Bert H. or ?

hrf

Re. a ca 1870s British Webley revolver marked WRA CO on backstrap:

Did Winchester once have a collection of miscellaneous old guns they so-marked?

perry shooter

I am far from being Bert But it was common practice for gun Manufacturer
To order guns built by another Manufacturer. I am more versed in Colts but I do have access to records of model 1905 and 1911 being shipped directly to Winchester. For the most part the maker would have the records Not the receiver. on the other end.

EDIT seem to remember someone referred here of one brand of
America made S X S as a tomato Stake. I can't remember If it was Winchester model 21 or LC Smith maybe it was Parker or AH Fox STIR STIR now that I have pissed off everyone

Bert H.

Winchester manufactured cartridges (ammo) for many different firearms, including many that they did not make. In those cases, Winchester bought firearms from other manufacturers to test the ammo that they made. So yes, Winchester kept an inventory of various firearms.

laxcoach

In addition to ammo testing, Winchester used purchased guns to try to improve on their designs. Case in point--- Winchester purchased many L C Smith guns to try to improve on their S X S designs, but failed miserably with their M 24 and M 21 guns. (wink!)

sandwarrior

quote:Originally posted by laxcoach
In addition to ammo testing, Winchester used purchased guns to try to improve on their designs. Case in point--- Winchester purchased many L C Smith guns to try to improve on their S X S designs, but failed miserably with their M 24 and M 21 guns. (wink!)


I didn't know the M21 was a failure? From what I've seen it was a pretty solid and sought after SxS shotgun.

However, if you are considering number sold then I could see it not being a great sales success. But that might be due less to the design than the marketing and merchandising (pricing) behind it.

Bert H.

The Model 21 was not a failure... it was Winchester's premier gun, and extremely strong. It sold quite well cosidering that it was a Custom Shop gun only (every single one of them was custom ordered), with more than 45,000 of them made.

laxcoach was simply poking fun at me with his comments, and in reality, he knows full well that the Winchester Model 21 is a superior gun as compared to the L.C. Smith (a.k.a. Elmer Fudd special).

laxcoach

Karl,
You are correct identifying the M21 as a tomato stake. M 21's gave new meaning to the term "swamped rib", as they were prone to launch the ribs off into outer space when firing ! When Winchester copied the Sterlingworth in the form of the 21, they Superglued the ribs on !!! (another wink !)

JohnStimson

Like most other firearms manufacturers Winchester had a reference collection that typically was composed not only of some of their own experimental guns and also the guns from other manufacturers so that they could evaluate the competition's guns.

There is a book titled Inventory of the Winchester Firearms reference collection that is a duplication of the data fund on the cards from the card catalog for this collection There are over 3500 cards. This collection was in part transferred to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming.

hrf

Thanks John, and I doubt that it's indexed, do you happen to know?

After posting I learned the book is in the McCracken Library at Cody, and a friend sent me page 289, listing assorted Belgian, Spanish, Harrington & Richardson, Smith & Wesson, and Savage antique and later handguns in no particular order, items 1953-1964!

All are marked "from Ballistic Lab. 2-1-49" and item 1956 is also marked "sold 6-22-67 to Ed Wheat" This gun was one of the big ugly Spanish "Montenegren" revolvers that my friend once owned, which had the WRACO marking.

JohnStimson

No, it is not indexed.

I have copy 8 of 500 printed December 1991.