A friend has just inherited his late brother's collection of Americana and 19th Century firearms, I am in the process of arranging for these to be shipped to Heritage Auctions from Europe.
Of all of the antique firearms, the only one I haven't been able to date is Sharp Shooter Alf Reickhoff' / Malvern's Remington No 4 cal. .22 S/no 55385. Calibre and s/number under the barrel, 22" tapered Octagonal Barrel. Fitted with stock clamp and spigot to attach to a tripod for 'Show' Shooting. Pic attached LHS of the stage.
I have copies of the rifle or one similar on the tripod on stage in shooting exhibitions in the 1890's latest being 1900. I estimate it to be circa 1894/6, but I need to confirm the manufacturing date to comply with being imported as a pre Dec 31st 1898 manufactured Remington.
The barrel address is shown in the attached pics as Remington Arms Co, Illon N.Y.
if anyone can help, I would very appreciate confirm of date, as it will help with shipping back into the US.
Alf Reickhoff / Malvern Remington No 4 .22 Need to date
Alf Reickhoff / Malvern Remington No 4 .22 Need to date
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- Remington No4 55385 (7).jpg (2.52 MiB) Viewed 4075 times
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- Remington No4 55385 (5).jpg (2.71 MiB) Viewed 4075 times
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- Remington No4 55385 (4).jpg (2.53 MiB) Viewed 4075 times
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- Remington No4 55385 (3).jpg (2.58 MiB) Viewed 4075 times
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- Remington No4 55385 (2).jpg (3.11 MiB) Viewed 4075 times
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- Remington No4 55385 (1).jpg (3.85 MiB) Viewed 4075 times
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Re: Alf Reickhoff / Malvern Remington No 4 .22 Need to date
Unfortunately since the #4 wasn't introduced until after bankruptcy, the barrel rollstamp is the same before and after 1898, so it's impossible to determine if your gun is antique, or modern by the rollstamp.
The non takedown solid frames were almost all antique, but since the takedown didn't get offered until 1900, that too can span into the modern rifles. So no help there either.
And since your gun has such a high serial number I couldn't say with any confidence that it's one or the other. Afraid you're going to have to treat it like it's modern, and do whatever it takes to return a modern rifle to the US.
The non takedown solid frames were almost all antique, but since the takedown didn't get offered until 1900, that too can span into the modern rifles. So no help there either.
And since your gun has such a high serial number I couldn't say with any confidence that it's one or the other. Afraid you're going to have to treat it like it's modern, and do whatever it takes to return a modern rifle to the US.
Re: Alf Reickhoff / Malvern Remington No 4 .22 Need to date
Are there any markings on the receiver? If not you will probably have to consider it to be a modern gun, as marlinman said. If the frame is marked, "E. Remington & Sons," then it was made before 1888, and thus an antique. Since the frame is "the firearm," this gun would then be an antique.
Good luck,
Dan
Good luck,
Dan
Re: Alf Reickhoff / Malvern Remington No 4 .22 Need to date
Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions, as we have gone through the files, a folder has been found with photographs of the Remington on the tripod plus correspondence which dates it to circa 1893/4, which would tie in with the serial number and those built over the period until is was replaced by the take-down.
As such we now have enough to confirm it was in existence and in use before 1898.
Thanks for your help.
As such we now have enough to confirm it was in existence and in use before 1898.
Thanks for your help.
Re: Alf Reickhoff / Malvern Remington No 4 .22 Need to date
Congratulations on your lucky find.
Enjoy the rifle,
Dan
Enjoy the rifle,
Dan
Re: Alf Reickhoff / Malvern Remington No 4 .22 Need to date
I'm not sure that is a high serial?
They started in 1890 and by end of 1905 they had made 163884.
Simple math (best you can guess) puts that in 1894 or 1895 considering a slow / later start.
They started in 1890 and by end of 1905 they had made 163884.
Simple math (best you can guess) puts that in 1894 or 1895 considering a slow / later start.
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Re: Alf Reickhoff / Malvern Remington No 4 .22 Need to date
But it is a high number for a solid frame. Not a high number for a Model 4.
Re: Alf Reickhoff / Malvern Remington No 4 .22 Need to date
Not disagreeing, I have only the serial list I haven't seen any Model 4 research with anyone tracking numbers to find serial starts with variations.marlinman93 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2020 9:22 pmBut it is a high number for a solid frame. Not a high number for a Model 4.