bought a rifle at the range today from an older gent from town here. Looked up the numbers and it was manufactured in 1919, 30 WCF full octagon 26" barrel, wear and tear but no cracks in the wood, nice tight action and no beat up screws from gun mechanics, blueing has turned to browning more or less and is worn the usual areas, but it shoots and functions excellently. Would $400 canadian have been too much?? Don't follow leaver guns too much but this was pretty clean and the guy was headed to a gunshow up north to peddle them, he'd bought it at an auction.

where can you look up the serial numbers and find out when your gun was made?

Don't know about the internet. I bought a booklet "Winchester. Dates of Manufacture." by George Madis.
Only seems to go into the early '80's.

So, you could ask me.

John L.

manufacture dates for some guns can be found at http://www.oldguns.net scroll down the sidebar till you find dates of manufacture, click on it and go from there.

Oscar:

Let me be quick about it. YOu spent $400 Canadian for a 30 WCF that was made in 1919. I spent many happy years in Canada on hunting trips. I never thought that I would ever run across a guy in Canada who was as bad as I was on gun deals! If you're a collector, I suppose the deal may be OK -and no one has the right to question your judgment. If you mean to use the rifle, I hope that you don't propose to be my guide and back up rifle against a grizzly! (Anyway, hopefully you like the purchase. I mean that. No one wants to waste money. If you bought the rifle for your own pleasure and enjoyment, then the price was worth it)

Heck, I thought he may have robbed the seller.
If in good original condition I thought it would be worth much more?
John L.

He stole it. Down here in Tucson, that rifle will sell for somewhere around $800 to $1,000 plus USD to a collector.
Paul B.