1873 short rifle |Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Gunsnfishin said
Just bought at auction havnt received yet a1873- serial 123975  32-20 cal with a 18” barrel -octagon – any one have info on the rarity of this gun ?
  

Our resident member and 1873 expert, 1873man will be along and help you with you’re questions. In the meantime the serial number that you posted indicates it was mfg. in 1883, and is very helpful, but pictures will also help out, and we enjoy seeing them also.

Edited; I see you posted some pictures after I sent this. Looks like a very nice SBR. I’m pretty confident that the 18 inch Octagon barrel, in the .32-20 caliber is a pretty hard to find configuration, and I would be inclined to want to see better pictures when you receive it. Gordon may only have one recorded in his book from his older previous survey. We’ll see what Bob has on it. I’m hoping a Cody letter came with it or one can be obtained, verifying the above information.

Here’s an older post the 1873man,(Bob), posted.

https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/winchester-mod-73-32-20/

Tony

1873man said
Well that post you linked to Tony is a little dated and I have found more since. The survey is up to 20630 guns of which 16319 are rifles, Including the one you just bought brings it up to 8  with 18″ barrels which is .049% of the rifles. Yours is the second 18″ in 32 cal. There are 5 in 44 and 1 in amazingly in 22 short.
Bob
  

Bob,

I was hoping that you’d come back with more information and verified examples from you’re time consuming survey work that helps us all. That good to hear as I think the 32-20 first came out in the fall of 1882, making this #123975, an early one. IMO! A Cody letter will be great to confirm it.

Tony

Gunsnfishin said
Sent for letter – anxious to get this in my hands – it has a small repair on the fore end but nothing major – at $2500 with buyers premium and shipping I’m sure I won’t be disappointed 
  

Thinking that the Cody letter will verify this attractive example, I would certainly be anxious also! We look forward to seeing the letter.

At $2,500.00 all tolled, it sure looks like you did well with you’re purchase.  

Thanks for sharing.

Tony

Gunsnfishin said

Gunsnfishin said
I also have a 1873- 32-20- special order 28” barrel serial 217936
  

Cody letter gave little info – no barrel length or date serial was put on just recieved on Oct 4 1886
  

Maybe it was sent back to Winchester and the special order extra length barrel of 28″ was added.

Bob,

That a nice extra length special order 32″ rifle!

Tony

steve004 said

Anthony said

Gunsnfishin said

Gunsnfishin said
I also have a 1873- 32-20- special order 28” barrel serial 217936
  

Cody letter gave little info – no barrel length or date serial was put on just recieved on Oct 4 1886
  

Maybe it was sent back to Winchester and the special order extra length barrel of 28″ was added.
 
Bob,
That a nice extra length special order 32″ rifle!
Tony
  

I agree – look at the condition of Bob’s 32 inch .32.  Very high condition.  And I believe that’s a #62 tang sight as well.  Super.  
  

You’re correct Steve, and it has the small stud that is screwed in to hold the 62-B tang sight in place when down. How about the “Set Trigger”?

Tony

1873man said
Thanks guys, That one walked into the Sioux Falls gun show in 2007. I must of belonged to the guys grandfather or relative because he didn’t know what he had.  He asked me if this was a 1 of 1000 so I had to explain what it was. 
I see there are several extra long 73’s in the August RIA auction. A deluxe 36, a 34, a 32 and a 30. I still haven’t got through all of them. Time for you guys to fill all those missing barrel lengths in your collection. 
Bob
  

I have to admit I have more than a few of those….

I had not looked at this upcoming auction.  I’m off to take a look.