cajunchefray
AH elite
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- Aug 3, 2019
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My great grandfather had this exact Type Winchester 92, 38-40 24-inch octagon barrel, circa 1910. My dad's cousin owns it now, it has a lot of patina, a little better shape, the cousin said it shoots well at 30 yards.
The family lore is that he won a couple of calves, in local shooting competitions, when the farmers would shoot playing cards tacked up on a tree. Closest to the tack wins. Several deer fell to this 38-40 in the Atchafalaya Basin.
I've handled it, it's a nice piece of history. The 38-40 was the second most popular cartridge for the Winchester 92, and considering the ballistics of cartridges offered, the 38-40 made a lot of sense.
I would have the barrel cleaned and inspected, clean up the internals in the receiver, and go shoot it. If it shoots well, clean it up, but not fully refinish the wood. I would not touch the metal, other than to remove any rust.
You have a nice heirloom piece!
The family lore is that he won a couple of calves, in local shooting competitions, when the farmers would shoot playing cards tacked up on a tree. Closest to the tack wins. Several deer fell to this 38-40 in the Atchafalaya Basin.
I've handled it, it's a nice piece of history. The 38-40 was the second most popular cartridge for the Winchester 92, and considering the ballistics of cartridges offered, the 38-40 made a lot of sense.
I would have the barrel cleaned and inspected, clean up the internals in the receiver, and go shoot it. If it shoots well, clean it up, but not fully refinish the wood. I would not touch the metal, other than to remove any rust.
You have a nice heirloom piece!