mawkie
C&R Whisperer
-While on the search for a US marked Model 87 Winder Musket for the .22 trainer collection I ran across this uncommon commercial example that was too affordable and interesting to let pass.
-The Model 87 Winder Musket was built specifically for the US Military as a training rifle from 1917 through mid 1920. 12,735 were produced with 11,419 accepted by the US Military. The martial examples were "US" and flaming bomb marked on the upper tang. Those that didn't go to to the military went to NG, ROTC and USCG units as well as college shooting teams. All would eventually be turned in and sold through the DCM, as I suspect mine was.
-After the military contract was closed and production was halted in 1920 several hundred were assembled from spares through 1923. The SN on my example shows it was one of these, only 44th from the end of production.
-Chambered in .22 Short, the low wall Model 87, along with the earlier high and low wall variations, has a reputation as an excellent shooter. The Lyman Model 53 receiver sight certainly aids in that. It's got a nice heavy barrel and balances well. Should be fun at the range!
-The Model 87 Winder Musket was built specifically for the US Military as a training rifle from 1917 through mid 1920. 12,735 were produced with 11,419 accepted by the US Military. The martial examples were "US" and flaming bomb marked on the upper tang. Those that didn't go to to the military went to NG, ROTC and USCG units as well as college shooting teams. All would eventually be turned in and sold through the DCM, as I suspect mine was.
-After the military contract was closed and production was halted in 1920 several hundred were assembled from spares through 1923. The SN on my example shows it was one of these, only 44th from the end of production.
-Chambered in .22 Short, the low wall Model 87, along with the earlier high and low wall variations, has a reputation as an excellent shooter. The Lyman Model 53 receiver sight certainly aids in that. It's got a nice heavy barrel and balances well. Should be fun at the range!
