The Winchester Model 1900 Series “A BOY’S FIRST RIFLE” By Geoff Pogson
Winchester Model 1904
I
was fortunate enough to be introduced to this series of small, cheap and handy little rifles, designed by the master John Moses Browning, when I purchased a model 1904 from an advertisement in the Manly Daily back in the late sixties. The owner, a Mr Ron Blades, was then a retired staff member of one of the Sydney Radio stations, who was downsizing his collection at the time. In answer to my phone enquiry, Ron suggested that I should drop over to his Seaforth address and have a look at what he was selling. A few days later I visited Ron and he showed me the subject rifle, which was in very fine condition. He had converted a tennis racquet case, to house the rifle, stored in a taken down condition, with the cleaning gear and a couple of cartons of .22 long ammunition. Also included was the cleaning rod, a factory formed length of 8-gauge fence wire, with a slotted end to take the patch, that came with it at the original purchase, and the shipping note, indicating the date of shipment. I was astounded at the condition of the little rifle, and having made the decision when I began
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collecting, to choose rarity over condition, I thought that this was both in exceptionally fine condition and exceptionally rare in that condition which made the price, $100, well worth paying, if Ron would only agree to let me pay it off using my drip feed technique. Luckily Ron agreed, and I paid him out and eventually owned a fine Winchester 1904 rifle. On checking the ammunition, I found one of the packets had been opened and one round was missing, so I think it is fair to assume that one of the owners prior to Ron Blades, and tried a shot with it. The conclusion of this transaction also got me into Adams revolvers too, when Ron showed me an 1851 model, also costing $100, paid for in the same fashion. Having acquired this handsome little rifle, I found myself taking more notice of the similar ones that cropped up at gun shows. I noticed that there were some designated as Model 04, some as 04A, and the 1902 model with its corresponding 02 and 02A, and, being also a stamp collector, the thought of collecting a set of these guns came pretty naturally. So I got started in my quest
ARMS CAVALCADE 2020
AC2020_004-09 The Winchester Model 1900 Series - Geoff Pogson.indd 4
29/08/2020 2:05:14 PM
