Blind pigs find another acorn - Belgian Congo 1894

[kjohn]

My buddy and I have thrown in together and bought a few rifles and shotguns and will be getting to a few shows, starting with the Regina show.

We bought an old "character" 1894 from another site. We were sitting in Dean's shop tonite looking at this old pelter, when I noticed that it actually had been proofed by the Belgians! The sight is the same as my own Belgian Congo 1894, but is not marked in "meters".

This one does have the side mounted sling swivels. Obviously, this one made it to Belgium, judging by the proof marlks - "Flaming bomb" with an "L" inside, Crown over "R", as well as the inspector's stamp which is a star over "F". It also has "B. BLINDEE" stamped ahead of the proof marks. Unfortunately, it has been "personalized" with some carvings on both stocks.

My own has no proof marks, so it would seem it never made it out of North America, but it has the meters marked along the left side of the sight ladder as well as the word "Meters".

 

[bdft]

You speak in riddles.

 

[kjohn]

You speak in riddles.

Winchester made about 200 1894 rifles in .30 WCF for the Belgian Army. They were supposed to go to the Belgian Congo. They are distinguishable by side mounted sling swivels. Some actually made it to Belgium and were proofed there. Some did not, and were sold in North America. I have one that stayed in North America and my partner and I just bought one that made it to Belgium. Mine has meters marked on the sight ladder and the word "meters" stamped on it. The one we bought has the same sight, but no meters marked on the ladder, nor the word "meters". Both are 1913. Can't put it much simpler than that.

 

[IronCanadian]

Sounds interesting, any pictures we can ogle?

 

[kjohn]

I'll take some tomorrow and post.

 

[Mike Webb]

Good score. A scarce Winchester. Too bad about the beaver job on the wood but still a Winchester worth owning.

 

[kjohn]

 

[IronCanadian]

Very nice, is it a carbine or full length barrel?

 

[bdft]

What an odd choice of rifle and caliber for the Belgians, and only 200 rifles. I wonder what that was all about.

 

[kjohn]

Very nice, is it a carbine or full length barrel?

Carbine. It looks like the magazine has been replaced at some time. This old rifle has seen some major use.

 

[fugawi]

Great score. I love seeing pics of old Winchesters issued to foreign militaries. Nyles has something similar, South American, in 44-40 (if memory serves me right).

 

[kjohn]

I'll take this old rifle to the Brandon Show and put it on display.

 

[fugawi]

I'll take this old rifle to the Brandon Show and put it on display.

Now I want to go to Brandon. Too bad I'm not.