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Being fairly new at owning old Winchesters I have a question on barrel lengths of the 1873. Other than carbines what are the most standard lengths in rifles? I know the shortest length without papers is 16″ but what were the longest? What is the standard diameter? I learn more from people than books.
thanks all
I was wrong, once, but I *think* 36″ was the longest. I will shortly be corrected if’n I’m wrong again.
Standard barrel length for 1873 sporting rifles was 24 inches. Barrel diameter seems to depend on when the rifle was made and its caliber for standard weight barrels. I have not recorded barrel diameter at the breech. I have seen .38 and .32 caliber barrels and they are lighter than those for .44 caliber rifles. Another clinker is the short rifles. They mostly (but not always) use smaller diameter barrels at the breech end and have the corresponding “step” in the receiver used by .38 and 32 caliber guns. Confusing eh? I wish I could tell you there are no deviations from standard, but hey, this is Winchester.
From my observations, 1st and 2nd model rifles had slightly heavier barrels than 3rd models in .44 WCF.
From rifles in my collection or previously mine, I have recorded:
SN 15,259 .44 WCF, 1st model round barrel, 24 inch length, .820″ muzzle diameter
SN 30,545 .44 WCF, 2nd model octagon barrel, 30 inch length, .785″ muzzle across flats
SN 252,806 .44 WCF, 3rd model round barrel, 24 inch length, .810″ muzzle diameter
SN 321,821 .38 WCF, 3rd model octagon barrel, 28 inch length, .725″ muzzle across flats
SN 453,520 .44 WCF, 3rd model octagon barrel, 24 inch length, .816″ muzzle across flats
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
Bill Hockett said
SN 30,545 .44 WCF, 2nd model octagon barrel, 30 inch length, .785″ muzzle across flats
SN 321,821 .38 WCF, 3rd model octagon barrel, 28 inch length, .725″ muzzle across flats
Sweet!
AS to barrel lengths for a rifle they went from 14″ to 36″
The breech diameter will be larger for the 44 at .944″ average and the muzzle is .810″ average. The 38 and 32 will be smaller with a breech of .876″ average and the muzzle average of .740″. Muzzle diameters will vary depending on length, normally a extra length will be smaller than a standard length barrel but that is not always the case. Now this is just for full octagon barrels. I didn’t do any research on round barrels.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Thanks for the education. I just picked up a 30″ bbl. in 32-20. Caliber marking on the barrel says 32-cal. as well as the lifter. When did they stop marking the caliber that way on the barrel? Answered my own ? on model #.
2nd model went to 100,000 so its a third model. The ultimate tell is the dust cover rail. Is it screwed on to the receiver or is part of the receiver? The second model was screwed on.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
I was drooling around the interwebs about 5 (?) years ago and there seemed to be a bunch of 30″ers out there, and a few 32″ and a 36″. I think they were different owners and several out of Texas. All dark guns (my favorite) and reasonably priced. Did I buy any? No. Now, how to get this boot out of my rear? 
Not the dust cover but the rail it slides on.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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