A "Lunch Pail Rifle"?

[4506517]

I have never heard this phrase before. I was looking at a listing for 16 inch lever action Winchester rifle.

The description used the phrase "lunch pail rifle" to describe it. I am assuming it is alluding to the fact it is shorter overall, but not quite sure.

Can anyone explain the phrase?

Thanks.

 

[Alpo]

A "lunch box gun" is one stolen from the factory by an employee. He takes the parts out, a few at a time, in his lunch box and puts it together at home. I've heard of many "lunch box pistols". Rifles, it seems to me, would be difficult.

This song is about Johnny Cash making a "lunch box Chevy".

Johnny Cash One Piece At A Time - YouTube

 

[jaykellogg]

I had a Winchester 69 bolt action with no serial number. It never had one. It could be that this one is the same and someone assumed it was stolen. Years ago it wasn't required for guns to have serial numbers.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I think I'll be corrected if I am wrong-but I believe that serial numbers were not required on guns before the '68 gun control act.

 

[jaykellogg]

Years ago I saw an ad for a Model 29 S&W in The Shotgun News that had no serial number. It was described then as a "lunchbox special". (This was after 1968).

It'd be hard to prove it was stolen, but then again since it was a handgun it should have a serial number per Federal law. I guess you could assume it was made prior to the '68 gun control act. There is a federal law forbidding altering or removing serial numbers. One of the guns collected after Bonnie and Clyde were killed was a Colt Detective Special with the serial number removed. It was briefly pulled off the auction until the Feds gave it a new number.

 

[jag312]

One of the guns collected after Bonnie and Clyde were killed was a Colt Detective Special with the serial number removed. It was briefly pulled off the auction until the Feds gave it a new number.

There should have been a hidden serial number underneath the side plate. Did anyone ever think of removing the side plate to have a look?

A lunch box rifle can exist. I had a case years ago with a Colt AR-15 rifle. When BATF did a serial number trace, the response from Colt was that I had read the serial number incorrectly, because that serial number didn't exist. So I photographed all the markings and sent the photographs to Colt. I received a nice letter from a company attorney telling me that the lower receiver with that serial number had been damaged during manufacture and destroyed. Well, whoever claimed it had been damaged and destroyed falsified the records. He took the lower receiver home and slowly built his rifle from parts.

 

[Onomea]

While serial numbers may not have been required for long guns prior to 1968, my prewar Winchesters and 1916 Remington 12C have them, so I believe they must have been customary.

 

[bigolddave]

For some reason, many Winchester bolt action .22's did not have serial numbers. As far as I know, all other models did have serial numbers. I had a 72 with no serial number, and have seen others and also 69's, and bolt action single shots. My 75 Sporter has a number, and I have never seen a 75 Target without a serial.

 

[jaykellogg]

I think the '69 was discontinued in 1963. I don't believe they ever had serial numbers. I have had other .22 Winchesters much older that did have serial numbers (1906 Winchester). I have never personally seen a Winchester lever action w/o serial number. Also the OP didn't say whether this was a centerfire or rimfire. Regardless, it it was made before 1968 it should be legal to own. Just be sure that the number was never there, if it was removed that is an issue. There are tons of WWII 1911s that were brought home, no one is looking for them today.

 

[steveno]

the lower grade guns like Stevens , Mossberg and probably several others didn't have serial numbers. the higher grade guns like Winchester , Colt and several others had serial numbers on them. My dad's Stevens 620 12 ga shotgun and Mossberg 151B 22 rifle do not have serial numbers

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

The terms "Lunch Pail" and "Government Project" have long been used to describe items made by individuals for personal - but unaproved - use in manufacturing. S&W has had their share and they pop up from time to time. Complete pistols and barrels are items I have familiarity with.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

LUNCH BOXES

Not only guns- this pair of "COKES" on my 1961 Mdl 29 I always assumed were 'lunch box' stocks because I have never seen another a pair like them, but then, there are a LOT of things I have never seen.

 

[2152hq]

Prior to the GCA68, shotguns and cal 22rf Long guns were not required to be ser#'d by their mfg'r.
The mfg'r could ser# them if they wished to do so,,but it was not a Fed requirement.
Winchester chose to ser# some of their 22 rifle production (the higher priced guns) but not others.
Winchesters Model 21's are all #'d, as were M42, 52, 63, 61 and others.
Some of the simpler 22 rifles like the single shot bolts and others were not #'d

Savage/Stevens the same way. Many of their less expensive and simpler design guns were not #'s. Others were ser#'d.

Since 12/68,,All firearms mfg in the USA and those imported are required to be ser#'d.
There are ATF standards for placement of the number, size of the characters, depth of imprint, method of imprint and letter/number make up.

Prior to GCA 68, handguns and centerfire rifles were required to be ser#'d in domestic production since at least '38.
It has been a Fed felony to 'remove, alter or obliterate' the manufacturers applied serial number on a firearm since the Fed Firearms act of '38.
That law stopped commercial ventures such as Griffen & Howe from 'scrubbing' the ser# from '03 and other rifles in the sporterizing process.

 

[Muley Gil]

A "lunch box gun" is one stolen from the factory by an employee. He takes the parts out, a few at a time, in his lunch box and puts it together at home. I've heard of many "lunch box pistols". Rifles, it seems to me, would be difficult.

This song is about Johnny Cash making a "lunch box Chevy".

Johnny Cash One Piece At A Time - YouTube

It was a Caddy.

 

[4506517]

Guys, thank you so much. Now it makes sense.

Reminds me of Radar on MASH mailing the jeep home piece by piece.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Alpo]

It was a Caddy.

So it was.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The gun companies were somewhat inconsistent in serial numbering. My Winchester M-69 (made 1935-1937) has no serial number, my Winchester M-74-introduced in 1938-does.