I like my antique Winchester collection pieces to be all original and in the 85%>95% condition range.
While I appreciate the work and skill that goes into a fine restoration and like seeing them they’re not something I’m interested in for my collection.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
Some high condition guns have a story:
1885 has a small and tastefully done silver nameplate engraved “J.W. Hirt” which has been connected by the included article on “John W. Hirt” co-owner of the Hirt and Miller Meat Market of Cleburne TX.
Hurt & Miller Market purchased (8) identical 1885 rifles on the exact same order number. Assume one was for John Miller and perhaps the remaining six may have been for other employees?
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/1885-38-55-highwall-an-unexpected-pleasure/
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
tim tomlinson said
Chuck, First I DO NOT take your comments wrong. Not a problem. I would like to relate a short story I think you would enjoy, though. I had my 1876 display at the NRA Convention in Dallas in 2018. One item was an 1876 with the side plates removed to show the workings of its internals. There was this little old fellow who was kind of smiling and giggling, hurried into the booth and went over to promptly cycle the action several times quickly. No time for me or anyone to react. He looked over, giggled some more and scurried off. Cute! Reminded me of an escaped 2 year old. Couldn’t get upset really. Obviously he had a deep curiosity, and in reality I would have liked it had he stayed and either asked questions or allowed a narration to further what he may have known. These things do happen. Tim.
I’ve seen some really weird things happen at gun shows. Here is a picture of one of my 95’s. I have put at least 200 rounds through this gun at the range.
November 7, 2015
clarence said
Seldom?
At the private club I consider my home range, yes.
Mike
Chuck, I have a deluxe 1886 lightweight take down in .33 Winchester that I shoot in metallic silhouette shoots. Maybe 50% blue on the receiver, 85 to 90% on the barrel, beautiful wood with its share of dings. Checkering is worn. Before I got it it had been drilled and tapped for a receiver sight, so not a lot into it. Shoots better than I do, and I do enjoy shooting it. Would hate to guess how many hundreds of rounds have been through it. Then there is a model 64 in .30 WCF, and a 1894 in .25-35 that are called on periodically. The latter isn’t the best option but I do enjoy it so much! I can hit the ram at 200 yards at times and not knock it down (and it has to go down to count). I had shot an 1886 in .45-70 for a while, but I traded it off many years ago. There are a fair selection of rifles, including 1895’s, that go to the range. Punching paper is less satisfying but useful at times. My 1895 NRA musket in .30-06 gets some use, etc, as do a few in .30 Army or my various .405’s. Bottom line I have a lot of them to choose from, and reload for a wide array of calibers. Mostly they get rather little use, and not all get shot, but a surprising number do. With that said, I have yet to shoot any of my rifles in .32-20. Don’t think I have ever shot the caliber. Ought to fix that one day I suppose. Tim
November 7, 2015
Tim-
I can’t believe you’ve neglected your 32-20’s so totally! All you have to do is slip over to a Hunter Pistol Sillywet range with your favorite 32-20 and a box of cartridges and I suspect you’ll never go to the range again without a 32-20. There’s something about this quiet little cartridge. Just a few grains of powder, a little dab of lead (no gas check required) and a small pistol primer is all it takes to get the party started. You can even leave your recoil pad in your shooting bag!
Mike
tim tomlinson said
Chuck, I have a deluxe 1886 lightweight take down in .33 Winchester that I shoot in metallic silhouette shoots. Maybe 50% blue on the receiver, 85 to 90% on the barrel, beautiful wood with its share of dings. Checkering is worn. Before I got it it had been drilled and tapped for a receiver sight, so not a lot into it. Shoots better than I do, and I do enjoy shooting it. Would hate to guess how many hundreds of rounds have been through it. Then there is a model 64 in .30 WCF, and a 1894 in .25-35 that are called on periodically. The latter isn’t the best option but I do enjoy it so much! I can hit the ram at 200 yards at times and not knock it down (and it has to go down to count). I had shot an 1886 in .45-70 for a while, but I traded it off many years ago. There are a fair selection of rifles, including 1895’s, that go to the range. Punching paper is less satisfying but useful at times. My 1895 NRA musket in .30-06 gets some use, etc, as do a few in .30 Army or my various .405’s. Bottom line I have a lot of them to choose from, and reload for a wide array of calibers. Mostly they get rather little use, and not all get shot, but a surprising number do. With that said, I have yet to shoot any of my rifles in .32-20. Don’t think I have ever shot the caliber. Ought to fix that one day I suppose. Tim
Tim, I guess you shoot a lot more than you had let on. I try to go once a week and usually take 2 guns. I think my next one will be another 85 in 32-40 and this non precision rifle I am trying to shoot. Hope it is me and not the gun. I should let my friend shoot it. He shoots extremely well.
My time at the range on Tuesday was not good. I had a bad time trying to hold my new paper puncher steady. So with the wind my grouping was bad. The highwall in 22 WCF was out for the first time. My 1st attempt at loading this round went sort of OK. At least I got 50 rounds fire formed. It shot wildly. My primers were trying to back out. Definitely had pressure issues. I think my primers were too hot but I don’t think the 4 grs. of Unique was too much? I need to pull out my chronograph and see if it still works.
Condition is important, provenance maybe even moreso. Both of these guns are high condition guns and I take them hunting. The 1876 is a 45-75 shipped to and stamped by W.F. Sheard, Livingston, Montana. I have even taken it to Alaska bear hunting. The Shotgun is an extremely rare George Daw 12 gauge in beautiful condition, and I have shot turkeys with it. You have to be careful, but I do that anyway..
November 7, 2015
Beautiful guns, Kirk. Glad you used enough gun on that squirrel, they can be treacherous and mean when wounded. 😉
Mike
If I can’t shoot it, I don’t buy it. So I don’t buy anything that’s very rare and would be enjoyed by someone who collects that type of gun. That said, I have some guns I’ll only take to the range, and others that I’ll hunt with. Other than that, I’ll buy the best gun I can afford, given those parameters.
1 Guest(s)