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There’s a new series out on cable TV called, “1883”. It’s a western of course and is supposed to take place in 1883. There’s a scene where the main good guy pulls out a single shot rifle to blow someone off their horse. It’s clearly a, “High Wall” rifle. Weathered and well-worn! I’m sure a microscopic percentage of those viewing this show had any clue the Winchester Single-Shot would not be available for sale in 1883, yet it bugged me. Anyone else watching this series? I just watched the one episode.
I just happened to be looking at the Rock Island Auction site and they have an article on the guns of, “1883.” They acknowledge it couldn’t have been a High Wall used in 1883 but make the case the, “Browning Bros. small bore 1879 patent single shot rifle would have been available during the era of the TV series.” Well, ok… but that was not a Browning Bros. rifle the actor was shooting – nor a replica of a Browning Bros. rifle.
steve004 said They acknowledge it couldn’t have been a High Wall used in 1883 but make the case the, “Browning Bros. small bore 1879 patent single shot rifle would have been available during the era of the TV series.”
“Small bore”? Were any made smaller than maybe .38-55? From what I can make out in the blurry photo of the so-called “Malcolm” scope, it’s one of those garish Leatherwoods, that bear only the most superficial resemblance to a Malcolm. Of course, using more accurate replicas, or even originals, would be a wasted effort on 99% of the audience.
Steve I caught the scene with the highwall and thought the same thing. It’s like the colts they used with the smokeless frames that came out around 1886. I will have to go back and watch the scene where the sister kills herself. If my memory is correct the gun she used was too small to be an 1860 Army.
I too saw that scene and even commented to my wife that it was bogus. The rifle that Tim Mcgraw pulled out to dispatch the bad guys appears to be a Winchester Single Shot high-wall, not an original Browning Single Shot. Further, in all of my travels, I have never encountered an original Browning Single shot rifle smaller than .40 caliber (and I have examined at least 50 of them over the past 40 years).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said Further, in all of my travels, I have never encountered an original Browning Single shot rifle smaller than .40 caliber (and I have examined at least 50 of them over the past 40 years).
Bert
The 1961 Rifleman article about them states that .40-70 Sharps was the smallest caliber Browning made.
clarence said
The 1961 Rifleman article about them states that .40-70 Sharps was the smallest caliber Browning made.
Hmmm… interesting. I am a bit too young to have read that article though (my birthday is August 1960).
I have found a fair number of the Browning Single Shot rifles in both 40-70 Sharps and 40-90 Sharps.
Bert (a.k.a. the “Youngster”)
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I went back and looked at the suicide scene. The gun she used looks more like a pocket navy. Notice the gun has a short octagon barrel. These 36 caliber guns were often used for conversions.
Bert H. said
Hmmm… interesting. I am a bit too young to have read that article though (my birthday is August 1960).
I have found a fair number of the Browning Single Shot rifles in both 40-70 Sharps and 40-90 Sharps.
Bert (a.k.a. the “Youngster”)
Excellent 3 pg piece by Kingsley Karnopp. If you can’t find it in one of the Rifleman archives, can make copy.
clarence said
Excellent 3 pg piece by Kingsley Karnopp. If you can’t find it in one of the Rifleman archives, can make copy.
If you have it handy, I would appreciate a copy (or scan) of the article.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
If you have it handy, I would appreciate a copy (or scan) of the article.
Bert
It’s handy only because I tore it out & stuck it in Campbell’s book. I’ll try to figure out how to use my scanner again.
clarence said
It’s handy only because I tore it out & stuck it in Campbell’s book. I’ll try to figure out how to use my scanner again.
Thanks… I appreciate the effort!
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
steve004 said
I just happened to be looking at the Rock Island Auction site and they have an article on the guns of, “1883.”
RIA is a well oiled selling machine and “guns-of-1883-yellowstone-prequel” is good for gun sales of old guns. The Tom Selleck movies, Quigley and Crossfir.e pushed Sharps and 1876 Winchesters values at the time. 1883 might spark new interest. T/R
I started watching this with the Mrs a couple of weeks ago and we are enjoying it. And yes, the country and Western singer Tim Mcgraw with an 1885 in a show titled 1883 was quite funny.
But overall it’s a good show that we like so far.
A man can never have too many WINCHESTERS...
Aussie Chris said
I started watching this with the Mrs a couple of weeks ago and we are enjoying it. And yes, the country and Western singer Tim Mcgraw with an 1885 in a show titled 1883 was quite funny.But overall it’s a good show that we like so far.
And the fact that said Winchester single-shot was quite worn and weathered!
Also interesting that Western singer Tim McGraw is in “1883” and Trace Adkins in in, “Old Henry.”
steve004 said rnThere’s a new series out on cable TV called, “1883”. It’s a western of course and is supposed to take place in 1883. There’s a scene where the main good guy pulls out a single shot rifle to blow someone off their horse. It’s clearly a, “High Wall” rifle. Weathered and well-worn! I’m sure a microscopic percentage of those viewing this show had any clue the Winchester Single-Shot would not be available for sale in 1883, yet it bugged me. Anyone else watching this series? I just watched the one episode. rn rn
DontneedagunbutIgoto said
steve004 said rnThere’s a new series out on cable TV called, “1883”. It’s a western of course and is supposed to take place in 1883. There’s a scene where the main good guy pulls out a single shot rifle to blow someone off their horse. It’s clearly a, “High Wall” rifle. Weathered and well-worn! I’m sure a microscopic percentage of those viewing this show had any clue the Winchester Single-Shot would not be available for sale in 1883, yet it bugged me. Anyone else watching this series? I just watched the one episode. rn rn
For what it is worth, the Browning brothers were manufacturing the Single Shot rifle as early as the year 1879. Winchester bought the patent from them in December 1883, and then began production of the Winchester Single Shot in September 1885. The Browning Brothers manufactured more than 500 rifle before Winchester bought it from them.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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