Oh Man How Cool is this!! ( 1886 / .33WCF)

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:34 pm

Was Cleaning the '86 for a little relaxation after a very long day.

i noticed that the replacement buttplate sounded a little hollow.

I usually take off the grips and butt plates of any used gun I come across and so far the best thing I've seen was four sets of initials
inside the grips of and old Colt.

Until Today!

I opened up the stock on the 1886 I bought in October and found these two notes:

The older note on heavy waxy paper says:
" This gun was bot from J.D. Burns in 1905. 33WCF"
(signed)
Jacob Ellingson
Colfax Wis.
PAT. OCT.14.1884
Jan.20 1885.

The second note on different paper;

Re-writes the older note and states( and corrects the spelling):
" I Bill Ellingson Bought this gun
in Dec.15, 1964"

I bought the rifle at the Ohio Gun Collectors show
in October of this year. The guys I bought it form told me that
the guns, mostly Winchesters, came from a fairly large collection. I didn't get the name but
now i wish I had.

The rifle was made in 1902, the first year for the .33WCF.
I'm betting that Mr. Ellingson bought it from the original owner/ store owner. Bill Ellingson was a
realitive and I'm only the Third owner in 106 years!!!

Man I love old guns!!!
jb

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:37 pm

Wow! That is awesome.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:37 pm

Too cool!

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:41 pm

thats even more cool than my Husky .243 story.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:45 pm

Absolutely cool!!!

I bought a Marlin 39a a couple years ago, under the buttplate was the original little receipt where a fellow in New Mexico had purchased it from a hardware store there in 1967.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:46 pm

that is the kewlest. thanks for sharing that.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:51 pm

Very nice history on your 1886! Not often that a old gun can be traced back to it's owners. I hope you find a nice acid free sleeve to put that in and store it in a safe place, along with your history of when you bought it, and where!

1886 · Post by **1886** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:57 pm

Great story J. Certainly adds to the already sizable desirability of that fine rifle. 1886.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:58 pm

marlinman93 wrote:Very nice history on your 1886! Not often that a old gun can be traced back to it's owners. I hope you find a nice acid free sleeve to put that in and store it in a safe place, along with your history of when you bought it, and where!

They're going in the safe tonight and i wil pick up an archival sleeve tomorrow.

The Boss Lady has already told me "Ok, I get it" " Enough already" I've been bouncng off the walls for
a couple hours.

jb

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:22 pm

Wow! That doesn't happen every day!

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:47 pm

That is beyond COOL ! Also Colfax ,Wi is only about 30 miles from me. I'm not familiar with anybody with that last name though, otherwise I would persue it to see if I could find any more info on these gents.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:25 pm

Jason,
You lucky dog!

Very cool indeed. In 35+ years of collecting, I have taken several hundred buttplates off and the only thing I ever saw was some guys initals, along with some city in Maryland. Thanks for sharing that. Now tomorrow after work, I'm going to have to charge up the battery on my electric screwdriver and see if I have any buttplates I missed!

(yea, right)-----------------Sixgun

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:28 pm

Sixgun,
I thought you were retired.

dsmith512 · Post by **dsmith512** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:37 pm

This might help. From Ancestry.com

From Wisconsin State Censuses, 1895 and 1905
Census & Voter Lists

Name: Jacob Ellingson
Residence County: Dunn
Residence State: Wisconsin
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1868

Name: Jacob Ellingson
Spouse: Ricka
Birth: abt 1868
Residence: date - city, Dunn, Wisconsin

Dunn,Wi is near Colfax.

There is more information on Ancestry.com but you have to have a membership and mine has expired.

Rimfire McNutjob · Post by **Rimfire McNutjob** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:42 pm

That is too cool.

WCF3030 · Post by **WCF3030** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:47 pm

Sweet!!!

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:47 pm

Great story, what a treasure

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:45 pm

Wow.

WOW

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:29 am

Rimfire McNutjob wrote:That is too cool.

I'll say.

dbateman · Post by **dbateman** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:11 am

niec looking rifle and grate storey

Aussie Chris · Post by **Aussie Chris** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:30 am

Yeah that is very cool! Great find!!

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:32 am

Nice

!!!

44LVR · Post by **44LVR** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:37 am

Amazing. Absolutely AMAZING!

44

KWK · Post by **KWK** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:46 am

That brought a smile to my face -- nice rifle, too.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:12 am

dsmith512 wrote:This might help. From Ancestry.com

From Wisconsin State Censuses, 1895 and 1905
Census & Voter Lists

Name: Jacob Ellingson
Residence County: Dunn
Residence State: Wisconsin
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1868

Name: Jacob Ellingson
Spouse: Ricka
Birth: abt 1868
Residence: date - city, Dunn, Wisconsin

Dunn,Wi is near Colfax.

There is more information on Ancestry.com but you have to have a membership and mine has expired.

Thanks for the info. That's pretty cool.

jb

Pathfinder09 · Post by **Pathfinder09** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:15 am

Very Special indeed!!!!!!!!

B E A U T Y !!!

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:23 am

So Jason, are you going to put something back under the plate? Not the originals, but something outlining the events.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 10:30 am

I've been thinking about that.

The butt stock itself has been hollowed out, about 5/8" x 3 1/2" and about 5" deep so there's plenty of room for a copy. Laminated or in a plastic bag.

I kept thinking it souded funny. I don't know why it took me so long to take it apart.

jb

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:09 pm

Love those '86s! That is one NICE .33 and a big plus for the noted history. Is that a ramp fron sight like on the 71s, or is it merely a larger front sight in the small ramp?

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:21 pm

Mike,

There's a Lyman sight with a white bead set into the front sight base.

jb

flatfender · Post by **flatfender** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:29 pm

That is an extremely interesting find. That previous owner was really forward thinking.

Wrangler John · Post by **Wrangler John** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:54 pm

There was a very large sporting goods store in San Mateo, California up until the late 1960's - early '70's, Ellingson's. Owned by a Bill Ellingson, who had on display a very large collection of Winchester rifles, including every lever Winchester made, including 1873 One-of One Thousands, and One of One Hundreds, etc. They lined the entire store walls and several display cases. Wonder if that fellow was any relation? Closed down and sold the property - became a Sofa Factory outlet.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:14 pm

mescalero1 wrote:Sixgun,
I thought you were retired.

Wish I was! Got 8 years to go before early retirement at 62.

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 8:53 pm

Sixgun wrote:
mescalero1 wrote:Sixgun,
I thought you were retired.
Wish I was! Got 8 years to go before early retirement at 62.

I "pulled the pin" four years ago, at age 58, and never looked back. You'll be glad you did when the time comes, Sixgun.

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:18 pm

Mike, never thought of you as a "Teamster". The old "pull the pin" saying I used to here when I worked trucking docks back in college.

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:44 am

Thats a great story...
and it makes the gun more valuable too...

PaperPatch · Post by **PaperPatch** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 12:07 pm

That is a shining jewel!!!!

Way cool!

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 1:32 pm

Sixgun,
My bad; don't know why I had that impression.
Guess I got lucky with the 55 & out thing.

Birdman · Post by **Birdman** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:10 pm

I like it.

Boreman · Post by **Boreman** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:25 pm

I would like to find a lever something in 25-20. Historical fun and turkey gun !!!!!!!!!
NUTS !! Correct comment on the wrong thread Sorry !!!!

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:01 pm

Old Time Hunter wrote:Mike, never thought of you as a "Teamster". The old "pull the pin" saying I used to here when I worked trucking docks back in college.

Nah, I wasn't a Teamster, just a tired old HV Lineman.

GonnePhishin · Post by **GonnePhishin** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:06 pm

Those notes are totally awsome

Now only if you could have found some old gold certificate notes along with 'em

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:16 pm

Now I have got to take all my old butt plates off!

ArcticGoose · Post by **ArcticGoose** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:00 am

2ndovc,
After reading your post I got to thinking. If I remembered correctly I had once found a note much like yours. I bought a 1886 Winchester in 33WCF about 20 years ago. It has the full mag. and a cressent butt. Anyway, I was thinking that '86 had a note in it also and your post made me go look. Sure enough, there it was. It says:

Sally Crabtree
P.O. Box XXX
Laramie, WYO

Guess I have to try to track down some information on the gun. To be honest, I had forgotten all about it being there. Thanks for the reminder!

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:48 am

Cool!

Let us know what you add to the lineage!

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 11:03 am

WOW

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:12 pm

ArcticGoose wrote:2ndovc,
After reading your post I got to thinking. If I remembered correctly I had once found a note much like yours. I bought a 1886 Winchester in 33WCF about 20 years ago. It has the full mag. and a cressent butt. Anyway, I was thinking that '86 had a note in it also and your post made me go look. Sure enough, there it was. It says:

Sally Crabtree
P.O. Box XXX
Laramie, WYO

Guess I have to try to track down some information on the gun. To be honest, I had forgotten all about it being there. Thanks for the reminder!

Cool!!

I keep hearing stoies of things hidden inside stocks. I was so excited to find something I was bouncing off the walls for hours!
Up til now the best thing I ever found was $356 in an old barn I was hired to tear down. The propery had been abadoned so I
got to keep it.. I think the notes were way more fun!

jb

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:49 pm

ArticGoose, PM incoming.

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:47 pm

That is really neat. Congrats on the rifle and finding the notes.

ArcticGoose · Post by **ArcticGoose** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:30 pm

UPDATE
Sally Crabtree has been found. I was able to get her on the phone today and had a wonderful conversation with her. It seems she bought the '86 back in '68 or '69. Aparently she had taken several deer with this Winchester. She was a very nice lady who seemed truely glad that her '86 was being well taken care of. She also seemed pleased when I told her that her note would remain in the gun as part of it's history. So, well said 2ndovc:
"Oh Man How Cool is this!!"