Gun Shop, Jewelry shop, Antique Guns for Sale.

 

This web site is dedicated to the antique firearms collector and jewelry connoisseur . As with all antique firearms and jewelry, prices continue to rise and the supply dwindles. Most firearms and jewelry items offered here are usually one of a kind.

Please take a moment to visit our gold jewelry store at www.jotogifts.com

Firearm buyers please read the firearm liability disclaimer at the bottom of page.

Antique Guns for Sale are collector guns only

Any Questions email me at Antenna3@hotmail.com

Pre 1898 Serial cut off information

 

The Pre-1899 Antique Guns FAQ
by James Wesley, Rawles
Copyright 1992-2007.  All Rights Reserved
 
Revised  November 11, 2007

 Here is a partial list of pre-1899 "cut-off" serial numbers:

Ballard rifles, all are pre-1899

Beesley (Frederick Beesley, England) shotguns - serial numbers below 1,500

Boss & Co. shotguns - serial numbers below  4,200

Burgess pump action shotguns. Operated by a unique sliding iron pistol grip pump lever.  The first model Burgess pump action shotguns are all pre-1899 production, since the second model was introduced in 1897, and production of the first model ended later that same year.  Burgess was purchased by Winchester in 1899. Serial numbers for all Burgess shotguns begin at #1000.  Any Burgess that has no patent date marks later than 1896 can safely be presumed to be pre-1899 manufacture.  See also: Colt-Burgess (below).

Churchill (E.J. Churchill, Ltd., England) shotguns - serial numbers below 959

Colt 1878 & 1883 Shotguns, all are pre-1899

Colt-Berdan, Colt-Burgess, and Colt-Franklin, all are pre-1899

Colt Lightning Rifles, all large frame are pre-1899; Medium frame:
serial numbers below 84,000; Small frame: serial numbers below 35,334

Colt Percussion Revolvers (and cartridge conversions), all are pre-1899

Colt Spur trigger revolvers, all are pre-1899

Colt 1st and 2nd Model Derringers, all are pre-1899

Colt Single Action Army (SAA) and Bisley revolvers with serial numbers under 182,000. I consider SAAs with serials between 165,000 and 182,000 (1896 to 1898 production) the most desirable, since they have steel frames (and are thus safe to shoot most modern smokeless loads), yet they are Federally exempt.

Colt Model 1877 (Lightning and Thunderer) .38 and .41 (serial # below
111,500)

Colt Model 1878 Double Action Frontier revolvers (serial numbers below 38,200)

Colt Model 1889 Navy .38, all are pre-1899

Colt New Police and New Police Target .32 (serial number below 4,600)

Colt New Pocket Model (serial # below 11,900)

Colt "New Army" or "New Navy" .38 and .41 (serial # below 115,000)

Colt New Service, first year of production (1898) only. (Serial # below 250)  (I found one for my own collection.  It only took ten years to track it down...)

Dickson (John Dickson, Edinburgh, Scotland) shotguns - serial numbers below 5000

Forehand and Wadsworth .32 or .38  (all made before 1891.)

Fox (A.H. Fox) shotguns - all are modern

Francotte  (Auguste Francotte & Co.) shotguns  -
   Best grade: serial # below 16,310
   Medium grade: serial # below 29,614
   Bottom grade: serial # below 305,769
 
Grant (Stephen Grant & Sons, London) shotguns  - serial # below 7,050

Greener sidelock shotguns (Best grade: serial # below 5,311)

Greener boxlock shotguns (serial # below 47,130)

Holland & Holland shotguns :  Best grade: serial # below 22,000. Paradox guns: serial # below 15,400

Hopkins and Allen Mfg. marked guns are ALL pre-1899 because the company changed its name (and rollmark) to Hopkins and Allen Arms in 1898.

Ithaca Baker Model shotguns - all are pre-1899

Ithaca Crass Model shotguns  (serial # below 38,399)

Ithaca Hammer shotguns - other - (serial # below 33,011)

Ithaca Hammerless shotguns - other - (serial # below 32,988)

Iver Johnson top break revolvers. Special thanks to Ben Sansing ( swsansing@juno.com ) for the following Iver Johnson information:

There were three main models of Iver Johnson "Safety" top break revolvers. 1st & 2nd Model revolvers were built for black powder cartridges only. Continued use of higher pressure smokeless in these revolvers will result in them shooting loose, getting out of time, and parts breakage.

[Editor's note: So if you want to shoot smokeless in a pre-1899 IJ revolvers, you must hand load cartridges to match the lower black powder pressure. Use extreme caution and err on the side of lower pressure when working up a load.]

The 3rd Model was especially beefed-up, redesigned, and "fortified" for use with smokeless powder and is fine for modern factory ammo.  Alas, only 1st (all) & 2nd (some) Model revolvers fall into the  legal Antique category.

1st Model (1894-1896): SINGLE-POST top latch; leaf springs;
cylinder "free-wheeling" when at rest

2nd Model (1897-1908): DOUBLE-POST top latch; leaf springs;
cylinder "free-wheeling" when at rest

3rd Model (1909-1941): DOUBLE-POST top latch; COIL springs;
cylinder locked when at rest

If you've determined, from the above characteristics, that  you have a 2nd Model IJ revolver, here's how to determine whether it was made before 1899 (and thus a legal antique) or not. Fortunately, Iver Johnson built revolvers by the "batch" system, and only changed & upgraded their guns once a year, so it is quite easy to determine whether an IJ is antique or not, just by cursory examination. In only *one* case (.32 small frame *hammer* model) does the serial number need to be checked. In other cases, you can "tell at a glance" once you know what to look for.

Pre-1899 2nd Model guns will exhibit the following characteristics:

Large frame (.38) HAMMERLESS: Separate hammer shroud on frame (shroud not integral with frame)

Small Frame (.32) HAMMERLESS: Separate hammer shroud on frame (shroud not integral with frame)

Note: Integral frame with shroud introduced start of 1899 production

Large frame (.38) hammer: Patent dates on top rib of BARREL

Small Frame (.32) hammer: Patent dates on top rib of BARREL, *AND* must check serial number prefix (left side of grip strap underneath grip - yes, you must remove the grips for this one): A = 1897; E = 1898; F = 1899. The easy way to remember: If it has an 'F' it FLUNKS the Antique Test.

Note 1: Patent dates moved from top rib of barrel at start of 1899 production.

Note 2: All .22 rimfire IJ topbreak revolvers are post-1898 (The .22 chambering began in 1901).

Lancaster (Charles Lancaster, London) shotguns - serial # below 8,353

Lang (Joseph Lang, London) shotguns - serial # below 8,700

Lefever Arms Co. Sidelock shotguns - serial # below 28,916

Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield .303 Rifles and Carbines:
"Magazine Lee Metford" (MLM) rifles are all pre-1899. However, since "Magazine Lee Enfield" (MLE) rifle production began at the end of 1895, a substantial number of MLEs are pre 1899.  Check the receiver date.  While the "Magazine Lee Enfield" Cavalry Carbines Mk I (no star) ran from 1896 to 1899, the Mk I* is post '98 so again, check the date.  Royal Irish Constabulary ("RIC") MLE Carbines are also post-'98, though some may have been conversions with pre-'99 MLE or MLM actions.   All "Charger Loading Lee Enfield" (CLLE) Rifles and all "Short Magazine Lee Enfield" (SMLE) rifles are post-'98.  As with the Mosin-Nagants (see below), a lot of early Lees were turned into later Marks, but the date on the action body is the governing date.  My MLE Mk 1* was built in 1901, then became an SMLE Mark I in 1904, then in 1908 an SMLE Mk I**, and finally circa 1912, a Mk II**.

Marlin rifles--serial number groups not consecutive!  The only models that ended production before 1899 are the Model 1881, 1888, Model 1889, and 1891. All others must have a serial number under 161,200.  (Note: Marlin did not start a new block of serial numbers staring  at 1, like most makers.  Instead, their number were mixed. But the approximate # for those Marlins produced before the end of 1898 is 161,200.)

Marlin-Ballard rifles, all are pre-1899

Martini-Henry Rifles, all are pre-1899 (For details, see: http://www.martinihenry.com/ )

Mauser M1896 "Broomhandle" pistols  (serial # below 15,000--these were mostly made with  "cone" (pyramidically step-sided) hammers or large ring hammers--are pre-1899.

Mauser Bolt Action Rifles.  See the following listings by model year/country. Note that any Mauser marked "Ludwig Loewe" or "Loewe, Berlin" is pre-1899, because Loewe was merged into DWM in 1897):

M1889 Belgian, most rifles are pre-1899. However, most carbines made with Yatagan bayonet mounts are post 1899 and thus legally modern.

M1890 Turkish contract, all are pre-1899

M1891 Argentine contract rifles and carbines, all are pre-1899

M1891 Columbian contract (Argentine Pattern) most are pre-1899

M1891 Ecuadoran contract (Argentine Pattern) most are pre-1899

M1891 Peruvian contract, all are pre-1899

M1891/1892/1893 Spanish rifles, all are pre-1899

M1893/M1895 Spanish *carbines* --see date on receiver ring.

M1893 Turkish contract rifles, all are pre-1899 (Note: Many of there were re-barreled to 8 x57 Mauser at Ankara in the 1930s (and re-stamped on the receiver ring with their re-arsenalization year, but they are still legally "pre-1899" antiques.)

M1894 Brazilian contract, all are pre-1899

M1894 Swedish carbines--see date on receiver ring--Less than 40% are
pre-1899

M1895 Bolivian contract (M1891 Argentine pattern) all are pre-1899

M1895 Chilean contract by Ludwig Loewe --all are pre-1899

M1895 Chilean contract by DWM--Many later examples are post-1899, However, it has been determined with certainty that early DWMs with A through K prefix serial numbers are
pre-1899. Special thanks to The Dutchman in Indiana for the first "in captivity" report on a K-prefix M1895 DWM that is cartouched 1898. Also thanks to  Ed Albers, who spotted another, with serial number  K7023.  Since then, I found three others that were cartouched 1898, also with a K prefixes.

M1895 Chinese contract (Chilean Pattern)--all are 1899.

M1895 Costa Rican contract (Chilean Pattern) by Ludwig Loewe are
pre-1899 (DWMs with "L" or higher serial # prefix are not!)

M1895 El Salvadoran contract (Chilean pattern) by DWM. Most are
post-1899 except early production guns with three digit serial numbers.

M1895/96/97 Orange Free State contracts (Marked "O.V.S." Some also have Chilean crests.  These are original Boer war contract guns and quite sought after by collectors!) All are pre-1899.

M1895 Paraguayan contract (Chilean pattern) by  DWM. Most are post-1899

M1895 Persian contract (Chilean Pattern) by Ludwig Loewe are pre-1899 (DWMs with "L" or higher serial # prefix are not!)

M1895 Peruvian contract (Chilean Pattern) by Ludwig Loewe are pre-1899 (DWMs with "L" or higher serial # prefix are not!)

M1895 Uruguayan contract (Chilean Pattern) by Ludwig Loewe are pre-1899 (DWMs with "L" or higher serial # prefix are not!)

M1896 Swedish rifles --see date on receiver ring--only about 1% are pre-1899, since 1899 was the first year of full production on this model Mauser, Oberndorf, and 1898 was the first production year at Carl Gustafs Stads Gevarsfaktori.

M1896 ("Prototype M1898") German, all are pre-1899. Note: Some prototype 98s were sold to China and overstamped with Chinese markings. These are VERY rare, and command a huge premium in price. (Up to $800 just for an action with bolt!)

M1898 German--see date on receiver ring--less than 1% are pre-1899.

Merwin Hulbert revolvers, all are pre-1899

Mosin-Nagant rifles--see date marked UNDER the rear tang, near the action screw.  You have to take off the wood to see it.  The date that one first sees on top is actually on the rear of the BARREL, not on the receiver itself. Many of these receivers were made pre-1899. Even a lot of the "later"  Finnish M-91/30s and Model 39s (with barrel dates in the 1940s) have  receiver tangs dated in the 1890s! Note:  Some of the tang dates are two digit, such as ì95î (for 1895) or ì9^6î for 1896--with a vertical arrow between the digits.) Thanks to Dennis Kroh of Empire arms for this information!  Note that Empire Arms (www.empirearms.com) occasionally has pre-1899 production military rifles available for sale.

Nagant revolvers: Those produced at Liege, Belgium (serial number under 20,000) are pre-1899.  But virtually all of those produced at the Tula arsenal are legally modern.

Parker shotguns (serial # below 89,350)

Purdey (James Purdey & Sons, London) shotguns - serial # below 16,736

Remington Model 1875 revolvers, all are pre-1899

Remington Model 1890 revolvers, all are pre-1899

Remington-Keene bolt actions, all are pre-1899

Remington-Lee bolt actions, all U.S. military models are pre-1899, but most civilian models are legally modern.

Remington Model 1889 Shotguns (serial # below 89,124)

Rigby (John Rigby & Co., Dublin) rifles and shotguns- serial # below 16,600

Savage Model 1895    See: http://www.savage99.com/dates.htmfor details

Schmidt Rubin (Swiss) Rifles. Model 1889 - all are pre-1899

Schmidt Rubin (Swiss) Model 1893 Carbines (serial # below 5,000)

Schmidt Rubin (Swiss) Rifles. Model 1889/96 or 96/11 (which were built on pre-existing 89/96 receivers) are pre-1899 if they have a serial number less than 236,500.  Note: ONLY the 96/11 (and later models) are safe to use the high pressure M11 cartridge!

Schmidt Rubin (Swiss) Model 1897 "Cadet" short rifles (serial # below 2,100)

Scott (W&C Scott a.k.a. Webley & Scott) shotguns - serial # below 56,000

L. C. Smith double barrel shotguns. The 1899 transition serial number #61,199 previously published elsewhere is not accurate. There were thousands of L.C. Smiths made after 1899 with lower serial numbers than this. Because L. C. Smith serial number blocks were assigned non-sequentially, there is no way to be certain whether or not any particular L.C. Smith is antique!

S&W Single Action (SA) .32 and .38 top break revolvers, all are pre-1899

S&W Spur Trigger: With the exception of one rare S&W model, production of single-action spur trigger revolver frames had essentially stopped by 1892.   So just about all of these are antique.)

S&W Double Action (DA) .32 top break revolvers with hammer (serial # below 209,301)

S&W DA .32 top break hammerless ("lemon squeezer") revolvers (serial # below 91,400)

S&W DA .38 top break revolvers with hammer (serial # below 382,022)

S&W DA .38 top break hammerless ("lemon squeezer") revolvers (serial # below 119,900)

S&W Model 3 and New Model 3 single action revolvers, all are pre-1899

S&W .45 Schofield revolvers, all are pre-1899 (Note: Most of the Schofields currently on the market are modern replicas)

S&W DA First Model revolver, all are pre-1899

S&W DA "Frontier" revolvers, all are pre-1899

S&W DA "Favorite" revolvers, all are pre-1899

Important Note: An article by Roy Jinks (S&W factory historian), some years ago reported that all of the *frames* for the large frame top-break S&Ws were made prior to 1899, and hence all New Model #3's, .44 DA 1st Models,  DA Frontiers, and related models are considered "antique" by the BATFE, even though they may have been cataloged and even assembled well into the early 20th century.  Special thanks to Roy Jinks and the S&W Collector's Association for this information.

S&W Model 1891, all are pre-1899

S&W 1st Model hand ejector (.32s only), all are pre-1899

Sharps Co. Rifles, all are pre-1899

Snider-Enfield Rifles and Carbines, all are pre-1899

Stevens: Many early Stevens guns are unserialized and hence difficult to date. Stevens guns made from 1864 to 1886 will be marked J. STEVENS & CO. From 1886 to 1916 they were marked J. STEVENS A & T CO or J. STEVENS ARMS & TOOL CO.

Swift revolver (Made by Iver Johnson), all are pre-1895
 
U.S. ("Trapdoor") Springfield .45-70, all are pre-1899

U.S. .30-40 Krag bolt actions (serial # below 152,670)

Webley Mk. I and Mk. II .455 Revolvers. All Mark I and Mark II revolvers are antique. (The Mark II was adopted in 1894, production ceased entirely in 1897 in favor of the Mark III which replaced it.  Most Mark IIIs and all subsequent Marks are post-1898.)

Webley Green .450/.455 Revolvers, all are pre-1899

Webley R.I.C. No 1 .455/.476 CF NEW MODEL  Revolvers, all are pre-1899

Westley-Richards & Co. rifles and shotguns (all except "T" boxlock)- serial # below 15,818

Westley-Richards & Co. "T" boxlock shotguns- serial # below 13,438

Whitney Arms Co., all are pre-1899

Winchester Rifles and Shotguns.   See: http://www.savage99.com/dates.htm  for exact dates of manufacture on 12 different models.

Winchester Model 1866, all are pre-1899

Winchester Model 1873  (serial # below 525,923)

Winchester Model 1876, all are pre-1899

Winchester Model 1885  (serial # below 84,701)

Winchester Model 1886  (serial # below 119,193)

Winchester Model 1887  (all were produced before 1899).

Winchester Model 1890  (serial # below 64,521)

Winchester Model 1892  (serial # below 165,432)

Winchester Model 1893  (serial # below 34,204)

Winchester Model 1894  (serial # below 147,685)

Winchester Model 1895  (serial # below 19,872)

Winchester Model 1897  Shotgun (serial # below 63,633 -- some sources say 64,668, but better to use the lower number as your guide).  That is a just a small fraction of the total of 1,024,700 M1897s produced!  A TAKEDOWN Model 1897 that is pre-1899 is VERY rare, since they were a factory special order item.  They command a big premium in price.

Winchester-Hotchkiss Bolt Action Rifles, all are pre-1899

Winchester-Lee (U.S. Navy) Straight-Pull 6 mm (serial # below 20,000)

Woodward (James Woodward & Sons, London) - serial # below 15,327

 

I hope that you find this information useful.  Your comments, additions, and corrections are greatly appreciated.

  Special thanks to:
  Ken at www.Savage99.com
  Jim Supica, proprietor of The Old Town Station  (OldTownSta@aol.com)  snail mail:
          c/o P.O. Box 15351, Lenexa, Kansas 66285
  Dennis Kroh of Empire Arms (www.empirearms.com),
  Dixie Gun Works
  Ben Sansing swsansing@juno.com

 James Wesley, Rawles      <><

   e-mail: rawles@usa.net

 
I'm the author of numerous firearms FAQS on topics including:
AR-15 magazines, M1 Carbine magazines, M14/M1A magazines, M1911 magazines,
FN/FALs and L1A1s, Mauser rifles, pre-1899 cartridge guns, and  European Ammo Box
Markings Translations.  These FAQs are available at www.SurvivalBlog.com/faqs.html

I'm also the author of a pro-gun survivalist novel and screenplay. For info,
see:   http://www.rawles.to

I'm also the author of the Internet's most popular daily Survivalist Blog (Web Log journal).  See:  www.SurvivalBlog.com