Repairing a very old rifle
Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:11 pm
My father-in-law gave me an original Winchester model 1895.
A serial number lookup on Winchester's site reveals that this rifle was manufactured in 1897. It has a 4-digit serial number, starting with a "6". It is chambered for .30 Krag/.30 US.
The gun is not in great shape (no bluing left at all, lot of dings, bit of rust), but appears functional except that the lift mechanism (which lifts the next cartridge from the magazine to the chamber) doesn't, well, lift. When the action is cycled, the lift doesn't move at all. I may not be using the correct terminology, I hope what I'm saying is understandable despite this. My guess is that there is some sort of spring between the fixed-magazine floorplate and this lift mechanism that is either broken or missing. With the action closed, if the rifle is turned upside down and shaken, the rattle of the lift mechanism can be heard.
In any case, I don't plan to ever actually fire this rifle. Would it be worth getting it fixed, even if I'll never fire it?
Are parts for an original Winchester model 1895 still available? Will many gunsmiths be able to accomplish this, or is this something I'd have to find a specialist for? What would you imagine a repair like this would cost?
A serial number lookup on Winchester's site reveals that this rifle was manufactured in 1897. It has a 4-digit serial number, starting with a "6". It is chambered for .30 Krag/.30 US.
The gun is not in great shape (no bluing left at all, lot of dings, bit of rust), but appears functional except that the lift mechanism (which lifts the next cartridge from the magazine to the chamber) doesn't, well, lift. When the action is cycled, the lift doesn't move at all. I may not be using the correct terminology, I hope what I'm saying is understandable despite this. My guess is that there is some sort of spring between the fixed-magazine floorplate and this lift mechanism that is either broken or missing. With the action closed, if the rifle is turned upside down and shaken, the rattle of the lift mechanism can be heard.
In any case, I don't plan to ever actually fire this rifle. Would it be worth getting it fixed, even if I'll never fire it?
Are parts for an original Winchester model 1895 still available? Will many gunsmiths be able to accomplish this, or is this something I'd have to find a specialist for? What would you imagine a repair like this would cost?
