Pre-1899 Cartridge Antiques — Bought, Sold, & Traded

At Elk Creek Company, we have to constantly replenish our inventory. This makes us eager buyers of pre-1899 rifles, pistols, and shotguns. We even buy some incomplete guns (stripped actions or barreled actions). And we will buy guns that have been sporterized, but only if they have nice bores, and the sporterizeing was done nicely.  (We don’t buy “Bubba” hacksaw jobs.)

Our offers of course depend on the quality of what you are selling. If you’d prefer, we can pay you in silver.

We have a few modern guns that we will consider trading for antique cartridge guns. But of course any modern (post-1898) guns or receivers would have to be transferred to you through your local FFL.

We will also consider some trades on our antiques, with some key provisos:

     1.) We don’t take modern guns in trade.

     2.) We generally don’t trade our handguns for your long guns.

     3.) We don’t trade our original guns for your altered guns.

     4.) We don’t trade for muzzleloaders or cap & ball guns.

Need Guns, Will Travel

We actively buy, sell, and trade. We will travel to buy large estate collections of pre-1899 cartridge guns. When handing estate collections, we are cash buyers of your pre-1899 cartridge guns and then we help make arrangements through three trusted auction houses to handle the sales of your remaining muzzleloading antiques and any modern (1899 and later) guns.

We do take in consignments, or will often simply pay cash for any of your antique guns that we are certain will sell.

Antique Guns and Receivers Wanted:

Antique Rifles

• Unusual antique rifle conversions and modifications, such as Snabb M1893 conversions,  Swedish CG63 target rifle conversions, Swiss M1896/11 .308 conversions, et cetera.
• Remington-Lee .45-70 military contract rifles. (Not the later civilian production.)
• Magazine Lee-Metford .303 rifles clearly dated 1898 and earlier.
• Magazine Lee-Enfield .303 carbines marked MkI with NO STAR (Not a MkI*)
• Marlin Model 1877 Double Action revolvers in .38 S&W (all are pre-1899)
• Swedish Mauser M1894 or M1896, only if clearly dated 1898 or earlier on receiver ring. I also buy pre-1899 receivers and sporterized antique Swedes, if nicely done, and priced right!  
• Chilean Mauser M1895 rifles, short rifles, carbines, and pre-1899 receivers only if marked MANUFACTURA LOEWE BERLIN, or “Ludw. Loewe & Co. Berlin”. I also buy sporterized Chileans, if nicely done, and priced right!
• Spanish Mauser M1895 rifles, short rifles, or carbines only if clearly dated 1898 or earlier on receiver ring, or if marked MANUFACTURA LOEWE BERLIN. I also buy sporterized Spanish Mausers, if nicely done, and priced right.
• Brazilian Mauser M1894 rifles, short rifles, or carbines marked MANUFACTURA LOEWE BERLIM.
• Original U.S. Krag rifles or carbines with serial number below 152,670. I also buy DCM-converted and sporterized antique Krags, if nicely done, and priced right!
• Finnish M39 Mosin rifles. Please do not contact me offering to sell a M39 unless you have digital photos showing a date between “91” and “98” clearly marked on the top of the tang!
• Czech M91/38 Mosin carbines clearly dated 1898 or earlier.
• Whitney Arms rifles chambered for centerfire cartridges that are still factory made. (All Whitneys are pre-1899.)
• Schmidt-Rubin Model 1896/11 rifles with serial # below 236,500 — originals or .308 conversions
• Winchester Model 1873 in .44-40 with serial # below 525,923
• Winchester Model 1885 Hi-Wall rifles chambered for centerfire cartridges that are still factory made.
• Winchester Model 1886 in .45-70 or .45-90 with serial # below 119,193
• Winchester Model 1890 (.22 Short or .22 WRF) with serial # below 64,521
• Winchester Model 1892 carbines or pre-1899 receivers in .44-40 with serial # below 165,432
• Winchester Model 1894 carbines or pre-1899 receivers in .30-30, or .25-35 with serial # below 147,685
• Winchester Model 1895 or tangs with serial # below 19,872

Shooting Replica Rifles

• Replica Shiloh Sharps Arms rifles chambered in .45-90
• Replica Perdersoli Sharps rifles chambered in .45-90
• Replica Perdersoli Rolling Block rifles chambered in .45-90
• Replica C. Sharps Arms rifles chambered in .45-90
• Replica Uberti Hi-Wall rifles chambered in .45-90
• Replica Uberti Model 1873 carbines chambered in .38-40
• Replica Cimarron/Uberti Model 1894 carbines chambered in .38-55
• Replica Winchester or Uberti-made Model 1886 rifles chambered in .45-90

Antique Pistols & Revolvers

• Belgian .44-40 Double Action Revolvers–either S&W copies or Montenegrins. Must be in nice working condition, with decent bores.
• Colt M1891 to Model 1896 in .38 Colt or .41 Colt revolvers with serial # below 115,000
• Colt M1873 Single Action Army in .44 -40 and .45 Colt revolvers with serial # between 165,000 and 182,000
• Colt M1878 Double Action in .44 -40 and .45 Colt with serial # below 41,000
• S&W Top break revolvers. Mainly looking for .38 and .44 caliber. We will consider .32 S&Ws only if they are in truly minty condition, and reasonably priced. We are buyers of:

         .32 S&W Safety Hammerless with serial # below 91,400

         .38 S&W Safety Hammerless with serial # below 119,900

         .32 S&W Double Action with hammer with serial # below 209,301

         .38 S&W Double Action with hammer with serial # below 382,022

         .38 S&W Single Action #2 spur trigger top break revolvers. (All are pre-1899)

         .44-40 or .44 S&W Russian single action or double action top breaks (all are pre-1899)

• Forehand & Wadsworth .38 S&W and .44 S&W Russian revolvers.
• Forehand Arms top break .38 S&W revolvers with serial #s below 90,000.
• Hopkins & Allen MFG.-marked revolvers (NOT Hopkins & Allen Arms)
• Merwin, Hulburt .38 S&W and .44-40 revolvers
• Nagant M1895 7.62×38mmR revolvers dated 1898 or earlier
• Remington 1875 and 1890 .44-40 and .45 Colt revolvers
• Remington Model 1871 & 1891 Rolling Block Pistols in centerfire chamberings.
  
• Swiss M1882 Ordnance 7.5mm Revolvers with serial #s below 8008.
• Webley Mark I or Mark II top break revolvers in .455 Eley or .45 ACP

Shooting Replica Revolvers

• Replica Uberti/Taylor’s & Co. M1873 chambered in .38-40
• Ruger Old Army .44 Percussion Revolvers — Especially need stainless steel ones with 5.5″ barrels
• Replica Uberti .44 Model 1858 Percussion Revolvers — Must be excellent to new.

Shotguns

• Burgess slide action shotguns (all are pre-1899)
• Beesley (Frederick Beesley, England) shotguns – serial numbers below 1,500
• Boss & Co. shotguns – serial numbers below  4,200
• Churchill (E.J. Churchill, Ltd., England) shotguns – serial numbers below 959
• Colt 1878 & 1883 Shotguns, all are pre-1899. We will consider ones with barrels shortened to 18-20”, if nicely done.
• Dickson (John Dickson, Edinburgh, Scotland) shotguns – serial numbers below 5000
• Francotte  (Auguste Francotte & Co.) shotguns  –
  Best grade: serial # below 16,310
       Medium grade: serial # below 29,614
       Bottom grade: serial # below 305,769
• Grant (Stephen Grant & Sons, London) shotguns  – serial # below 7,050
• Greener sidelock shotguns (Best grade: serial # below 5,311) We will consider ones with barrels shortened to 18-20”, if nicely done.
• Greener boxlock shotguns (serial # below 47,130). We will consider ones with barrels shortened to 18-20”, if nicely done.
• Husqvarna M1867 Rolling Block 20 gauge shotguns. We will consider ones with barrels shortened to 18-20”, if nicely done.
• Ithaca Baker Model shotguns – all are pre-1899
• Ithaca Crass Model shotguns  (serial # below 38,399)
• Ithaca Hammer shotguns – other – (serial # below 33,011). We will consider ones with barrels shortened to 18-20”, if nicely done.
• Ithaca Hammerless shotguns – other – (serial # below 32,988). We will consider ones with barrels shortened to 18-20”, if nicely done.
• Lancaster (Charles Lancaster, London) shotguns – serial # below 8,353
• Lang (Joseph Lang, London) shotguns – serial # below 8,700
• Lefever Arms Co. Sidelock shotguns – serial # below 28,916. We will consider ones with barrels shortened to 18-20”, if nicely done.
• Marlin Model 1898 pump shotguns – serial # below 3,100
• Parker shotguns (serial # below 89,350)
• Remington Model 1889 Shotguns (serial # below 89,124). We will consider ones with barrels shortened to 18-20”, if nicely done.
• Rigby (John Rigby & Co., Dublin) shotguns- serial # below 16,600
• L.C. Smith 12 and 20 gauge shotguns. Hammer guns with serial # below 58,000, and hammerless below 45,999. Prefer with “Armor Steel” or “Nitro Steel” marked barrels. We will consider Damascus barrel guns, only if in nice condition and priced right. We will consider ones with barrels shortened to 18-20”, if nicely done.
• W&C. Scott & Son shotguns 12 and 20 gauge with serial number below 54,000
• Westley-Richards & Co. shotguns (all except “T” boxlock)- serial # below 15,818
• Westley-Richards & Co. “T” boxlock shotguns- serial # below 13,438
• Whitney Arms rolling block 20 gauge shotguns. (All Whitneys are pre-1899.)
• Winchester Model 1897 12 gauge shotguns (or frames) with serial # below 63,633 – we are eager buyers!
• Woodward (James Woodward & Sons, London) shotguns – serial # below 15,327

Antique Gun Parts & Accessories Wanted:

• Skeleton buttstocks for revolvers.
• Winchester Model 1897 12 gauge complete takedown barrel assemblies, must be complete. Any length barrels (18″ or more)
• Remington-Lee .45-70 magazines.
• Lee-Metford .303 magazines.
• S&W Top break .32/.38/.44 revolver grips. Originals or replicas. Standard, target, or oversize.
• S&W Top break .32/.38/.44 revolver holsters. Originals or replicas
• Webley Mark I or Mark II top break revolver grips. Originals or replicas.
• Webley Mark I or Mark II top break revolver holsters. Originals or replicas.
• Colt M1891 to Model 1902 holster for .38 Colt or .41 Colt revolvers
• Mauser M1895 cleaning rods—for rifle or short rifle.
• B-Square brand Scout (forward) scope mounts for Model 1893-1896 Mausers
• S&K brand Scout (forward) scope mounts for Model 1893-1896 Mausers (Especially S&K Model 1890)
• Swedish Mauser bayonets —for rifle or carbine, with scabbards.
• Argentine Mauser bayonets —Pre-M1909 pattern, for rifle or carbine.
• Spanish Mauser bayonets — for rifle or carbine, with scabbards.
• Chilean Mauser M1895 bayonets, marked “Weyersberg Kirschbaum”, with scabbards.
• Original U.S. Krag bayonets with scabbards
• Finnish M39 bayonets. Originals or replicas.
• Lee-Metford bayonets with scabbards
• Swiss 1896/11 bayonets–standard blade or Pioneer blade.
• Original Finn Model 1939 “Dog Collar” slings
• Original Swedish Model 1894 or 1896 slings
• Original U.S. Krag slings—rifle or carbine
• Mauser Model 1895 7mm stripper clips
• Mauser Model 1896 6.5x55mm Swedish stripper clips
• Schmidt-Rubin stripper clips (chargers.) Red, purple, brown, or white cardboard, metal reinforced.
• Schmidt-Rubin 1889, 1896/11 or K11 magazines. Originals only.
• Winchester Model 1873 tangs marked with serial # below 525,923
• Winchester Model 1886 tangs marked with serial # below 119,193

Modern Gun Parts & Accessories Wanted:

• Savage “Four Tenner” 20 gauge-to-.410 barrel adapter inserts, new or gently-used.
• .45 ACP revolver blued steel full moon clips—new or gently-used.
• .38 5-round S&W HKS brand Model 36-A speedloaders.
• Dummy cartridges in any of the following calibers: .32 S&W, .38 Long Colt, .41 Long Colt, .38-40 Winchester, .44-40 Winchester, .44 S&W Russian, .455 Webley, .25-35 Winchester, .38-55 Winchester, 6mm (.236 USN) Lee Navy, 7×57 Mauser, .303 British, .30-40 Krag, 7.62x54r, 7.65 Argentine Mauser, and 7.5x 55 Swiss 8×57.
• RCBS brand reloading die sets in any of the following calibers: .41 Long Colt, .44-40 Winchester, .43 Spanish, 7.62x54r, 7.65mm Argentine Mauser, and 7.5x 55 Swiss.
• Israeli 7.62mm NATO Mauser conversion barrels, prefer new “in the white” —will consider used ones with excellent bores
• Chilean 7.62mm NATO Mauser conversion barrels, must have excellent bores
• Swedish M38 (23.5″) Mauser 6.5×55 barrels, prefer new “in the white”—will consider used ones with excellent bores.
• SIG P320 Caliber X-Change kits in 9mm
• SIG P320 serialized trigger groups
• Glock 9mm, 10mm, and .45 ACP complete “upper halves” (slides with barrels) for any double-column mag models.
• Sand or green color MagPul PMAGs for 5.56 and 7.62 NATO ARs

Factory Ammunition for Pre-1899 Guns Wanted:

• .32 S&W
  .38 S&W
• .38 Short Colt or Long Colt
  .41 Short Colt or Long Colt
• .38-40 Winchester
• .44-40 Winchester
• .44 S&W Russian
• .45 Colt (“Long Colt”)
• .455 Eley / .455 Webley
• .25-35 Winchester
• .38-55 Winchester
• 6mm (.236 USN) Lee Navy
• 6.5×55 Swedish Mauser tracer and AP
• 7×57 Mauser non-corrosive ball. Also: Tracer, and AP ammo.
• .303 British non-corrosive ball. Also: Tracer, and AP ammo.
• .30-40 Krag commercial softnose or reloaded ball or AP. Must be non-corrosive.
• 7.62x54r (for Mosin-Nagant), softnose or ball. Must be non-corrosive.
• 7.65 Argentine Mauser non-corrosive ball or commercial softnose.
• 7.5×53.5 Swiss GP90 ball or commercial softnose.
• 7.5×55 Swiss GP11 Ball, AP, and commercial softnose.
• 8×57 Mauser non-corrosive ball, tracer, AP, API, and commercial softnose.

Vintage Publications Wanted:

• Firearms and Hunting-related books from the 1880s and 1890s.
• Firearms and Hunting-related magazines from the 1880s and 1890s.  (Especially: The American Rifleman or The American Field.)

Mailing Us Pre-1899 Guns:

Please note that some postal clerks do not know how to read their own postal regulations.  Any non-NFA gun (rifle, pistol or shotgun) manufactured in or before 1899 is not a “firearm”–rather, it is an exempt “antique”.  The following is directly from the USPS web site:

431.3 Antique Firearm

Antique firearm means any muzzle loading rifle/shotgun/pistol, which is designed to use black powder or a black powder substitute, and which cannot use fixed ammunition (except those that incorporate a firearm frame or receiver, any firearm which is converted into a muzzle loading weapon, or any muzzle loading weapon which can be readily converted to fire fixed ammunition by replacing the barrel, bolt, breechblock, or any combination thereof); or any firearm (including those with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured on or before 1898, or any replica thereof, if such replica:

1. Is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition.
2. Uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition that is no longer manufactured in the United States and is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.

I’ve highlighted the key words in red.  The most important point here is the word or, and the word including–which is in a parenthetical subordinate clause. By law, anything that is not specifically excluded is included.

If you an encounter a USPS clerk who is so boneheaded to not be able to read English,  then please just ship your guns to  Elk Creek Company via UPS.