I have a Winchester 1895 saddle ring carbine in '06. It has a very neatly carved lawdog star in the buttstock. Naturally having seen pictures of Texas Rangers with them, I wonder if my gun could be a former Ranger one. I know the Cody Museum will give you a letter for $60... I checked it on SRS a couple of years ago and I found that it was made in 1914. What are the chances a letter from the Cody Museum would resolve this?
I don't know about the Model 1895, but on the Models 1892 and 1894 Winchester disposed of the shipping records after about 1905.
Griff,
If my memory serves me correctly, the Texas Rangers armed themselves for many years (the Walker Colts an exception). By 1914, I just don't know. You might want to check with the Texas Rangers Museum in Waco.
In 1914, the Rangers were using the 'wagon wheel" badge with the 5-pointed star, and numnbered 68 total Rangers with 8 being officers. They did have another badge during this period that was quite different from that most people associate with the Rangers. I have a "wagon wheel" badge made from a 5- peso Mexican silver coin. They are not rare.
Try thier research center below:
Phone: 254/750-8631 Monday through Friday 9 am to 3 pm CST USA
E-Mail: csmith@ci.waco.tx.us
Most Texas Ranger weapons are in Museums, and it is unlikely your rifle is one. If it is, it has a lot of value. The 1895 Winchester was the "Ranger's Winchester", so there is always a chance.
Good luck.
Jim
I have a 1962 GUNS magazine with a Winchester ad in it that shows 19 Rangers, 18 Winchesters. It describes the one Ranger holding a Krag as "uneasy" The Krag appears to be a '96 cav carbine. Everyone else has a '95 Winchester. My guess is that Krags couldn't have been surplused until after 1903, at least not in any quantity. The presence of electric power lines in the photo indicates that despite the disparate vintage western dress of the Rangers, this is probably a nineteen-teens photo. My rifle's star is the 5 pointed wagon wheel, well executed. The saddle ring is long-lost and the threads indicate being "plumb wallered-out"... one sight screw is missing so the rear sight leans hart to port but the rifle shoots point of aim, point of impact, with my mild loads at 100 yards. When received the bore was very dirty, and it was a patch snagger. Cleaned up fairly nicely. It has suffered as most 95's have from being fired with express ammo, which has caused a slight headspace issue, and my primers back-out about .5 mm, but I do not think there is a safety issue as long as mild loads are used (43 gr. H-4895, 165 gr. bullet). It was put away in a closet for many years and not oiled, which gave it a rusty patina. Still, it will group into about 2 1/2" at 100 yards.
Years ago I had a friend (who since moved away) that collected Winchesters. He often stated that his 1912 Model 1895 in 30-03 caliber was a Texas Ranger rifle. He also stated that the Ranges bought alot of 30-03 Model 1895 Winchesters