Anyone have anything to do with a Winchester 94 (pre 64) with factory Cutts compensater? I have an chance to pick one up.

No pictures please, I feel ill just thinking about it!

M12?

It is actually a model 64 with some Winchester history. Winchester engraver Jasper Salerno engraved.

Not as bad as you might think.

I've been collecting Winchester rifles for nearly 50 yrs. and I've never seen nor even heard of a rifle like that. Would be well worth a Cody Museum letter. Might have a good chance of gleaning information if you were to post the picture on the Winchester Collector's website. Randy Shuman may also be able to shed some light on a unique Winchester like that.

No factory records (configuration) at Cody for that rifle. There are Polishing Room records which will indicate the date the gun was serialized. Guests can comment (can’t post pics) on winchestercollector.org and you would get an answer to your question in the Winchester Rifles Forum.

If it was engraved at Winchester, Pauline Muerrle may be able to provide some info. There was an engraved 71 that had factory info available on it.

I can't see the gun well enough in the photo to comment on it

This is one of Jasper Salerno's personal guns. I have been in close contact with his nephew who inherited all of Jasper's estate as he had no children. Jasper liked one of a kind items. This deluxe 64 has a deer engraved on one side and a dragon on the other so it is custom done and not a factory design. The barrel is what has me confused. It is engraved also but doesn't have the Winchester roll marks? My guess would be he got a barrel at Winchester in the white and engraved it and had it blued before it was marked. And the Cutts??? Special rear sight to compensate. Wish I knew how to post better pics. Pauline has seen this rifle and confirmed it is Jaspers engraving but doesn't know about the configuration.

Never seen anything like it!
Sure would like see some more clear photos. Very interesting rifle......

A Google search will reveal that Cutts Compensators were used on BAR’s and Thompson Submachine guns. “The Compensator on the BAR cut the .30-06 recoil by 62% in ft. lbs. allowing more use of rapid fire.The service member shot more accurately, kept their aim more reliably and actually used less ammunition”.

If the barrel lacks Winchester markings, why would it be a factory cutts?

Unless there is some sort of factory provenance accompanying the gun it would be impossible to determine if the Cutts was factory installed as individual factory M64 configuration records do not exist.

Exactly! I can't prove it is factory and you can't prove it isn't. And visa versa. I am skeptical about pursuing this. But sure an interesting piece.

Definitely a very interesting gun. I’d like to own it. What caliber?

The owner tells me it is a 32 Special. I asked him how he knew if there was no roll marks. He is going to check it out and let me know. He said he remembers seeing a Winchester proof mark on the barrel, but is going to send me pictures in the near future.

And what's that old saying? Oh yes... Something about "buy the rifle not the story". Unsure whether "story" includes "fantasy". Best part, the suspense! As... "Wait, wait! If you don't like that story, lets explore another one..." Perhaps a "Cutting up" compensator!

Thanks for some moments of humor!

Just my take!

Best!
John

OK got the low down on it. Jasper's nephew took this to a noted gunsmith in Connecticut. I think he said his name was Mitchell. The gun is a 30-30 caliber. It has an early model 70 super grade rear sight. The Cutts compensator is a modified from the model 42. The gunsmith fired the rifle and it works flawlessly. I have made arrangements to purchase and am a little excited. One of a kind from a Winchester master engraver.....