My local shop took in a Remington 141 in 30 Remington. This one has engraving on the receiver and some unusual checkering on the forend. I've seen some D and F grade guns, but their engraving is much more elaborate than this rifle. Any clues?
Biebs, Its an interesting gun but according to that "C" prefix SN `looks like it was made on the eve of the Great War! So your Model 14, not 141, was from 1914! Looks like quality engraving there but if question of Factory work, way beyond my knowledge. As noted the side-mount holes are definitely aftermarket. It's an interesting old gun, but as a "collector specimen", I'd say not.
The model 14 was introduced in 1912 and late in 1920 barrel codes were intro'd. There seem to be more than a few in those early twenties without visible codes! Also the ever present problem of guns pushing a century old, plenty of time for barrel swaps, skewing the barrel date code regimen entirely!
My closest Model 14 Sn is in 21 K range, from 1913. It is also my only of sevreral that's not in .35 Rem. Only bought it because so clean and cheap as Gun Show Sunday afternoon "goin home time"! My next higher and only other "C" prefix SN is a Carbine in 55 K, .35 Rem naturally & MFG 1917.
With the intro of a transitional Model 141 bearing a Model 14 barrel, a new serial range began in latter 1935 and ran to end of production in early fifties.
I thought that I was going to be a 141 fan, but alas been there and done that and I'm not a fan. Oh not that the 141 .35 Remington that I bought wasn't well built, it was and probably over built imo. I was use to my uncle's m14 in .30 Remington or my buddy's 14 in .32 Remington and those two handled like a .22 they felt so lively. Then I got that 141 and what a chuck of steel that was and with what a 22 or 24" barrel for a short range brush cartridge. I fancied (probably fantasized is a better word) myself as a Benoit type deer tracker, but in reality got lots of "my" deer killed by guys who had the sense to sit instead of track. I thought I'd "improve" it by cutting and crowning the barrel back to 19" and adding a peep and fiber optic front sight. Mine rattled in the slide and what started out as a long barreled chunk of steel and walnut, just turned into a shorter one. Older and smarter now for the experience.
My other auto is a .45
The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory