38-55 Saddle Ring Carbine

[pgidley]

Hey Folks!

First off, glad to finally join the site here. I've been a fan of lever guns since I first started shooting. My first gun was a Marlin 39a, and I spent many afternoons burning through bulk boxes with that thing. Then, my first deer gun after moving to an area that wasn't bow-hunting only, was a nice old waffle top 336 in .35 rem. Still my favorite gun to hunt with!

Anyways, I've been looking for a pre-64 model 70 in .270, and as things go, on my hunt high and low and in every nook and cranny I can think of, I've been finding some nice other guns to add to the safe. So far I found a square bolt Marlin 1895 in .33 WCF for $300 bucks and a english stocked Model 12 16ga that I did some horse trading for and actually ended up with cash in my pocket, and the M12. Beautiful handling shotgun!

SO this latest find is showing my lack of knowledge about Winchesters, as a self-admitted Marlin fan. Its a saddle ring carbine chambered in 38-55. Serial in the mid 500,000 range, so around 1911 ish. The gun looks in quite good shape, fair amount of blueing left other than in the normal wear areas from being carried. One tiny crack on the forestock abutting the receiver. The bore looks fantastic. The seller wants $750, which is the typical high asking price for an early 30-30 in these parts, so normally I'd pass it. But that 38-55 seems to be scarce in SRC's from what I can find. Everything looks completely original - ladder sight, no holes etc. Am I stupid not to buy this one, or is it just an OK deal. I'm trying not to hoard, so I'd probably buy it, shoot it a bit, and look to sell it for a few bucks more than I paid.

I'm located in Canada, which always impacts value, but I wanted to get a general sense for how rare these are - did they not make many SRCs in 38-55?

Thanks for your expertise!
Pat

[Old Savage]

Welcome, pleasure to approve your post. Sixgun will likely know something about this. KirkD is a Canadian collector of old Winchesters.

[OldWin]

Welcome to the fire. This is a great place to hang out.

From the sounds of the 94, you'd be crazy not to grab it and run as fast as you can.

[Pete44ru]

.

Welcome to the board, Pat !

Buy it ! .

If you don't buy it, you WILL regret it ( jes' sayin' ).


.

[pgidley]

Are they really that hard to come by in this chambering/variant? Does the small crack impact the value a whole lot?

[GunnyMack]

Buy it! Welcome! Did I mention, BUY IT!?

[tman]

Buy it! Welcome! Did I mention, BUY IT!?

What He said!

[southfork]

The high price of the ammo scares some potential buyers off of the 38-55. A guy has to reload in order to shoot. I am in that mode ---- or working toward it.

[GunnyMack]

If I was able to find a 38-55 I'd jump on it. I would spend the coin on factory ammo and reload it no biggie! I really like that caliber!

[KirkD]

By gum, I live in Canada too. If you don't buy it, please let me know, as I would love to get an original 38-55 SRC.

[plowboy 45]

Traded for a 94 src in 38/55 last week, it looks bran new, my favorite cartridge, so I say go for it

[Blaine]

If I didn't have a 94 BB .375, I'd jump right on it as long as it was in tight shape.

[ollogger]

Welcome from Wyoming!!
You will not go wrong on that gun & if you pass on it please let my bud Kirk know!!



Brad

[Sixgun]

$750? That's about what a well worn 1894 in 30-30 goes for. You say plenty of bluing and a nice bore?

It all comes down to condition and how original it is. You sure it's not an old reblue? Cracked forend? That ain't nothing to fix. Why is it cracked? Dropped? Wood dried out and split along a grain line? There are splits....and then are are real big splits.

Sights? Any extra holes on the wood or receiver? It all means a lot and I can't say nothing until I've seen it or detailed pictures.

As anybody with a computer can easily find out information on any gun, I'm sure your buddy can find out what's it's worth. He is either stupid, rich, needs instant money, or knows the gun and realizes that's all it will bring.

Info and detailed pics are needed.

Yes, 38-55 SRC's are seldom encountered and usually commands close to double what one in 30-30 brings...condition for condition. -----6

[Griff]

and Welcome to THE Forum!

[M. M. Wright]

Glad to have you. Buy it.

[Borregos]

Welcome from a fellow Canadian, if you don't buy it let me know so I can beat Kirk to it
Where abouts in Canada?

[pgidley]

Chatted with the owner today. I'll post some pics up here once his son sends them over. One thing I noticed that wouldn't be original is that it has been drilled and tapped for a receiver sight. Other than that, everything looks great. I may still buy it, but if I don't I'll certainly pass on his info to my fellow Canadians here. The only reason I'm hesitant is that I'm not a collector. Not yet anyways, with a 100 year old farm house to fix up and plans for a kid in the next year or two.

The seller is quite elderly, and in this part of Ontario, $750 is top dollar for any model 94, so I think his price is appropriate to this market.

[GunnyMack]

Oh if that 38-55 could only tell stories... Think of it , did it shoot moose or bears or even deer, dragged along on a trap line...
Is the current owner the first owner?
All collections have to start somewhere !
Your young family needs to eat, and I'm guessing that you hunt?

[pgidley]

Oh if that 38-55 could only tell stories... Think of it , did it shoot moose or bears or even deer, dragged along on a trap line...
Is the current owner the first owner?
All collections have to start somewhere !
Your young family needs to eat, and I'm guessing that you hunt?

Ha ha ha yea I can talk myself into things using that line of reason. Good try! The current owner has owned it for 40 years. Don't get me wrong on the cool factor! I got the whole story, he shot a moose and a bear with it, and after that just used it for personal security while out picking blueberries.

[M. M. Wright]

Man, if this bunch of enablers can't talk you into buying it, no one can. I think you owe it to your future son (or daughter) to save this for their future.

[pgidley]

Here is the gun. I decided to pass, because of the holes drilled in the receiver. Beautiful old gun though! Kirk, or anyone else if you're interested, pm me and I'll send the contact info. Be warned though, he won't budge on the price, although the box of ammo and case is included.

[Sixgun]

That's about what it's worth...I would call that a "fair" price, not high, not low. It's has a few issues with the wood and the receiver holes but it's still a hard gun to find...at any price. The positive points are the shiny bore and the wood/metal is not abused...used, but not abused with big pitting..etc.

At that price, you will always get your money back and in the meantime, you can either trade "up".....if you get lucky enough to find another......or make one hell of a 100-150 deer buster out of it.

I've chronographed that ammo and it comes right in at 1600 fps....good stuff.-----6

[twobit]

The holes in the receiver really kill the potential value of the rifle and the stock has been brutally sanded and the fit to the receiver is lousy. You did well to pass on the gun. The wood should fit as shown in the attached photos.

Michael