First year model 8 serial # 245

[54bullseye]

Howdy !!! I figured you all would like to see my latest purchase. A first year model 8 serial # 245. Just picked it up this morning and was very happy at first sight ! It is in very nice original condition in my opinion. It's in 35 rem and is hand engraved on barrels or shrouds collar. Also the part of the barrel that fits to the bolt "not sure what it's called" has no marking on it like other first year guns I have seen.

The receiver is marked 245 on bottom front where it joins to fore end. Serial
# 245 is also marked on tang of trigger group and on wood where top tang fits into. I like seeing all correct numbers !!

The wood is very nice and I believe original finish. The cheeks are very sharp and crisp. The wood to metal fit is very nice. Front sight is a Lyman and I am not sure about rear sight but it looks correct. I think peep sight is Lyman but not sure. Also bluing is in very nice shape. It has the early safety with the flat piece set back towards the middle and top of flat has knurling on it. All in all what I think is a very nice first year gun !!!

As usual I took a bunch of pictures that will probably bore you but here you go. Please let me know what you think of the gun and thanks for looking !!
John Taylor

[54bullseye]

Here are a bunch of pictures coming. Thanks for looking !!

[54bullseye]

Here are a bunch of pictures coming. Thanks for looking !!

[54bullseye]

Here are a bunch of pictures coming. Thanks for looking !!

[54bullseye]

Here are a bunch of pictures coming. Thanks for looking !!

[54bullseye]

Here are a bunch of pictures coming. Thanks for looking !!

[54bullseye]

Here are a bunch of pictures coming. Thanks for looking !!

[54bullseye]

Here are a bunch of pictures coming. Thanks for looking !!

[54bullseye]

Here are a bunch of pictures coming. Thanks for looking !!

[54bullseye]

Almost done. Two mor bunches.

[54bullseye]

last pictures thanks for looking !! John Taylor

[Roger]

Hey John, it looks great. The rear sight looks original to me. The peep looks like a Lyman. Everything looks great. Did you find it online? You should be proud!!
Thanks for posting the pics.
Your Pal
Roger

[1913Model8]

What a score there John wow! Jealous and happy for you is all I can say! What a beautiful example of a Model 8. I'm glad you have that Model 8 service tool to help take a peek inside Looks like maybe someone at some time recoated the finish dude to seeing a little varnish on top of the butt plate?? hard to say maybe. How luck can a guy get finding such a low number! Do we know what the lowest number is to exist still??

[Hibby83]

Howdy John.

No boredom here, i welcome any and all content Model 8 related. The auction pictures didn't do that one justice. You REALLY scored on a super early first year gun! I'm happy that you were able to secure it as the high bidder at auction and that it surpassed expectations. Now I NEED to find a first year just like that one!!!

What a score there John wow! Jealous and happy for you is all I can say! What a beautiful example of a Model 8. I'm glad you have that Model 8 service tool to help take a peek inside Looks like maybe someone at some time recoated the finish dude to seeing a little varnish on top of the butt plate?? hard to say maybe. How luck can a guy get finding such a low number! Do we know what the lowest number is to exist still??

1913Model8- The lowest serial # shown on this website is #7. I saw #10 on an auction last year, made a post about it. Numbers 1 through 6 are out there somewhere, hopefully not completely degraded and or picked apart never to be made whole again.

[54bullseye]

I did see that residue of varnish on sides of butt plate and figured possibly they varnished it with butt plate in place ??? Any thoughts or definitely an added coat. It certainly wasn’t sanded !! What does everyone think should do ?? Take butt plate off and clean off the varnish or just leave it ??? I am sure it would come off very easy with just a touch of zip strip.
Please let me know your thoughts. John Taylor

[1913Model8]

I did see that residue of varnish on sides of butt plate and figured possibly they varnished it with butt plate in place ??? Any thoughts or definitely an added coat. It certainly wasn’t sanded !! What does everyone think should do ?? Take butt plate off and clean off the varnish or just leave it ??? I am sure it would come off very easy with just a touch of zip strip.
Please let me know your thoughts. John Taylor

I believe that is what they did, varnished it in place. I have a few old guns where that seems to be what was done many years ago is just put a quick coat on and go. They were more of a tool than a collector piece if you know what I mean. It is very possible your finger nail could remove that extra varnish on the butt plate. I agree I believe that wood has never been sanded or reworked. Looks very nice fitting. Is the wood flush to the metal of slightly proud in height? that also can tell you if it has been reworked possibly. My opinion would be to remove the butt plate and try carefully to remove that bit of extra varnish, and give it a coat of renaissance wax. Very light coat of this stuff goes forever. That butt plate looks amazing in condition too! Larry Potterfield on YouTube shows how to fix old plates just like these with epoxy and black die just as a note. You could take a soft cloth that is lint free and clean up the hidden area of the wood too for brightening the blackish areas. Taking a different cloth and taking a very very small amount of soap with water and cleaning the varnish would remove and oil or dirt stuck to it. dry it clean and apply that same wax to it to protect it and brighten the finish. In the end John it is a beautiful piece, it's your and you can do with as you wish. The fact you got this low number rifle and can be a great care taker of it is just perfect, as this won't be destroyed or forgot by someone who doesn't know or care about these rifles.

If you decide to refinish the wood my website has pictures of how I refinished my stock and forearm years ago, fixing nicks, dents, removing oil soak, and step by step process. The finish in person is gorgeous, compared to the dark tinted iron oxidized old finish it had. Mine too was coated over possibly a few times.

[1913Model8]

Howdy John.

No boredom here, i welcome any and all content Model 8 related. The auction pictures didn't do that one justice. You REALLY scored on a super early first year gun! I'm happy that you were able to secure it as the high bidder at auction and that it surpassed expectations. Now I NEED to find a first year just like that one!!!

What a score there John wow! Jealous and happy for you is all I can say! What a beautiful example of a Model 8. I'm glad you have that Model 8 service tool to help take a peek inside Looks like maybe someone at some time recoated the finish dude to seeing a little varnish on top of the butt plate?? hard to say maybe. How luck can a guy get finding such a low number! Do we know what the lowest number is to exist still??

1913Model8- The lowest serial # shown on this website is #7. I saw #10 on an auction last year, made a post about it. Numbers 1 through 6 are out there somewhere, hopefully not completely degraded and or picked apart never to be made whole again.

Wow that really cool to learn that they do exist! Thanks for sharing.

[54bullseye]

It won’t be refinished!!! John

[1913Model8]

It won’t be refinished!!! John

Nope I don't see the need to with that one!

[MinnesotaDan]

That is outstanding! With such a low serial number, I would not worry a bit about a little varnish on the buttplate. It is just part of the rifle and it's very long history. Thanks for sharing the photos, John.

[Roger]

Hey John, Don’t touch the wood. It looks fine. Just remove the buttplate carefully and slowly remove the varnish on the edge. Just my opinion.
Thanks for your time
Roger

[81police]

what an absolute BEAUTY! The condition is remarkable for the age. I've said it many times, the very BEST looking of all Model 8 & 81's are the earliest production 1906-1907 guns. Yours is a gorgeous example! Worth a few pennies there!

[54bullseye]

Thanks for all the comments everyone ! I think for now I will just leave everything as it is. I am very happy with it as is . Thanks John

[canuck]

Holy cow, thats a real beauty
Congrats