Is my Winchester a fake

[Trent]

Just recently purchased my first 1968 Winchester 30-30. I have always wanted one, and when I had an opportunity to buy one I jumped. As I continue trying to learn more and more about the gun, and keep seeing multiple pictures, I notice mine looks different than the others I see. All the lettering on the barrel of mine is colored yellow. Is this a normal thing to have on a Winchester gun, or is mine a fake?

[jeepnik]

LIkely some previous owner just wasnted to highlight the info and painted it yellow. Not fake but quite ugly. Should be fairly easy to remove.

[vancelw]

Wouldn't affect the value either way on that one.

[Sixgun]

In 1971, 24 Winchesters in 30-30 were purchased by the KGB in the old Soviet Union. These guns had yellow radioactive paint put in the lettering of the barrel so the secret agents could see their guns in the night while doing clandestine missions in Belarus.

Take your gun into a dark room and if it glows, get rid of it but contact the U.S. Atomic Commission first as it will need to be deactivated.......at your cost! which I've read can cost as much as $50,000.

[marlinman93]

Used to be very common for collectors to highlight the rollstamps with white, yellow, or even gold paint. Just take a cloth with some acetone on it and scrub the yellow paint. But take the forearm wood off first or you can damage the finish!

[Griff]

Trent, and WELCOME to THE Forum. That roll stamp appears identical to all my post '64 mdl 94s in .30-30. My '50 is different. And I don't have anything between the '50 & the '67... What marlinman93 said... Although I loved Sixgun's comment also!

[44shooter]

It’s not something I would do but I probably wouldn’t worry with it either. It doesn’t look bad to me. I always thought people used clay or chalk to fill lettering for contrast. Do think I’ve ever seen a gun with filled lettering other than some Henrys which were clearly filled with paint from the factory

[Tycer]

I use crayon and a heat gun to mark my various magazines. Hoppe’s won’t cut crayon. In fact I have never found anything but heat to get crayon out of car velour

[Scott Tschirhart]

Doesn't look fake to me.

[AJMD429]

I use crayon and a heat gun to mark my various magazines. Hoppe’s won’t cut crayon. In fact I have never found anything but heat to get crayon out of car velour

I called Crayola when my kid colored our white carpet with crayons. They said use WD-40 several times followed by blotting, then after that regular carpet cleaner. Worked fairly well.

[Griff]

I use crayon and a heat gun to mark my various magazines. Hoppe’s won’t cut crayon. In fact I have never found anything but heat to get crayon out of car velour

I called Crayola when my kid colored our white carpet with crayons. They said use WD-40 several times followed by blotting, then after that regular carpet cleaner. Worked fairly well.

I didn't bother... just died it a shade darker than the crayola!

[EdinCT]

I can remember gold lettering kits for sale at the gun counter when I was a boy. I bought an 1100 Remington that the previous owner had gold filled the receiver rolled engraving with it and it held up for the 5 years or more I used it. Not my thing but I got the deal I wanted on it.

[marlinman93]

I can remember gold lettering kits for sale at the gun counter when I was a boy. I bought an 1100 Remington that the previous owner had gold filled the receiver rolled engraving with it and it held up for the 5 years or more I used it. Not my thing but I got the deal I wanted on it.

That was likely a product called "Bonanza Gold". It also was sold as Bonanza Silver for people who preferred silver color. It was a big seller at one time back in the 70's and 80's, and my gunsmithing instructor even had a night in class where he showed students how to use it.