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August 26, 2013
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Yesterday, I went by a friend’s shop to pick up an old 1877 Colt for another friend. While there, I looked down in a box on the bench and found a large pile of pieces that, when assembled, could be someone’s old 1866 Winchester rifle. The story was an old barn find. Someone had polished the receiver almost to a pulp, but the serial number was still there.
SN was 26690 if I remember correctly. My question is there was an “L” stamped at the end of the number, but turned 90 degrees from the serial number. What, if anything, is the significance of the “L”?
The wood had been Tru Oil’ed with dozens of coats of oil so it was a shiny mess. The barrel appeared untouched and was just about the only thing nice about the gun.
I’ve not seen any Winchester’s this old before and it was still neat. Sure wish it hadn’t been “fixed” by someone in the past.
Thanks,
Tim
May 2, 2009
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Tim,
The letter has nothing to do with the serial number. It was to identify the guy who fit or assembled the gun and was stamped sideways.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
