John Wayne 100th Anniversary lever

[jd45]

For those who may be interested & have the financial wherewithall, I'd like to let you know that in a gunshop in Lincolnwood, Illinois called Shore Galleries, there is an 1892, probably Rossi-mfg'd 16" stainless in .44-40 caliber with the large-loop, reminiscent of "True Grit", where it's big at the front & it gets smaller as it goes rearward. As you might guess, the wood is special, & it costs a LOT!!! They want $1300 for it, tho they might be willing to discuss the final price. Just thought I'd let you all know. Wish I had the money to spend...........I'd be on it like ugly on an ape! jd45

[Buffboy]

I looked at one a the Shiels in Sioux Falls a couple months back. I believe the rifle is made by Armi Sport (Armi Chiappa)

[jd45]

Buff, have you heard anything regarding the quailty level of the Armi Sport products? I'd appreciate any feedback, in case I run accross a "plain-jane '92. Thanks, jd45

[Griff]

Winchester's 100th Anniversay John Wayne Commemorative:

"The John Wayne Custom Grade Model 1892 rifles are offered with tasteful gold-tone embellishments on a highly polished blued finish. The large loop lever is a trademark of John Wayne. A delicate spade checkering pattern with textured accents decorates the Grade 5/6 satin walnut stock and forearm. The Custom Grade edition is limited to only 1,000 rifles, giving this model enduring collector appeal for generations to come. The first 1,000 High Grade rifles are offered as a matched set with the Custom Grade model.
The right side of the scroll engraved richly blued receiver displays a portrait of John Wayne holding his trademark Model 92, along with his initials and a banner with the words “Courage, Strength, Grit,” the core moralvalues he embodied.

John Wayne’s gold signature graces the short 18½" barrel. Wayne specified this barrel length on his personal guns to allow the rifle to be twirled by the large loop finger lever to cycle the action, instantly becoming his western trademark.

The left side of the receiver features a pair of portraits of Duke along with a banner reading “John Wayne American, 1907-2007.” A polished saddle ring lets the world know this classic rifle is ready to saddle up and ride the high range."

Aren't these by Miroku of Japan? I can't see Winchester, aka Browning/FN/Miroku having someone else build these when they own the rights and manufacturing facilities to do them in-house. I might be wrong... but...

[Buffboy]

Griff is right. That's what I saw. I can't imagine it being other than Miroku manufactured as well. I looked at it. I didn't ask for it to be taken out of the case, one look at the price had me thinking: no sense putting any finger prints of mine on it. Sure was purdy but I'm not gonna buy it.

Still it runs in my mind there was a "John Wayne style"(Stagecoach?) commemorative version of the Armi Sport offered by Charles Daly a while back. Maybe it was a one of those heritage commemorative rifles that are in the NRA publications and that's what helped put the foot in my mouth.

The newer versions of the Armi Sport carbines have a better reputation than the ones manufactured under the Armi San Lucas(? or was that Marcos) brand of a few years ago. They still have some internal differences from the original that the Rossi doesn't have. They are much better finished.

Edit: Griff, we may both be wrong. I just read an ad for one on Gunbroker that claims they are made by Nikko Arms.

[Rick Engman]

I've got a set of the JW's, the Custom Grade and the Hi Grade, they are made by Miroku in Japan, says so right on the box. They are beautiful (especially the Custom Grade), and the quality is excellent like all the other Winchester/Browning/Miroku Rifles. If you got the chance to get one for a good Price then I would say snap it up, you wont be disappointed.
Rick

[jd45]

I looked up this rifle on the net & saw the pics,.......they are blued, sure enough. But I have to say the one in the shop I saw & even handled, wasn't blued. It appeared to be a kind of satin-finished stainless steel, not that it matters. Sure was a beauty, though! jd45

[Griff]

I don't believe everything I read on Gunbroker, and this guy has a piece of tape over the portion of the label that would dispell the rumor:



Unless, Nikko Arms is another name for Miroku.

[jd45]

Just curious, do you s'pose you might be able to "twirl" this rifle the way JW did when he stopped the stage in "Stagecoach", & keep the cartridge in the action? I'd LOVE to be able to do that, tho I think my arms are a little too short to allow it, me being only 5', 6-1/2" tall. BTW, I'm in the Guinness Book...........World's Tallest Midget! jd45