support of IowaCarry.org, is supporting a much lesser bill.
What makes it a lesser bill? Mr. Knox has already done a fine job of detailing this, but I’ll summarize for those who have not seen his article.
This proposal would allow the government the right to deny you a permit to carry if you’ve ever been arrested for any crime of abuse. Not indicted, not convicted, just arrested. You can, in theory, be cleared of a crime and still lose the right to carry.
This proposal would allow the government the right to deny you a permit should any government agency issue a ‘written finding’ that sustains an allegation of abuse. Think about your nosey neighbor and what damage she can do should she see you spank your child and then call social services.
This proposal raises the age on those who can apply for permits.
This proposal incorporates dangerous federal language – language that is currently up for repeal at even the federal level- into Iowa code.
This proposal calls for government mandated training – when many states don’t, including our neighbors in South Dakota.
Finally, this proposal still requires that law abiding Iowans beg permission to carry concealed.
There are other problems in this proposal, but this should give you a good idea of our main concerns.
The members of Iowa Gun Owners want to know why shouldn’t we press ahead and focus our energies on the best gun bill available. Why concede so much ground up front when the anti-gunners in Iowa are afraid of a backlash in November of 2010?
We have a real chance here in Iowa to capitalize on the anger across the state; to propel Iowa from being one of the worst states in the country regarding concealed carry to one of the best. The REAL Right-to-Carry is our best shot. Please come and join us.
For more information about Iowa Gun Owners visit our website located at www.IowaGunOwners.org. You can also email us at [email protected] or call us at 515/309-7858.
Aaron Dorr is the Executive Director of Iowa Gun Owners, a non-profit organization in Iowa dedicated to overturning Iowa’s abusive laws when it comes to the purchasing, carrying, and using firearms for self-defense. He can be contacted at
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
“Current law allows anybody to purchase the state's full permit database for $32,” McClatchy-Tribune Information Services reported.
