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Winchester 53 painted barrel

yrd4sdyrd4sd Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
edited February 2002 in Ask the Experts
Need help on finding info on my Winchestermodel 53 Take down model serial 1398 in cal. 44-40 with a stainless steel barrel that was painted. Most of the paint is gone except around stock and sights.Gun is in good shape. Would like to know is this a real winchester and How many were made. Or whoI can contact about it. Value? Thank You!
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Comments

  • talontalon Member Posts: 150 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You have the 1st year of issue of a moderately rare rifle (weren't many made, only 24,916 over a 10 year period.). While I'm not sure stainless was ever made for this rifle, if it was it was "japaned" as bluing just didn't work (Japan is a black enamal like "paint"). I mention this only because early on Winchester used several m1892 barrels, and the designator could have been lathed off in making that TD rifle of yours, and then restamper m53 etc. Value for your rifle is about $1850 according to Fjestad's Blue Book. For defentitive proof of what you have, contact the Cody Museum's Winchester Collection section (See their web site).
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  • wundudneewundudnee Member Posts: 6,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    talon is probably right on on your rifle. Winchester experimented with stainless barrels in the early 1900's. They marketed the model 1890 advertizing the stainless barrel's heavily. They weren't very popular because the paint wore off so easy. The last 1890's they sold with stainless barrel's they sold at or near a loss to get rid of them. If you find out anything definite about your rifle please repost, I would be interested to hear what you find out.
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  • yrd4sdyrd4sd Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well I found out barrel is real. and yes theypainted them but the paint wore off quikly.still don't know how many were made. Ispaying somebody like Winchester or Cody's museum worth running serial number?I was told there was only twelve #53'sw/stainless steel barrels. Not sure though.
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  • talontalon Member Posts: 150 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What you are paying for is a authoritative statement of how m53, Sr # XXXXX was configured when it left the factory, and if it was ever received back for additional work. It's very much like a birth certificate.(As some data is lost forever, a letter can't be issued on all rifles) Of course, if what you have is not what it's suppose to be the letter is sort of worthless. If the letter and rifle match, you will at least recover the price of the letter, if not much more, upon sale.
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  • wundudneewundudnee Member Posts: 6,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for reposting. Your gun would have to be a special order gun being takedown and stainless barrel and 44-40. I think if it was mine I would at least inquire from Cody if the records of that time period survive. If they are available I wouldn't hesitate to try to letter your gun. It's very rare and probably would generate a lot of collector interest. The stainless barrel is not even mentioned in Madis's book.
    "If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" Will Rogers[This message has been edited by wundudnee (edited 02-22-2002).]
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I cannot imagine having such a rare and valuable rifle and not wanting to know everything possible about it. As mentioned, if the letter verifies the present configuration, it will add many times the cost of the letter to the value. I have factory historical letters for most of my Colts, Parkers, L. C. Smiths and High Standards. (I have some collectable Smith & Wessons, Marlins, Rugers and Winchesters that need letters as well, but limited time and inertia have prevented me from getting them thus far.) It is so exciting to me to learn where a particular gun began its life. Some guns have traveled far, and some are still "home." Some letters have been real surprises and have added greatly to the value. As an old guy, I am the original owner of many of my guns, but I still enjoy the letters on those too. Getting the letter on my garndfather's L. C. Smith gave me a little shiver as he died before I was born and I never knew him, yet the letter revealed some intriguing information. The shotgun was shipped March 25, 1903, and my father was born August 17, 1903. I wonder if he had his unborn child in mind when he bought it? My father told me how good a wing shot my grandfather was, and the information in this letter provides another link to a part of my family I never knew.GET THE LETTER!
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  • yrd4sdyrd4sd Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR INFO AND TIME YOU TOOK TO REPLY! WAITING TO HEAR FROM CODY'S FOR A LETTER!
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  • wundudneewundudnee Member Posts: 6,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In the March 02 issue of Gunlist under Winchester's model 53 there is a stainless barreled one advertized for $1995.00.
    "If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" Will Rogers
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  • groundhog devastationgroundhog devastation Member Posts: 4,495
    edited November -1
    JudgeColt, How did you get the letter about your grandfater's L.C.Smith? I have an L.C. Smith that has Damascus patterns on the barrels but according to the gunsmith it is not Damascus barrels. It is choked Full and "Fuller", meaning I've never seen a full choke this tight!! It has a raised rib and supposedly was special ordered from the factory. I would love to know how to find out all the specifics of this gun.
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  • talontalon Member Posts: 150 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    On your L C Smith info, go to: www.truewest.com/BBHC/cfm_membership.html and click on the "L C Smith" hypertext. This is the Cody Site, and they work with Smiths, too. As this is #10 on this item, if you are locked out, start another topic "LCSmith".
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