Author Topic: Three for one !,... still scratching my head on this one..... (Read 4895 times)

Harms Way · « **on:** March 13, 2013, 11:29:38 PM »

The strangest things have been happening lately....... I was in Wal Mart looking for some .22 ammo (yeah,... I know, I can't find any either) I strike up a conversation with another guy who said he was looking for a starter Deer rifle for his son for next November,... But couldn't beleive the cost of suitable rifles and how hard it is to find the usual hunting ammo.

I notice a stack of 7mm. Mauser (7X57) I said you should look for something that Ammo is plentiful for,.. like the 7mm. He says "have you got one ?",..... thinking for a minute I said yes,.. I never thought much about it, it came in in a trade years ago, A clean little sporter , nothing special... perfect for a young man's first deer rifle...... We exchanged numbers.

Well today I called and went over to his house, Mauser in hand.... We go into his basement and he looks it over,.... we do the "how much ya want dance".... And it turns into the "What have you got for trade shuffle". He opens up a closet that doubled as his gun safe $:-\$ ......... To show me a Nylon 66 and a Glenfield marlin... When I notice a couple long guns in the back

..... What are those? I ask... He pulls out a Hopkin & Allen .45 Kentucky kit gun,.... and two original old smoke poles.....

All 3 were dusty and dirty,.... He said how about all three for the Mauser ?....... Well I only really had about sixty bucks in the Mauser..... So yeah !

The Hopkins & Allen is just the cheap two piece stock kit gun popular in the 70's But the first original rifle looked really interesting.... I got it home and cleaned it up some. The top of the Barrel reads "Wm. Wingert Detroit" And the Lock reads "STHATHAM"..... I looks to be a .45 Cal Half stock..... The other rifle is curious as well.... They were found in a HUD home in Detroit about 20 years ago.

Here is the Wingert,.... Shes rough but still really cool..... What do you guys think ?

Harms Way · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2013, 11:35:12 PM »

The barrel is about 1-1/16" across the flats. 32" barrel from muzzle to breach, 48-3/8" total length, with a really nice balance to it...... A brass trigger, And no set triggers,... just a single trigger.

Crossed Arrows · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2013, 12:18:42 AM »

You must live a very charmed life because nothing like that happens to me.

By the way, I really like the 7x57. It's one of those rounds that just plain works.

JTR · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2013, 01:06:48 AM »

Nice find!

From Sellers Gunsmiths book; Wm. Wingert, Detroit, Mich. 1837 - 1867.
Percussion rifles and pistols with his brother John A.
Sold out to Fisher and Long in 1867.

John

Harms Way · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2013, 03:47:41 AM »

Cool,... I am glad you guys approve, Here is the other rifle, its a .32 Cal half stock with a back action lock...

38" Barrel Muzzle to hook breach
54" overall length
15/16" across the flats
Back action lock
Set triggers.

This is a very slender rifle with some serious heft,... that also balances out like a dream, and is a pleasure to shoulder.... on the top of the barrel is "W. H. Stephens 1877" This rifle intrigues me on a lot of levels. Never a fan of back action locks,... but this little sweetheart must have been a real looker back in the day..... If you guys could hold this in your hands you would know what I mean........

What do you know about this rifle