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Here’s a pretty tidy ’73, I especially like the sights on it that actually letter.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Henry, great rifle to have and to share with us! Surely do hope it now isn’t “for sale” like your other two! Tim.
Henry,
That’s a nice rifle. The level of engraving is just right in my opinion.
Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Al
Henry,
You have one problem with the gun. When a gun letters with a peep it is the early external spring tang sight, the predecessor to the graduated peep. The tang sight on there is the Folding Peep and didn’t come out until 1881 two years after your gun was made. The problem is to find a peep is very very hard. otherwise its a nice gun. Its pictured in the Madis book around page 141 depending on what printing you have.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Tim I guess I gotta say it’s not “for sale” but it is available. And thanks Bob for the clarification on the sight.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Now here’s a pair; Can You imagine Mr. and Mrs Jacob Pioneer going out for the night, about 1873.
Mr. totin’ his trusty Winchester and Mrs. with the little Colt at the ready, I wonder if She had a concealed /carry permit for that thing
OH ya’ I’m still looking for a rear sight like the one on the ’66, it’s for a ’76 musket
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Henry,
My guess is the peep was a little intrusive for the owner and when the 62b came out it got swapped. That was one of the sales points about the Folding Peep. Pulling the sight and looking at the case under it would answer that question.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Henry, What I meant was “FOR SALE” by the fellow who claimed to be selling your previous two which you shared pictures with us. No offer by me, unless you are having a “fire sale”! 
I just got a rifle that letters almost exactly like yours. Minus the engraving and the timeframe when it was built……Mine also came with the folding 62b sight. I wonder if they just used “peep” as a general term? Ot the person was lazy and decided to just write “peep” instead of “folding Peep”???
Henry Mero said
Here’s a pretty tidy ’73, I especially like the sights on it that actually letter.
After reading this post I am now curious about the tang sight on this 73 of mine. As you can see, the records do not mention any sights. The tang sight on it does not have a manufacturers name – at least nothing my old eyes can see – it is marked PAT. JAN. 29/79. Any info from you guys that know a lot more than me would be appreciated.
Burt,
Thats a Lyman 1 tang sight which was put on a lot of Winchesters. There is a small percentage of guns that do letter with sights.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
Burt,Thats a Lyman 1 tang sight which was put on a lot of Winchesters. There is a small percentage of guns that do letter with sights.
Bob
Thanks Bob – I did do a little more reading and found that the early sights did not have the manufacturers name on them, only the patent date.
Like bob said, it’s a Lyman No 1, more specifically a No 1 Second variation. The Second variation (patented May 6, 1884) did away with the thick sight base for a slimmer one, got rid of the large knurled thumbscrew and replaced it with the hair spring allowing the sight to be “locked”. Also the elevation thimble knurling was made coarse.
Most often than not, special order sights don’t letter, so you you need to know the sights, were they period correct and do they match the condition of then rifle. Check the finish on the upper tang. When they letter, I just consider that a cool bonus, as I love special order sights on a rifle.
matt
Matt74 said
Like bob said, it’s a Lyman No 1, more specifically a No 1 Second variation. The Second variation (patented May 6, 1884) did away with the thick sight base for a slimmer one, got rid of the large knurled thumbscrew and replaced it with the hair spring allowing the sight to be “locked”. Also the elevation thimble knurling was made coarse.Most often than not, special order sights don’t letter, so you you need to know the sights, were they period correct and do they match the condition of then rifle. Check the finish on the upper tang. When they letter, I just consider that a cool bonus, as I love special order sights on a rifle.
matt
Matt – thanks for the additional information – I must admit I am not that well versed on sights. Like you and others have noted in this post, if you have special order sights which are noted in the records, it is a plus. See the attached photos – if you like special order sights that letter, you will like this one. Burt
In the 73’s only 4.4% of the guns letter with sights.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
I understand Winchester used these sights as early as 1879, even though they weren’t patented until 1881. Now saying that is repeating what I’ve been told by a few old time collectors. Like Burt said, I’m not well versed on sights either. This one certainly looks as though it belongs to this gun or else it’s been on there forever.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Burt,
That Marbles Sheard 3 Leaf has always been one of my favourites. I had a chance to pick one up at a show in NY state several years ago, it was NOS, I wish I had bought it. It was priced reasonable, I have kicked myself ever since. I have never actually seen one on a Winchester. I have also never heard of it being referred to as a Barringer sight. Only Barringer sight I have seen before was a front sight. Always seen it referred to as a Sheard 3 Leaf Adjustable. Just love that sight though.
matt
Henry Mero said
I understand Winchester used these sights as early as 1879, even though they weren’t patented until 1881. Now saying that is repeating what I’ve been told by a few old time collectors. Like Burt said, I’m not well versed on sights either. This one certainly looks as though it belongs to this gun or else it’s been on there forever.
Does it have the patent stamp on it? I have never seen one without.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
Does it have the patent stamp on it? I have never seen one without.
Bob
The sight on the 86 is marked” W.F.Sheard Tacoma Wash. Patent Applied For”. At some time I am sure I have seen the Barringer term discussed here on the Forum but I do not remember the details.
November 7, 2015
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Burt Humphrey said
The sight on the 86 is marked” W.F.Sheard Tacoma Wash. Patent Applied For”. At some time I am sure I have seen the Barringer term discussed here on the Forum but I do not remember the details.
Maybe this is the thread you remember, Burt.
Mike
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/sheard-marking-on-1886-rifle/
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