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Forums10
Topics38,934
Posts550,852
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Most Online1,344 Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 153 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 153 Likes: 1 |
I think the .38/56 is the real deal from Winchester. It's not difficult to do a phone check and verify that a museum letter is not a fake....
....A very very unique High Wall for sure.... Thanks for the insight from the possible collector interest point of view this 38-56 rifle generated. Just for clarification, the concern is that it is a low wall action. Conventional wisdom aside, a low wall receiver ring/barrel shank and block would have much more meat around the chamber than most revolvers would. Even if ill advised to build today, if its an original in good shape, I know I would would be shooting that rifle at the range and maybe at game. Yes, of course it is a low wall. I was typing without thinking. My mistake. As far a faked Cody Museum letters (i.e. letter's that didn't come from Cody), I have heard of this occurring. I haven't heard of many examples but I know many collectors, when purchasing a rifle that has a Cody letter with it, will call the museum for verification.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,996 Likes: 493
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,996 Likes: 493 |
Bob, I'll believe you. But I sure hope you don't try shooting it.
_________ BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan) =>/
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 140 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 140 Likes: 1 |
Bob, I'll believe you. But I sure hope you don't try shooting it. It's not mine and I don't think I would try it either. Somebody with factory pull must have ordered it that way. I have seen two very early highwalls in .32WCF with small shank barrels. I had my money out some years back in Sioux Falls and was going to buy it. Then I got my wits about me and checked the shank size. Billfold went back in the pocket.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,996 Likes: 493
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,996 Likes: 493 |
I need to go to Sioux Falls one of these days.
Hope to see you at Harris.
_________ BrentD, (Professor - just for Stan) =>/
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,109 Likes: 39
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,109 Likes: 39 |
Here's a question, is the outside thickness of the receiver the same on small shanks as large shanks? I would think so.
Is the barrel made of better steel than the receiver on the early guns? Is the strength from the barrel wall thickness and not the receievr so a larger shank means it can take higher pressures?
If so what's to keep one from opening up a small shank receiver to accept a large shank?
My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income. - Errol Flynn
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 422 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 422 Likes: 1 |
Here's a Model 1885 that came up for sale recently. The original owner who special ordered it seems to have been intent on as light a weight big game single-shot as possible. I have never seen a low wall in a large caliber. This one tempted me to a very high degree. There are many aspects of this rifle that are very appealing: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/868298943 Beautiful rifle, but I'd not like to be within a 100 yds of anyone pulling the trigger on it. Too much for the low wall in my opinion. If it was barreled and chambered by Winchester I wouldn't be too worried. They pretty much knew what they were doing. "IF" and that's a very big IF. I do not believe that could be documented. And even so, the .38-56 is a necked down .45-70 case. There is a lot of consternation about even .38-55s in low wall actions. At least it is a thick-tang action for what little good that will do. There are reasons for low wall actions and .38-56 is not among them. AMEN!
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,273 Likes: 90
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,273 Likes: 90 |
I have a question what is so different in the Low Wall recently made by Winchester such that they can be chambered for significantly higher pressure modern cartridges like the 243 and/or the 6.5x55?
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 153 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 153 Likes: 1 |
If the .38-56 were ordered with instructions, "as light as possible" I suppose it is possible the person ordering it was not specifically involved in whether the rifle was built on a high wall or low wall action. It's my rough memory that the factory ledgers do not specify "low wall" or "high wall". Sometimes, the customer told Winchester what they wanted and Winchester figured out the technical details of accomplishing the request. Here is a letter on a Model 1886 .45-90 I have. The detail regarding what the customer wanted as far as trigger pull is noteworthy: https://imgur.com/6fEeqiP
Last edited by Boltman; 07/11/20 09:23 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 153 Likes: 1
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 153 Likes: 1 |
On the topic of this .38-56, another interesting factor (observed by someone more knowledgeable than me) is that it is a first issue low wall frame and these frames were discontinued in the 17,000 to 18,000 serial number range. This .38-56 is in the high 35,000 range. There is likely an interesting story that goes with this rifle.
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