Winchester Collector - Forum: General Discussions & Questions

TXGunNut on Adult supervision lapse

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:29:14 +0000

If it seems our resident grouch has been quiet lately you’re right. Bert got a little drunk at the Elkhorn Bar in Meeteetsee and got in a fight with a local Army vet and wound up in jail. Nothing serious, except this particular Army vet happens to be the local judge. Obviously Bert’s reservations were at a different B&B. Meeteetse is a quaint little drinking town south of Cody with a serious hunting and fishing problem. Apparently the judge is an even bigger grouch than Bert and thus far has declined to set bail.
I would offer to keep you posted but I’m needed back in Texas.
Veni, vIdi, no more whiskey. I’m going home!

Mike

Anthony on Your Weather Forecast For The Cody WACA Show!

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:37:10 +0000

We love hearing the pleasant stories and another successful WACA annual show. It's also great to hear the members helping others out as this doesn't surprise many of us.

When you guy's get settled in, Please show some pics and tell some stories what you might have picked up or thought about and didn't.

Thanks in advance, and Safe Travel to All!

Tony

Rick Hill on Your Weather Forecast For The Cody WACA Show!

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:33:11 +0000

Ben:

Can't say that we missed the 105 degree check out but the Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we'll be there next year for sure.

Rick, Georgia and Otis

Ben on Your Weather Forecast For The Cody WACA Show!

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 03:37:41 +0000

Jeremy came thru big time! It was 105 degrees when the show closed and we had to pack up & haul my stuff out. It took an hour and forty five minutes... last year it took over 3 hours (not counting the vehicle issue I had). BlueRidgeParson helped me set up... these guys are the best! Louis Lutrell helped supervised too! It was another great event... Vinny, Heather and the entire crew did an amazing job. The young lady that sang the national anthem each day was a pleasure to listen to as well. There were some absent due to circumstances beyond their control... I bet they will be there next year if at all possible! *Steve, Scott, Rick & Georgia this means you! 🙂 ) If you've never gone to the Cody show, just do it! I've paid for tables for next years show... only 364 days to go!

fred.lasor@gmail.com on Cresent Buttstocks and Recoil Pads?

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 23:52:41 +0000

Well after reading all these recommendations, and remembering how my shoulder felt after the last range trip, I ordered a CV recoil pad from Amazon. I was looking for a PAST pad, but Amazon didn't list them and the reviews of the CV were positive. I haven't tried it yet -- too much rain -- but maybe this week. I'm not sure why I still want to shoot big bore stuff -- the little calibers are fun too. And I know I won't be hunting any more Cape Buffalo. My last one was a little over 50 years ago and I don't move as fast, see as clearly, or hear worth a darn. In fact I gave up flying five years ago when I was having trouble understanding ATC. Gave it up two years after getting my Wright Brothers Award.

fred.lasor@gmail.com on Rip off

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 21:08:53 +0000

$120 Is more or less reasonable for shipping, but the $250 top-up is unconscionable. He is more than tripling the shipping cost because he's apparently not happy with the hammer price. That, however, is how auctions go. You either accept the hammer price or you don't sell at auction. I have sold farm equipment at auction and did not get as much as I hoped for, but by putting it in the auction I figured I had accepted their sale as final. The word unscrupulous comes to mind.

Rick C on 14” Trapper Carbine 1873 Winchester

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 12:24:49 +0000

MidwestCrisis said
So I what I’m understanding here is… it’s not a firearm, so no issues. Unless it happens to be a firearm in which case without ATF exemption, it’s a prison sentence.

1873man said
I posted this earlier and this looks like the clearance letter although its a copy from what see handwritten on the top. Block 19 is checked and says it legal to own as long as state and local regulations don't forbid it. The ATF would check with Cody to verify its configuration and I had already checked with Cody as well and it said it a 14" carbine so the serial number comes back good.
Bob
Correction, I think I got this confussed with the clearance letter, This looks like the tax application to the past owner.

Pending my state and local regulations, I personally would have no issues possessing or selling this antique status trapper. The Cody letter and other documentation appears legitimate, and the serial numbers don’t look messed with(forged).
As far as the legalities that apply to an owner/seller, there would have to be “intent” to defraud which in most legal systems is a necessary component to secure a criminal conviction, or certain civil liabilities. I definitely don’t see that here. Nice trapper. Wish it was mine!

1873man on 14” Trapper Carbine 1873 Winchester

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:52:02 +0000

I posted this earlier and this looks like the clearance letter although its a copy from what see handwritten on the top. Block 19 is checked and says it legal to own as long as state and local regulations don't forbid it. The ATF would check with Cody to verify its configuration and I had already checked with Cody as well and it said it a 14" carbine so the serial number comes back good.

Bob

Correction, I think I got this confussed with the clearance letter, This looks like the tax application to the past owner.

steve004 on 14” Trapper Carbine 1873 Winchester

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 21:56:14 +0000

Anthony said

Steve,

Here's the letter previously posted by Bob, 1873man, sent to him by the OP! I did find it interesting that the serial number application date wasn't available as it stated near the top of the letter.

Tony

Tony - I also found it interesting that the museum did not have the serial number application date available. However, given they do state the shipping dates, at least there is no question about the carbine's antique status.

Anthony on 14” Trapper Carbine 1873 Winchester

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 17:33:07 +0000

Steve,

Here's the letter previously posted by Bob, 1873man, sent to him by the OP! I did find it interesting that the serial number application date wasn't available as it stated near the top of the letter.

Tony

steve004 on 14” Trapper Carbine 1873 Winchester

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 17:09:45 +0000

In the event the owner has a Cody letter confirming the short barrel status, if that is sent in with the carbine to the ATF for inspection, I wonder if they would confirm the letter status with the museum? I suspect ATF is aware of faked museum letters. If one is purchasing one of these short rifles or carbines and it has a museum letter, it would be very wise due diligence to confirm the letter is authentic.

Anthony on 14” Trapper Carbine 1873 Winchester

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 16:07:53 +0000

MidwestCrisis said
So I what I’m understanding here is… it’s not a firearm, so no issues. Unless it happens to be a firearm in which case without ATF exemption, it’s a prison sentence.

I would not classify this as not being a firearm, but an "Antique Firearm", as the Pre-1899 serial number indicates! If it's gun, rifle, carbine and or shoots ammunition out the end of a barrel, isn't that a Firearm?

Not looking for an argument, but the 14 inch barrel seems to make all the difference as it's shorter than the 16 inch barrel, SBR, (short barrel rifle), parameters that the ATF, consider a very important issue here.

1873man said
The only issue with I can see with just using antique status as a legal short gun is if it was a fake gun. You buy or sell one that has been modified by shortening the barrel or you have the serial number restamped, now you my have a legal issue with it. That is what the ATF does when they inspect the gun is to make sure it was originally a short gun. Having the ATF clearance letter would make me sleep better.
Bob

I am in agreement with Bob here. With that said, the OP, (owner), has the Cody letter showing the configuration it's in, but not the ATF Paper Work, showing exactly what Bob is referring to.

Tony

MidwestCrisis on 14” Trapper Carbine 1873 Winchester

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 15:04:18 +0000

So I what I’m understanding here is… it’s not a firearm, so no issues. Unless it happens to be a firearm in which case without ATF exemption, it’s a prison sentence.

1873man on 14” Trapper Carbine 1873 Winchester

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:39:35 +0000

The only issue with I can see with just using antique status as a legal short gun is if it was a fake gun. You buy or sell one that has been modified by shortening the barrel or you have the serial number restamped, now you my have a legal issue with it. That is what the ATF does when they inspect the gun is to make sure it was originally a short gun. Having the ATF clearance letter would make me sleep better.

Bob

steve004 on 14” Trapper Carbine 1873 Winchester

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:30:36 +0000

Anthony said
Steve,
I also was looking at that list and didn't see the OP's firearm listed.
I'm in agreement with the arguments here as the OP, having documentation, verifying the status from Cody as the Pre-1899 Antique M-1873 left the factory as is, with the 14 inch barrel, should be automatically on the C & R List! IMHO!
With the proper documentation verifying that it hasn't been altered or a cut down version of a longer barreled rifle.
It's a collectable antique rifle and nothing more. For some reason, any firearm shorter than the 16 inch barrel, the ATF seems to have an issue with. We as a collectors group, would most certainly like to see the ATF, make some changes in these regards.
The other issue is the different and vague answers when trying to find out more from this Government agency. Some may consider it a grey area, but it needs to be addressed.
We have an honest collector here trying to get some answers and all we can do is suggest he goes to the ATF, and get this thing on the list, or at least exempt with current paper work!
Tony

Tony - but given the antique status, does it even need to be on the C&R list at all? Technically, it is an antique rifle, not a C&R or modern rifle. C&R rules shouldn't apply.

Back to the list I posted earlier, I should have highlighted that the 14 inch barreled Model 1886 they list, is a .33. That caught my attention. I sure would like to know more about that rifle including its other features, who bought it, what it was used for etc. Anyone here have it?