Cody Letter - Who is/was Russ?

shooter10

I have a Cody Letter and it says: X to Russ: 06-01-1900. He worked in the Custom Shop as I understand it. Any other info? I talked to the lady at Cody and she said she was curious herself to know more about this man that apparently worked at Winchester for many years.

Bert H.

Winchester did not have a "Custom Shop" during the era in which Russ worked for them. "Russ" was Russell Leander, and he was Winchester's primary barrel rework/replacement man for at least 35-years. I have see thousands of entries in the factory warehouse ledgers starting in the very early 1880s up through at least 1914 that state "To Russ". For the Models 1885 and 1893/1897, in most cases, the entry indicates that a different barrel (caliber or barrel length) was installed prior to being shipped (sold). In the Model 1897 ledgers, there were at least several hundred guns that were received in the warehouse as standard Field grade guns with a 30-inch Full choke barrel, that were sent back from the warehouse to Russ, converted to 20-inch Cyl bore (Riot Gun), and then shipped.

MG1890

Bert, not to hijack here, but what can you tell me about J.P.P? I think this was James P. Parker. I have a low wall with a J.P.P. stamped barrel. 32WCF, 25" long #2. Looks like a 1" setback as there is an extra mainspring dovetail 1" from the one in current use.

62fuelie

Possibly a "Pope" barrel??

Bert H.

quote:Originally posted by MG1890
Bert, not to hijack here, but what can you tell me about J.P.P? I think this was James P. Parker. I have a low wall with a J.P.P. stamped barrel. 32WCF, 25" long #2. Looks like a 1" setback as there is an extra mainspring dovetail 1" from the one in current use.


"J.P.P." was James P. Parker, and like Russ, he specialized in barrel rework. However, instead of swapping barrels, he reworked them (rebored & rechambered to larger calibers, or shortened them). Parker usually marked the barrels under the forend stock with his initials, and at a minimum the work order number (which will match the R&R work order number found on the factory letter). I have only found Parker's marking on Model 1885 and Model 1886 rifle barrels.

MG1890

Bert, thank you. Another question is raised by your kind reply, though: This lowall has a replaced lower tang WITHOUT a serial number. The JPP rework order number is #49107. Can this rework number be matched up in the ledger to the original serial number?? It's a pretty special rifle, 2X wood, pistol grip without checkering, swiss buttplate, set trigger, 25" #2 barrel 32 WCF. Has the ebony dart inlet in the piston grip, no pistol grip cap.

Bert H.

quote:Originally posted by MG1890
Bert, thank you. Another question is raised by your kind reply, though: This lowall has a replaced lower tang WITHOUT a serial number. The JPP rework order number is #49107. Can this rework number be matched up in the ledger to the original serial number?? It's a pretty special rifle, 2X wood, pistol grip without checkering, swiss buttplate, set trigger, 25" #2 barrel 32 WCF. Has the ebony dart inlet in the piston grip, no pistol grip cap.


Maybe... but it will require a very time extensive search of the ledgers in the 18,000 - 85,000 serial number range. The R&R entries are located in the Remarks column, and it would take a line by line review of potentially several thousand ledger pages to find it.