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BILL GOODMAN, 305 DONEGAL DRIVE, BOZEMAN, MONTANA 59715

TEL. (406) 587-3131 FAX (406) 219-3415

Bill Goodman has been a collector of antique/collector firearms for well over 40 years and a full time dealer for over 28 years. Traveling around the country constantly seeking good quality collector arms at REALISTIC PRICES, Bill sells exclusively by mail order. He has advertised in every issue of The Gun List (now Gun Digest the Magazine) since it's first small issues in the early 1980s (as well as The Shotgun News before that). All items are photographed. To view them just click the text of the item you want to see. Be sure to scroll down as most items have more than one photo. All guns are sold as collector's items, not shooters. If you wish to shoot an item listed here, it is strongly recommended that you have the item checked out by a competent gunsmith who specializes in antique firearms. All items are sold with the usual three (3) day inspection. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, call to say you are returning the item and you will receive an immediate refund when the item is received back in the same condition it was originally shipped. This list will be constantly updated as new items become available. Use the above phone number to call to check availability and for further info on any item you wish to purchase. Prices do not include shipping. All federal/state laws concerning the transfer of firearms are strictly followed. Modern firearms must be shipped to an FFL dealer (or "Curio & Relics" license holders where applicable). Pre-1899 antiques may be shipped to non-FFL holders. All Layaway sales are final.

MORE GUNS WERE POSTED 7/31/14. WATCH FOR FREQUENT POSTINGS TROUGH AUGUST.

BOOKS HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED!

JUST RECEIVED COPIES FROM THE PUBLISHER! I'M SELLING THEM AT BELOW AMAZON PRICE. NO NEED TO CALL, JUST SEND A CHECK FOR $16 (INCLUDES SHIPPING) AND I'LL SEND YOU A SIGNED COPY. 6" X 9" SOFT COVER, 330 PAGES. FIRST REVIEWS HAVE BEEN GREAT! (CLICK THIS TEXT FOR PHOTOS OF FRONT AND BACK COVERS).

NOTES FROM THE FIELD: AFTER YEARS OF WANTING TO, I'VE FINALLY DONE IT!

I've written a novel! I've had the idea for a number of years and decided if I didn't write it now, it'd never happen. Much of it was written very, very early in the mornings before the phone starts ringing and I start packing guns for UPS. And a lot of it was written on planes or while hanging around airports going to-and-from gun shows. Anyway, it's been published and is available on Amazon.com in standard print book or you can download it as an e-book. It's called DESERT SUNDAYS and, of course, I'm listed as the author, William T. Goodman. You can find out more about it - synopsis, about the author etc.- by going to: www.williamtgoodman.com Yes, there are guns and knives and some hunting in the novel (how could there not be?) and I promise you IT IS ACCURATELY PORTRAYED! Nothing worse than reading a novel where guns are used or discussed and everything is wrong- like one I read that took place in the 1940s and the bad guy used a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 magnum revolver- except the .44 mag. caliber wasn't even invented yet... or one in which a young hunter looks through the scope on a bolt action .270 and the author writes "...he put his eye to the scope. The eyepiece felt clammy against his skin." OUCH! Man, this author obviously never fired a high powered rifle! Anyway, you won't read anything like that from me. Also, there is a great scene in the novel in which one of my main characters takes on a whole room of anti-gun college professors at a wine and cheese party- let's just say he shocks some sense into them. Since you are on this website, I know you'll like that part. But seriously, it's NOT a gun/hunting/guy novel. And I have to warn any potential readers, there is seriously graphic adult content in parts of the book. So, check out DESERT SUNDAYS by William T. Goodman on Amazon.com. If you buy it and like it (or don't like it), I'd like to hear your comments. And please, pass the word around. Novel number two is already in the works! Thanks for your support. Bill Goodman

ADDITIONAL NOTE ABOUT ABOVE (3/23/14): If you ordered or downloaded a book, there was a printing glitch in the very first batch- just some minor line errors & typos mainly in chapter 1 and the margins weren't set properly. The text was okay so it'll read fine. Sorry about this. Problem has been fixed. Thanks for your understanding.

COLT FIRE ARMS (click text for photo

MARLIN (click text for photos1

1) VERY RARE MODEL 1888, .32WCF, 24" OCTAGON RIFLE, MADE 1889, only a total of 4,814 of this model was made between 1888 and 1889 and of these only 1,298 were made in .32-20 caliber making it the least produced caliber for this model, fine aged barrel blue mixing plum as is the mag tube, receiver blue turned a very dark brown with good blue on the loading gate, , original sights, tight action, bore shows good rifling but has scattered roughness, stock may have been lightly gone over at some time and has had a sliver replaced in the right top of the forearm, overall nice appearance, very seldom seen Marlin and most I've encountered have seen very hard frontier usage, $1495.

2) BEAUTIFUL VIVID CASE COLORS ON THIS HIGH CONDITION 1894 .32-20 ROUND BARREL RIFLE, MADE 1907, really spectacular case color especially on the left side and top of receiver, right side just slightly less vivid, nice blue on bolt, good color on upper part of lever, fine deep blue on barrel and mag showing just minor age, fine blue on forend cap, Marbles tang sight with original buckhorn and Rocky Mountain blade front sight, exc. wood with two exceptions: first, some very very light initials scratched barely through the finish on the left side of the stock- hard to notice and easily rubbed out if desired and second there is an almost invisible age or stress crack coming back from the upper back of the tang and going to the butt plate on both sides- looks like the grain of the wood and is solid and never reinforced- I owned this rifle for some time before even noticing these two things- bore should clean out about exc., screws look about untouched, a stunning Marlin, $2450.``

3) MODEL ‘94 SADDLE RING CARBINE, .32-20, MADE 1907, All Marlin saddle ring carbines are much more rare than most people realize, this one is mostly aged to a soft brown overall with traces of blue in the most protected areas, good tight action, bore a little dark but should scrub out near exc, exc. markings, three leaf express rear sight with all the leaves intact, ring intact, fine walnut stock and forend show normal handling with tight wood to metal fit, $1195.

A NOTE ABOUT "MODERN MARLINS": Marlin has closed its doors for good in North Haven, Connecticut and been bought out by the folks who own Remington. It looks like some models have been put back into production with the barrels marked "Utica, New York." I did see one of the new ones with the old North Haven barrel address so I assume they had left over barrels they were using up. Quality in wood to metal fit was fair at best and trigger pulls were off the scale heavy! I doubt if any of the octagon barrel "cowboy models" will be produced again, although their online catalogue does show a model 1894 cowboy-type with octagon barrel in .45 Colt caliber only. I believe these traditional Marlins made in limited runs in North Haven, CT are going to be tomorrow's sought after Marlins. Already prices for them are escalating rapidly.

4) RARE "MODERN" MARLIN MODEL 336CB COWBOY 24" OCTAGON RIFLE IN .38-55 CALIBER, now discontinued an with Marlin being bought out by Remington, probably never to be made again, this was a limited run and few are found for sale now, fancy checkered with traditional diamond in the middle of the wrist and forearm, Marbles tang sight and globe front with apertures, original barrel sights included, very lightly used, $1150. SOLD) YET ANOTHER SCARCE "MODERN" MARLIN VARIANT: 1895 .45-70 COWBOY WITH 26" OCTAGON BARREL, this one is flat new, unfired in the original box and still even has the Marlin tag on the lever and all paperwork in the box with serial numbered end label! $1195. SOLD

5) LIMITED PRODUCTION AND VERY RARE 1895 .45-70 24” HALF OCTAGON BARREL FULL MAGAZINE RIFLE, the barrel is stamped “1895 LTD” and these were made some years ago in one small run, I don’t believe I’ve seen another, about new condition overall, $1195. SOLD

6) MODEL 1894S .44 MAG. OR SPECIAL, this is the carbine with the diamond checkered wrist and forend, has quick detachable swivel studs, about like new, $795. SOLD

7) MODEL 1894CB "COWBOY LIMITED" IN .44 MAGNUM AND SPECIAL, 20" OCTAGON BARREL, a little nicer than standard wood usually seen, very hard to find and like new, $1195. SOLD

8) VERY RARE 1895 LTD-III .45-70 WITH 18 ½ INCH OCTAGON BARREL AND FULL MAGAZINE! This is the first one of these I’ve seen. Apparently they made the LTD series from I to V (5) for Davidsons Distributors I believe in the 1980s to 1990s. One Thousand of these were supposedly made in 1999 ony, but this is the first one I’ve seen or even heard of, I would bet a lot less than one thousand were made! It is in very lightly used condition (near new) with a blued screw going into the right side where the cross bolt safety is, I believe these "filler kits" are sold through Brownell's, the cross bolt can be seen on the left side, but there is no movement in it and it does not protrude. I imagine it would be easy enough to return to the normal cross bolt if one wanted to, also has a Redfield receiver sight with the normal Marlin folding buckhorn rear sight and blade/bead front, this model had the normal or “Ballard” style rifling as opposed to the regular Micro-groove rifling normally used- these are better for cast bullet shooting, a very rare Marlin that should appreciate in value over the years to come, $1195. SOLD

9) ONE OF THE RAREST AND HARDEST TO FIND OF THE “MODERN MARLINS” IS THIS 20” OCTAGON .44 MAGNUM MADE FOR ONE YEAR ONLY IN 1973! According to the Marlin book 2,957 of these pre-safety Marlins were made, yet in over 25 years of searching I’ve only come across a small handful, which leads me to believe lot fewer than this number were ever produced, this one has seen light use and aside from a few very, very light handling marks in the wood, looks near new, I don’t think I’ve ever offered one of these before! (note: marks on bottom photo of receiver is light reflection off oil) $1295. SOLD

10) JUST IN: MODEL 444S (.444 MARLIN CALIBER), MADE 1971-1983, PRE-SAFETY, this one has unusual fairly fancy walnut in the butt stock and is all correct including the factory sling swivel studs, and Marlin marked recoil pad, about like new overall, a very hard to find model, (NOTE: what looks like edge wear is just photo light reflection) $895.

11) JUST IN: MODEL 1894CB "COWBOY LIMITED" .44 SPECIAL AND .44 MAGNUM WITH 24" OCTAGON BARREL AND CHECKERED STOCK AND FOREARM, these have Ballard Rifling instead of Micro-Groove, very hard to find now, about like new, $1195.

ANTIQUE & CLASSIC RIFLES, SHOTGUNS AND PISTOLS (click text for photos)

TWO RARE PERCUSSION ANIMAL TRAP GUNS FROM THE SAME COLLECTION:

1. FIRST OF THESE I'VE EVER SEEN ASIDE FROM A FEW PICTURES IN BOOKS! NORTH & COUCH HAND HELD AND ANIMAL TRAP SIX SHOT PEPPERBOX, PATENTED 1859, MADE IN VERY LIMITED QUANTITIES IN THE 1860s, to quote Flayderman's Guide (last edition which is now 7 years old): Designed primarily as an animal trap gun to be suspended from a tree limb or staked to the ground, these pistols could also be fired in the conventional manner when hand held. ...there is a single nipple which fires all six barrels simultaneously. When used as a trap gun, a trip cord tied to a rod in the center of the barrel cluster acts as trigger. Fine condition $2250. This one is in remarkable condition with no rust or pitting, wood grips show normal handling only, functions perfectly, serial number 80, usually any animal trap guns are well rusted and pitted from days left unattended in the woods. This was an amazing find! $2350. SOLD

2. F. REUTHE DOUBLE BARREL ANIMAL TRAP GUN, MADE LATE 1850s TO EARLY 1860s, to quote Flayderman's Guide again: These novel arms of heavy all cast iron construction were designed solely as an animal trap gun... The principle of operation on all models is identical with two long barbed arrow-like devices protruding from between the barrels which acted as the triggering device. Bait was affixed to these barbs and when animal tugged upon it, the arm discharged. Fine condition $1500. Outstanding condition with most of the original black enamel finish remaining with normal flaking on the high edges. Often these were supplied with iron rods in the rear ring for attaching to a stake or tree- this one doesn't appear to have ever had one as the black enamel is still intact on the main parts of the inside and outside of this ring, again, like the above item, when these trap guns are encountered they are usually in rusted/pitted condition from being left outside in the woods, one of the best I've seen! $1500.

REMINGTON (click text for photos)

1)VERY UNUSUAL ROLLINGBLOCK TWO BAND MILITARY MUSKET IN DESIRABLE .50-70 CALIBER WITH FULL FACTORY NICKEL FINISH, this is the third one of these I’ve seen in about 20 years and all I’ve seen were in hard-used condition, this is the best condition one, There are no foreign proofs or markings and also no U.S. markings indicating that this was a commercial model sold in the United States as this cartridge wasn’t available any place else- except maybe Mexico, I have a copy of a the 1877 Remington catalogue that shows a similar rifle called “United States Model caliber .50” yet is shows a photo of a three band musket with 32 ½” barrel while this one has two bands and a 30 ½” barrel, nickel plating was very common on the “Baby Carbine” in .44-40 caliber and it’s my opinion this was just a civilian version that shooters wanted in nickel finish as black powder fouling cleaned off easier than blue, this was especially popular in the early southwest and Mexico, fine attractive aged nickel on the barrel and receiver with some flaking/browning on the bottom of the receiver and trigger guard, hammer and high edges of the butt plate, minor peeling/browning at the muzzle, original sights (small slide missing from rear sight- should be easy to replace), needs cleaning rod only, fine wood with a small sliver out of the left side of the forend by the receiver, fine bore will clean near excellent, a rare American frontier variation in a great caliber! $1295.

2) ROLLINGBLOCK .50-70 NEW YORK STATE CONTRACT MUSKET, MADE APPROX. 1872, nice example with excellent bore, correct unaltered sights, fine walnut stocks show light handling only and have a couple rack numbers lightly stamped in, overall metal a nice uncleaned aged brown patina, tight action with correct breech and hammer that falls to the safety notch when the block is opened- a great innovation that should have been used on all Rollingblock models! $1195.``

3) PARTICULARLY FINE AND RARE No. 1 ROLLINGBLOCK CIVILIAN SADDLE RING CARBINE IN DESIRABLE .50-45 CARBINE CALIBER (SIMPLY A SHORTENED .50-70 CARTRIDGE), early tang markings with 1860s patent dates- later ones have 1870s patent dates and are stamped in the side of the receiver- fine even barrel blue that is aging and mixing plum, mostly aged dark receiver with some case color in the protected areas around the saddle ring, fine blue on breech block top and hammer top, correct original carbine flip up ladder sight with original blade front, exc. wood with tight wood to metal fit, bright exc. bore may brush out even better! I almost never see these and this has to be one of the best, especially for such an early example! $2350.

4) VERY HARD TO FIND MODEL 1899 LEE MILITARY RIFLE FROM THE FIRST MICHIGAN NATIONAL GUARD CONTRACT OF 1898 (yes, I know it is called the Model 1899 and yes, regardless of the model designation, these were shipped to the state of Michigan in 1898 making this a pre-1899 antique!) Caliber 30 U.S. or .30-40 Krag, since these rarely seem to show up for sale or at shows, it is my opinion that they were probably sold as surplus out of the country- probably to Latin America or Cuba sometime before World War I- for the number made, they are very difficult to locate, this is a really fine example with generally excellent wood with only normal light handling/storage marks, fine aged blue throughout, original handguard intact, original military sights, cleaning rod, bore needs a good scrubbing and should clean out about exc., correct magazine, mag and trigger guard turning gray/brown, tight action, top of barrel marked "30 U.S.A." correct swivels intact, I actually own one of these that was cut down and "sporterized" that I shoot with cast bullets- lots of fun and accurate too, this last of the Remington Lee models is the only "smokeless cartridge" model and is more difficult to find than the earlier .45-70 U.S. Army and Navy models, a particularly fine example! $2250.

5 ) RARE MODEL 1901 ROLLING BLOCK TARGET PISTOL IN SCARCE AND DESIRABLE .44 RUSSIAN CALIBER! Remington made less than 750 of these fine pistols and most seem to have been in the small rim fire calibers, exc. correctly checkered stock and forend, exc. barrel blue showing one or two very tiny spots where some rust was wiped off- you have to look carefully to see it, fine high polish receiver, trigger guard and grip strap blue with some scattered brown freckling, exc. blue on hammer and breech block, nice screws, exc. markings, tight action, correct original rear target sight in the receiver ring with half-moon and ivory bead front sight, bright exc. bore! $3250.

6) ONE OF THE BETTER LITTLE MODEL 6 .22LR SINGLE SHOT BOY'S RIFLES I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME, this one is complete with the little sheet steel tang sight which was something like a fifty cent option at the time and are not usually found intact on these, vivid case color on both sides of the receiver, fine deep barrel blue showing light age only, exc. markings, exc. wood, correct Remington UMC marked steel butt plate and best of all has a bore that should clean out about exc.- bores on these usually terrible- original fixed sights, $695.

7) WORLD WAR I FLAIR GUN OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS THE MARK III SIGNAL PISTOL, MADE 1915-1918, about 24,500 of these were made and this is a fine example with excellent markings and mech., fine barrel and spring activated latch screw blue, exc. walnut grips, nice brass frame, interesting and showy relic of the WAR TO END ALL WARS! $495.

RUGER (click text for photos)

1) SCARCE LIMITED PRODUCTION BLACKHAWK "BUCKEYE" CONVERTIBLE IN .38-40 AND EXTRA CYLINDER 10 MM AUTO CARTRIDGE, I believe these ALL STEEL special run Blackhawks were made in the 1980s for Buckeye Sporting Goods in Ohio, very difficult to find now, this one looks unfired in the yellow Ruger box with manual etc., $995.``

2) EARLY FLAT TOP .44 MAGNUM BLACKHAWK, 6 1/2" BARREL, #20XXX, MADE 1959, getting difficult to find especially in exc. condition, this one has seen very little use and retains nearly all the original blue and “black” on the grip straps, light cylinder line and a tiny spot on the back strap and butt are about all the wear this one shows, exc. grips, exc. inside sand out, rapidly increasing in value, $1150. ``

3) HARD TO FIND BISLEY SINGLE SIX IN RARE .32 H&R MAGNUM WITH ESPECIALLY SCARCE FLATTOP FRAME, all of these are very difficult to locate as they were made for a very short time in limited quantities with most having the usual target style rear sight instead of the antique Colt Single Action drift adjustable flattop, this one has seen some normal light use and has minor edge wear, exc. inside, exc. mech, nice trigger pull, nearly impossible to find these days, $695.``

SAVAGE FIREARMS (click text for photos)

1) EXCEEDINGLY RARE HIGH CONDITION FIRST MODEL/FIRST TYPE 1907 .32 AUTO PISTOL, #62XX, WITH FACTORY CHECKERED STEEL GRIPS, MADE 1909, only the first 10,000 had the steel grips, superb condition with nearly all the bright factory blue remaining with only minor high edge wear, even the grip straps retain nearly all the original blue, nice case colors on trigger, hard to find in any condition, this is the best I've ever seen! $795.

2) ANOTHER RARE SAVAGE AUTO PISTOL: MODEL 1907 .380, only 9,849 of these were made with 8,000 made between 1913-1915 and another 1,849 made 1919-1920, this one is in the 9XXX range and made between 1913-1915, fine blue overall with some normal thinning on the barrel sides and grip straps, still some good case color on the trigger, tight action, bright exc. bore, $575.

3) MODEL 1917 .380 AUTO PISTOL, scarce item as only as only about 14,000 of these were made between 1920 and 1928, this is an early production example probably made first year, overall a solid gun that has seen use and carry, overall aged blue mixing plum/brown, never cleaned or steel-wooled, grips show wear but complete, correct magazine, exc. markings, tight action, exc. bore, $475.

4) HIGH CONDITION MODEL 1917 .380 AUTO PISTOL, like above but retains about all the original blue, you'd have to look hard to find a touch of freckling or wear, one tiny "flake" on the left grip bottom edge that doesn't go all the way through the grip, very hard to find like this, (note: photo light reflection makes the blue look brown- it is deep factory blue) $595.

SHILOH SHARPS AND OTHER REPRODUCTIONS (click text for photos)

NOTE: I am also a Shiloh Sharps dealer. In fact, I am the only stocking dealer of Shiloh Sharps rifles. I frequently have a selection of NIB stock on hand for immediate delivery AT CATALOGUE PRICE WITH NO ADDITIONAL PREMIUMS OR FEES! For further info and lists of available rifles, see my other website, www.shiloh-ballard.com

1) SHILOH SHARPS, MADE IN BIG TIMBER, MONTANA, No. 3 SPORTING RIFLE WIN .40-70 SHARPS STRAIGHT CALIBER (.40 2.5" CASE), 28" standard half octagon barrel with traditional Hartford Collar, nice deep reddish brown straight grain walnut stock and forend with a little contrasting figure in the stock, globe pinhead front sight with Lyman style tang sight fully adjustable for windage and elevation, Lawrence style ladder barrel sight, all near new condition, weighs 9 1/2 pounds, should make a fine hunting rifle, $2150.

2) JONATHAN BROWNING MOUNTAIN RIFLE, .50 CALIBER PERCUSSION, AND RARE IRON MOUNTED, these are becoming more and more hard to find, as I always say, I’ve had one since the late 1970s and mine is not for sale, one of the best Plains-Type or Hawken rifles produced and made in the U.S.A. Single set trigger, browned barrel and furniture, nice straight grained walnut stock with cheek piece, original sights, this one has seen very light use only, $895.

SMITH AND WESSON (click text for photos)

1) EARLY .38/44 OUTDOORSMAN TARGET MODEL OF 1950 "PRE-MODEL 23" .38 SPECIAL CALIBER, 5 SCREW "N" FRAME, MADE 1952-1953, ONLY 6,039 MADE 1950-1966, one of the more scarce and desirable post-war S&Ws, excellent inside and out with only a tiny amount of blue wear at each side of the muzzle and a light cylinder drag line, exc. diamond checkered magna walnut grips, nice case color on the hammer and trigger, great action/trigger, target sights, rapidly appreciating in value, (note: any blemishes or "dots" or "plum coloration" in the photos is just photo light reflection on oil or glare- this gun has great even blue overall!) $1195.

2) MODEL 25-2 N-FRAME TARGET REVOLVER IN .45ACP/.45 AUTO RIM CALIBER, 6" BARREL, MADE 1980, marked on barrel "45 CAL MODEL 1955," near mint overall, target hammer and trigger, Pachmayr grips, I have one of these I've been shooting for a couple decades and they are accurate and lots of fun to shoot with either ACP or Auto Rim ammo, superb revolvers in every way! $795.``

U.S. MILITARY AND SPRINGFIELD (click text for photos)

1) 1879 TRAPDOOR .45-70 SADDLE RING CARBINE, MADE 1881, classic Indian Wars carbine with correct “C” marked rear sight with early slotless screws, stock shows fairly heavy cavalry/frontier use with real sling/saddle ring wear, the wear is right where the cartouche would be, so there is no cartouche, but a worn circle P cartouche is visible behind the lower tang, stock shows handling, dings and saddle wear, one fairly neatly chip has been replaced on the left side by the upper tang- a common spot for chips, metal is a deep patina, fine+ bore should scrub out to be near exc., lots of history and stories in this one! Fine appearance, $1195.``

2) SHARPS 1853 U.S. CARBINE (see above in Antique/Classic section)

3) REMINGTON 1899 LEE, MICHIGAN NATIONAL GUARD, .30-40 KRAG CALIBER (see above in Remington section)

4) REMINGTON WORLD WAR I FLAIR GUN (see above in Remington section)

WINCHESTERS (click text for photos) .

BILL GOODMAN, 305 DONEGAL DRIVE, BOZEMAN, MONTANA 59715 TEL. (406) 587-3131 FAX (406) 219-3415

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THESE W WERE SUCH GOOD NOTES FROM THE FIELD I'M KEEPING THEM HERE.

NOTES FROM THE FIELD: (27 April 2011) CRACKED STOCKS! Seems like an odd thing to write about, but this is something I've not seen in print before. I've observed a lot of rifles with cracks coming straight back toward the butt plate from the upper and lower tangs. Sometimes the cracks are severe enough to warrant repairs (like cross bolts etc. through the wrist or extensive gluing) and other times the stock remains pretty solid as is. So what caused this condition in the first place? I've hunted with all kinds of rifles in all kinds of weather and terrain and never had a gun get damaged like all these I've seen. And I've taken some pretty bad falls too. Once, on ice I couldn't see beneath a couple inches of fresh snow, my feet went out from under me and my rifle landed a number of yards away! Still, no cracks like these. So I've been puzzled by this for some time. Then it hit me, since these guns all seemed like Western big game rifles- large lever actions like 1876 and 1886 Winchesters or Marlin 1881 and 1895s as well as all over while the rifles were in saddle scabbards- fairly common in icy winter conditions, especially in the mountains. Also, sometimes horses will walk so close to trees that they rub against them. If a rifle is in a butt-forward position scabbard, the rifle can go on one side of the tree and the horse the other causing a stress cracked stock. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so. The wrists are fairly strong on most rifles and it takes a lot to crack one. If anyone else has a different theory about this condition, I'd like to hear it!

NOTES FROM THE FIELD: (24 OCTOBER 2011) "GUNS OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION YEARS" When the Great Depression began with the Stock Market Crash of 1929 America was taken by surprise. Prior to this pivotal event, in the gun industry production was high and sales were brisk. Almost overnight sales fell off hugely. The Winchester Handbook by George Madis shows production numbers by years of some of the major models. This is pretty illuminating. Here are some examples: Model 1890 .22RF had 12,367 produced in 1928 and 696 made in 1932; Model 1892 saw 64,833 produced in 1910 and 491 in 1930; Model 53 had 2,861 produced in 1925 and 30 made in 1937; Model 1894 had 29,967 made in 1927 and only1,192 made in 1934; Model 55 had 3,064 made in 1927 and 42 made in 1936. Colt, Marlin, Savage, Remington and Smith & Wesson etc. all f elt the same pressure. With production down to a fraction of what it was, the big manufacturers had no choice but to fire employees. Those lucky enough to be retained were the most highly skilled and experienced craftsmen. They also had time to put extra fine fitting and finishing into each firearm. Generally, the quality of these guns is truly exceptionally. With production numbers of these late pre-war arms relatively small and quality without peer, their value should be assured. Some of the scarce large frame Colt and S&W handguns- especially the target sighted versions- are almost breathtaking in their fit and finish. This has been an under-appreciated niche in arms collecting/investing. It is my belief Great Depression era arms are often "sleepers" on the antique market today and are bound to increase in value at a rapid pace making them excellent long term inves