three digit gas trap on Julia Auction

[Bob Seijas]

That was Burt Kellerstedt's gun and was a total restoration. Many of the parts were the wrong ones for that serial because nobody knew much about Gas Traps back then. The last part he needed for it was a numbered stacking swivel... I had recently found one and assumed they must be common, so gave it to him. It took me 20 years to find another one.

The gun sure wasn't that nice when I examined it in the Seventies.

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[browningautorifle]

The last part he needed for it was a numbered stacking swivel... I had recently found one and assumed they must be common, so gave it to him. It took me 20 years to find another one.

Sort of graveyard humor there...who'd have known it would be this way?

[RCS]

I could never understand the story about s/n 338 being rebuild with later gas trap parts - but also having the guide ribs corrected by welding and still re-issued as a gas trap rifle ?
I thought that when the gas trap rifles were cycled in for rebuild both the guide ribs and new front end were installed, but there could have been exceptions

[Bob Seijas]

I think Burt found the receiver and restored it from the ground up. In those days Gas Trap parts were available with some looking. Burt always seemed to be able to turn up Gas Trap barrels, I bought two through him.

[browningautorifle]

Burt always seemed to be able to turn up Gas Trap barrels, I bought two through him.

Were they in any kind of shape then? Not burnouts? I guess they all got eaten up and remounted...

[Bob Seijas]

They were used but nice. When SA finally changed to Gas Port, every machinist had a Gas Trap barrel in his tool box as a PRY BAR... they were mostly take-offs.

One that I bought from Burt was marked WRA... Winchester never made Gas Traps, so either it's a fake or a trial piece from the earliest contract days.

[browningautorifle]

They were used but nice.

Makes sense for take offs. They'd be good rifles sent in for re-build I guess.