The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: MikeBjerum on April 12, 2012, 12:13:56 PM
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Many of you will recall my uncle who died a year and a half ago. He was also my Godfather. In his gun collection was a rifle that had belonged to my grandpa - the famous Willie C. Nelson (honest - that was his name). My aunt was dividing several items between her sons, and they told her they wanted me to have the gun. A couple weeks ago we took my aunt out for supper. When we arrived to pick her up this rifle was laying on the table, and she told me it was mine :'(
This is a Remington Model 30 Express (on the receiver). On the barrel directly ahead of the receiver markings is the caliber designation, as usual: Springfield .30 Caliber 1906.
Like many of Grandpa's hunting rifles this gun appears to to be a sporterized gun. The foregrp shows where a barrel band has been removed and a screw hole is no longer used. There is also a hook on the barrel that appears that it was at one time a part of a different barrel band or attachment.
Warning and request:
I know the quality of the photos sucks. However, this is in my office, which I am currently remodeling, and they are taken with my cellphone - the only camera I have available to me at this time. So, please don't rip the photos, and enjoy the gun.
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/Photo1.jpg)
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/Gun2.jpg)
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/Photo3.jpg)
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/Photo4.jpg)
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Very nice...enjoy.
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Do you work barefoot or is that special for DRTV ?
PS. trim those funky toe claws. ;D
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Nice rifle.
Put some shoes on, you'll catch cold up there in the frozen north. ;)
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Nice pic!! The ones with just the gun are pretty cool too! ;)
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Nice rifle.
Put some shoes on, you'll catch cold up there in the frozen north. ;)
Yer a southern boy Peg....it got near 55 today, for mid April, that's almost a hot day! ;)
Oh! Yes Mike, nice rifle! Enjoy the history and the memories!
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Do you work barefoot or is that special for DRTV ?
PS. trim those funky toe claws. ;D
I office out of the home. So, it is not unusual to remotely link at 6:00 AM, and sometime around 9:00 AM, when the pot of coffee needs draining, that I realize I need to get dressed. So the short answer is, if I am not leaving the yard shoes may not go on for quite awhile.
Those claws are badges of honor! Left great toe, funky in photo, is the result of a small block Chevy/engine stand accident in high school, right claws and attachments are a combination of a falling trailer hitch, a steer, a horse, and kicking a coffee table while sneaking in the dark ;) At this point in my life I am just proud of the fact I haven't lost any exterior items, and I view now crooked parts with the same pride as the scars ;D
P.S.
I can't wait for range time, but I did just learn that it has a five round internal magazine.
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Very cool.
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Very interesting history and data on a nice rifle....Little Enfield, Little Mauser, Lyman sights, all wrapped up in a Remington package.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_Model_30
Congratulations.
Look fwd. to a range report..
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it ain't a pho-toe without the toe....
deepwater
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OK, I admit it:
Productivity is at about 75% today ;D
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/Photo5.jpg)
Federal 150 grain soft point
100 yards kneeling
63 degrees F, cloudy, light mist
24 mph from 2 o'clock
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Looks like it worked...
;D
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Looks like a keeper to me, but I like the old stuff a lot. Lots of memories in that one I'm sure.Sure would be nice to hear what Remington has to say about it, such as year of manufacture.
I emailed then some time ago to find out what year my 870 was manufactured and got a response from them in a day or two. I emailed them from somewhere on their web sight contact page I think.
I think the email address was info@Remington.com
http://www.remington.com/pages/our-company/our-company/company-info.aspx
1-800-243-9700, M-F, 9am-5pm EST. Remington Arms Co
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You do know that you're raising the toe-bar by having both feet in, right?
Toe-bar? That anything like toe-jam? ? ? :P
Nice rifle, great story, priceless heirloom.
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Great shooter. Great shooting. From "kneeling"! I have trouble doing that good from a bench rest.
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Nice rifle and nice shooting. No comment about the toes..
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Hi,
Great Rifle. I'd like to offer you some more info. As you mentioned you have a Remington model 30 express. It looks all original. The band you pointed out in the picture is correct. It came from the factory with a barrel mounted sight. They also came drilled and tapped for a lyman or redfield rear sight. It appears you have a redfield rear sight.
From the pictures you have it looks like a really nice one.
If you want to determine the date look on the right side of the barrel next to the reciever. It should have some letters and proofmarks . What are the last two letters? That will tell you the month and year of manufacture.
If the serial number of your rifle is below 9000 or so you might have to look around better
for the date codes but they are there.
If you arent sure what the date codes are you can tell me the serial number range (You can block out the lat 2 or 3 numbers if you want to, like 15,4XX) and I can tell you the approximate letters to look for.
These are great little underapreciated rifles with a lot of history and variances. There is also a lot on incorrect info out there so be careful.
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Dix is correct, Remington uses a code on their barrels for dates of manufacture.
http://www.remingtonsociety.com/questions/BLACKPOWDERX.htm
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I had a few more minutes to look at the pictures. If they were clearer I could tell you more but I know how tough it it to get good pictures.
I am going to make a semi wild guess about your rifle based on the pictures. The serial number range might be from 13,000 to 17,000 but could be lower. I couldnt make out the Font on the "Remington" to be sure. The front sight seems to be original. I have seen lots of those replaced. I'm not 100% sure about the rear sight it just doesnt look like a lyman to me. No big deal either way. One question about the rear sight.
Is the wood below the sight cut away to allow the sight to move up and down? If it is, Is it scalloped out or inletted. The scalloped out cut would be factory but I rarely see those on early rifles. It doesnt really hurt the value too much if it was non factory as long as it was done well.
One more thing,
Luckily it doesnt seem to have been drilled for a scope. You should never do this. That would hurt the value a lot.
I know you are not interestd in selling it but I could give you an approximate value if you have better pictures. Even thought 30.06 was the most common caliber and your configuration is pretty common surviving examples in good condition are getting hard to find.
Have fun and enjoy it. They are one of my favorite misunderstood old rifles.
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The stock is not altered where the sight adjusts up and down. It is very close, but there is enough room for a business card+ to slip between.
The serial number is high 17,***
The markings on the barrel include (from rear to front) an oval containing REP, a couple hieroglyphics a rough X W and another hieroglyphic.
Considering the range of manufacture and the chart shared by Tom I am thinking December 1928. Grandpa was born in April of 1900, and married Grandma in June 1932, so this would have been during his time of hunting with his brothers.
Thanks for the help and information!
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Another successful graduate of the Hazcat School Of Photography. ;D
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Another successful graduate of the Hazcat School Of Pho-toe-graphy. ;D
FIFY
;D
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The family has been helping me, and so far the review of photographs and rifles it is thought that the gun behind grandpa's left leg and this gift are the same. There is no other gun surviving in his collection that is of that era with the same shapes.
I am hoping it is, because that photo is from about 1937, and that is my mom sitting on the elk.
(http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e330/m58/ElkHunt.jpg)
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You only picked that one because of the dog sniffing the deers butt. ;D
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Play the sympathy card........ My moms family was so poor she had to ride an elk to school......... ;D
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Back when you could tie meat to the car and not worry about the "clear coat"..... 8)
Great photo...Thanks for sharing....Helluva rack there...
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Back when you could tie meat to the car and not worry about the "clear coat"..... 8)
Great photo...Thanks for sharing....Helluva rack there...
That was back when cars were tools and not worshiped so highly you were afraid to use them.