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1866 Saddle Ring Carbine

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July 25, 2013 - 7:15 pm

Just wondering if this rifle looks like it is all original, refinished or not, and what it’s value may be. The only marking I can find is the serial number behind the trigger, I don’t see anything on the barrel. I do believe that it was manufactured in 1870. Thanks for any help.

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twobit

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July 25, 2013 - 7:25 pm

Hello,

The receiver has definitely been buffed, resulting in soft and rounded edges. The wood has been sanded and refinished. The barrel should be marked similar to the photo below.
[Image Can Not Be Found]

Michael

Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation

Bert H.

Kingston, WA

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July 25, 2013 - 7:30 pm

No, it does not look original (nor is it).

Nearly all of the screws are replacements, the receiver frame has been harshly buffed/polished and cleaned. Both barrel bands are mounted backwards, the butt stock is cracked & repaired, and has been sanded & refinished. Neither the front or rear sight is original.

Bert

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1873man

Wisconsin

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July 25, 2013 - 7:52 pm

I would add that the lower tang may have been broken or bent and straightened. There is a suspicious line running across it through the lever latch. I would guess it worth $3500 to $4000.

Bob

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Cody Firearms member since 1991
Researching the Winchester 1873's

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twobit

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July 25, 2013 - 8:23 pm

Bob,

Does the serial number look a little ‘too fresh’ to you? The lower tang has obviously beed buffed transverse to its length and there are numerous indentations around the numbers yet the individual digits are not marred and are not very smoothed over from the buffing.

Michael

Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation

1873man

Wisconsin

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July 25, 2013 - 8:37 pm

Michael,

I saw the denting, I figure the gun was fairly bad shape and that is reason for the extreme buffing but they just did the minimum around the numbers to preserve them.

Bob

WACA Life Member---
NRA Life Member----
Cody Firearms member since 1991
Researching the Winchester 1873's

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oakridge

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July 26, 2013 - 5:54 am

And the wire wheel they used on the rusty and pitted barrel removed what was left of markings.

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July 27, 2013 - 12:00 pm

Thanks for all the replies and info gentlemen. I figured that since it didn’t have any markings on the barrel and the stocks are in such good condition for its age that it had some work done to it, I just didn’t know to what extent.

I’ve tried to do some research on this rifle since I posted this and I’ve seen different "issues" and "models" referred to from 1st to 4th. What designates the different models? Is there a website that details all of the changes that Winchester made to the 1866 model?

Thanks

Bert H.

Kingston, WA

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July 27, 2013 - 12:07 pm

The Carbine in question is a 3rd variation Model 1866. I am not aware of a website that discusses the 1st through 4th variations, but my good friend Larry Shennum and I discussed it in Chapter 3 of our reference book "The RED BOOK of WINCHESTER Values".

Bert

WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L