By Samantha L. Harper, 2013
Title: MS 104 - Nicholas Kusmit Engraving Records, 1952-1981
Primary Creator: Kusmit, Nicholas
Extent: 1.0 Boxes
Arrangement:
The Nicholas Kusmit Engraving Records Collection (No. 104) is arranged into two series by copy type, as follows:
Outline of Series Arrangement
White Bound Notebooks– Box 1
Blue Bound Volumes – Box 1
Date Acquired: 12/21/1998
Subjects: Firearms
Languages: English
Two sets of copies of notebooks kept by Nicholas Kusmit to record his Custom Shop work for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company Custom Shop, and later as part of the Olin Corporation. The white notebooks are simply photocopies of the various notebooks he kept, while the Winchesters That I Have Engraved volumes are prints from digital scans, which are all on CD-Rom at the beginning of the series.
Nick’s format for his diaries is: Left side page lists completed guns with summary of daily labor line items (along with many personal events/observations). Right side page lists daily labor operations.
The completed gun summary usually lists along with the gun particulars, disposition (sometimes) and serial number (most times), the 12-digit hyphenated “gun number” & hyphenated “order number” (which always begins with two digits followed by three digits followed by a combination of letters and numbers of varying length - more on the terminology and structure of these two numbers later in this correspondence).
For 1922632 you will see labor logged on August 24, 27, 28, and 29, all keyed to “7702” (the last four numbers in the “gun number” 3052-862-7702). The “order number” is 06-498-WH90H. I’ve concluded that 06 is the state code for Connecticut, 498 is the number unique to the Connecticut dealer placing the order for this gun, and WH90H is the actual order number.
Repository: McCracken Research Library
Access Restrictions: McCracken Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials. Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation or publication. Contact McCracken Research Library for more information.
Physical Access Note: No viewing without curatorial approval. No photocopies.
Acquisition Source: Leigh F. Coffin
Acquisition Method: Gift in memory of Charles L. and Lucrettia L. (Leigh) Coffin
Preferred Citation: Nicholas Kusmit Engraving Records Collection, MS 104, McCracken Research Library, Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
