Author Topic: Who might have some info?  (Read 1110 times)

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Offline captkev

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Who might have some info?
« on: November 23, 2006, 07:20:43 PM »
  Its been a while, but I know some of the best gun experts are on this site. I was at my father inlaws house and he started telling me about this gun he has that has been in his family for 5 generations. Some of his family first settled neer Turtle Lake Wisconson. If there ever was a time when I wished that a gun could talk, this would be the time. I'm sure this rifle has some storys to tell!

  I've did all the google searches and have found info on the rifle, but I would like to hear some comments from the pros at GBO.  Please feel free to comment or ask questions if need be, I'll try and get more info if need be, but I'd like to hear what you all think of this peice of history.

 Winchesters repeting arms, New Haven CT.   King's improvement  March 29th 1866(?)  October 16th 1860  Serial#30847(?)  Model#1873  Cal. 44-40









 The picture on the plate on the stock is of a man shooting a indian with a tomahawk and it says "PEACE"
Beep          Beep         Beep                 BeepBeep    Point!           "WOODCOCK"          *BANG*      "Dead bird"

Offline captkev

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Re: Who might have some info?
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2006, 06:37:32 PM »
  Did I put this in the wrong area ???  "Read 28 times"  No one knows anything about this rifle?
Beep          Beep         Beep                 BeepBeep    Point!           "WOODCOCK"          *BANG*      "Dead bird"

Offline Graybeard

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Re: Who might have some info?
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2006, 07:02:06 PM »
As good a place as any, guess we just dunno but don't give up just yet. In an average week we have between 50,000 and 60,000 unique visitors to this site. I'm sure someone among them has the info you seek, it's just a matter of them seeing it and being willing to post it.


Bill aka the Graybeard
President, Graybeard Outdoor Enterprises
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I am not a lawyer and do not give legal advice.

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Offline GregP42

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Re: Who might have some info?
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2006, 08:17:15 PM »
Well,

Try the Cody firearms museum, http://www.bbhc.org/firearms/index.cfm they have records of old Winchesters and can probably help you out some. That is a nice looking old weapon that is for sure.

Greg
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"Those who sacrifice essential liberty for temporary safety are not deserving of either liberty or safety."  - Ben Franklin, 1776
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Offline captkev

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Re: Who might have some info?
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2006, 11:27:00 PM »
  Thank you both a bunch, Greg... You right on the money with that post, just the kind of info I'm looking for.
Beep          Beep         Beep                 BeepBeep    Point!           "WOODCOCK"          *BANG*      "Dead bird"

Offline RipOne

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Re: Who might have some info?
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2006, 02:02:30 AM »
CaptKev:  That is quite a thing to be appearing like that ,,,
David L Hunt ... Breath 1-2-3 Pulse-Pull

Offline HuntingGuy

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Re: Who might have some info?
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2006, 03:41:06 AM »
Did you find anything out with this gun?...  Sure is a beauty.
HuntingGuy
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"You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy"

Offline mikeda

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Re: Who might have some info?
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2006, 01:17:50 AM »
Model 1873 replaced the Model 1866 and used the new WRFC .44-40 centerfire cartridge. According to W L Wilson’s “Winchester, An American Legend,” the 1866 was discontinued until it was reintroduced at a lower price in 1875. The Model 1873 introduced a sliding breech cover to keep dirt out of the lock. Standard on the upper tang for the first time on this model was the roll marking “Model 1873.”

Offline mikeda

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Re: Who might have some info?
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2006, 01:20:27 AM »
The Model 1873 had one of the longest production runs in Winchester’s history and was made for 47 years, being discontinued in 1924 (last date of manufacture 1921). Sights were standard in rifle, carbine and musket configurations. Most were made with a blued finish and case hardened hammers, levers, and butt plates and were extremely well made guns. The Models 1866 and 1873 were the guns that won the west. (From W L Wilson’s “Winchester, An American Legend”)

Offline mikeda

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King's Improvement
« Reply #9 on: December 17, 2006, 01:23:15 AM »
“King's improvement  March 29th 1866” refers to an improvement that first appeared on the Model 1866 (Improved Henry) in 1867 of Nelson King. According to W L Wilson’s “Winchester, An American Legend,” King was superintendent of the Winchester factory from late 1866 until about 1875. His improvement was the design to store cartridges in a tube under the barrel by way of a loading gate on the right side of the frame. He was second only to O. F. Winchester in company salary.

Offline mikeda

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Re: Who might have some info?
« Reply #10 on: December 17, 2006, 01:24:59 AM »
Model 1873’s can be divided into 5 groupings.
  Early First Model,  serial no. 1 - about 28000
  Late First Model, approximate serial no. 28000 - 31000
  Second Model, approximate serial no. 31000 - 90000
  Third Model, approximate serial no. 90000 – 720610
  22 Rimfire Model - manufactured from 1884 to 1904

The Late First Model has two frame screws above the trigger pin, all 3 above the trigger. The Third Model did not have the frame screws above the trigger pin. The .22 Rimfire Model loaded through the front of the magazine. (From W L Wilson’s “Winchester, An American Legend”)

Offline mikeda

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Re: Who might have some info?
« Reply #11 on: December 17, 2006, 01:27:12 AM »
The .44-40 cartridge was considered under powered, which led, to the development of subsequent Winchester models. The Model 1876 (.45-70 caliber) looks almost identical to the 1873 but has an inch and a half longer frame. (From W L Wilson’s “Winchester, An American Legend”)

Contact the Cody Firearms Museum (http://www.bbhc.org/firearms/index.cfm), which houses the Winchester Arms Museum, at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming 82414 for research (fee $100, I think) on gun and its serial number.

Offline Drifter Mike

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Re: Who might have some info?
« Reply #12 on: December 17, 2006, 07:53:34 AM »
Just got a letter form Cody, it cost $55.00 and can be done over the phone. Don't expect too much from the letter, very basic info unless it was a special order.
 Mike
If we were willing to give up liberty for safety, we would be deserving of neither!  Benjamin Franklin

Offline Dee

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Re: Who might have some info?
« Reply #13 on: December 29, 2006, 03:52:38 PM »
captkev, your rifle was manufactured in 1879. Of that I am sure, but that is all I know.
You may all go to hell, I will go to Texas. Davy Crockett