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April 11, 2021
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Greetings all!
Family heirloom coming home shortly. Reclaiming even 1 firearm from this historic family collection is a childhood and adult dream come true!!!
A couple of you saw this rifle I posted on the online gun values board (Bert H and 1873Man), but here it is for this board to see.
38-40 caliber, S/N 200721 B
March 1886 manufacture.
I’ve sent for its letter as well.
This is the only pic I have so far. I expect to have it in hand within a week or 2. I will post more pics and details then.
I grew up literally in this firearms collection as it occupied most of my great grandparents home in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Undoubtedly, many of you own historic firearms from this collection. The most valuable were sold off when I was young and the rest of the collection when my Granny passed in 1988. I was not told of the estate sale out of fear that I would be upset. As a poor college student I couldn’t have done much, but who needs a car, I’d have bought what I could!!!
I’m trying to locate the collection inventory records. I pray they still exist, I suspect they will make some owners very happy as they reportedly held a lot of detail on each firearm!
My hope is to reclaim a least 1 representative firearm of each type from this collection. #1 is on its way!
Thanks in advance for all your knowledge!
Matt
Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
April 11, 2021
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Thanks Limestone!
Getting this rifle has rekindled my often delayed dream of putting together a representative sample of this once epic collection.
I’ll boast on the former collection a bit. It contained firearms, well documented ones, belonging to wild west outlaws and Civil War Generals from both sides.
That’s why the old inventory records are vitally important. I’m not likely to get one of those, but one can dream!
Take care!
Matt
Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
March 21, 2016
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Appears to be a very nice 1873, though it’s hard tp tell much from the photo. Congrats!
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
April 11, 2021
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Thanks Kevin! I’ll post up more once its in my hands.
Matt
Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
April 11, 2021
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Quick update. It has been a bit of a process. I’m securing insurance (Eastern) this week prior to shipment.
I had a new Pelican 1750 double rifle case drop shipped to my relative along with rifle socks, tape and locks. Happily, upon discovery it was a double rifle case he decided to send me a send me a second rifle from our long lost family collection.
So I’m getting a sweet 1873 in 38-40 and a mid-1900’s .22 Marlin 39A lever action with factory scope(I believe). He’s keeping the Red Ryder.
Here is a pic of My incoming rifles
Please note the bluing on the 1873 looks pretty amazing in this new pic. At least to my untrained eye.
Take care!
Matt
Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
April 11, 2021
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I secured the 1873 last night. It and a pristine and scoped up Marlin 39A arrived at my 2nd cousin FFL Tuesday.
His usual UPS driver was on vacation so the contract driver left them propped against the door without a signature. BEWARE UPS. Fortunately they were not stolen nor damaged. Pelican1750 in a cardboard box performed nicely! His usual driver has his cell number and will call whenever he has a package coming. He prefers USPS because they’ll hold packages at the post office if not deliverable.
Back to the rifle, it is in better condition than the previously depicted. A few use marks here and there, but a very nice (and correct) patina to the blueing, no signs of work, wood looks to fit perfectly, bore looks great, and not abused. Although I did spot 1 or 2 buggerd up screw slots, but most looked un or only lightly touched.
Pics shortly as soon as I can line up my work photographer. She’s awesome, and also the owner of a family heirloom 1873 out of Oklahoma!
I will need some help cleaning it. It sat in a closet untouched for 55 years in a gun sleeve that degraded badly. I think the dust cover was open the entire time leaving a fibrous gummy mess in the action where the decomposed padding combined with gun oil. This left the action feeling just a gummy and still as you would expect. Trigger is surprisingly crisp, better than some Glocks I’ve had
I’m super interested to hear the board’s evaluation once I get pics and the letter posted.
Thanks,
Matt
Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
November 7, 2015
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Glad your rifle made it safely, my UPS driver left a rifle at my back door awhile back but it was difficult to see from the road. I think my regular driver was off too. They’re all pretty good at hiding stuff but I was very relieved to find it there.
Looking forward to the pics but don’t rush the initial cleaning on our account. Take your time and proceed with caution, if you have any questions post some pics and ask questions.
Mike
April 11, 2021
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Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
April 11, 2021
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Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
April 11, 2021
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Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
April 11, 2021
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Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
April 11, 2021
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Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
April 11, 2021
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Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
April 11, 2021
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Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
March 20, 2010
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Matt, I can appreciate your effort to find those old guns that used to be in the family. Ive seen a couple of guns from my dads collection from the 60-70’s show up on some of the big auction sites in the last 10 years. Unfortunately my pockets arent deep enough to bring any back home.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
May 2, 2009
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Matt,
I wouldn’t clean the exterior of the gun just the bore and the exposed breech interior that you can see with a tooth brush or Q-tip to get rid of the fuzz.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
December 21, 2006
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I like it Matthew, congratulations. Now it begins for You.lol
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
November 7, 2015
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1873man said
Matt,I wouldn’t clean the exterior of the gun just the bore and the exposed breech interior that you can see with a tooth brush or Q-tip to get rid of the fuzz.
Bob
Sounds good. Some of the stuff inside the gun may be corrosive or it may be just dust & lint. Exterior looks like an honest gun. Cleaning the interior may prevent further deterioration, aggressively cleaning the exterior may decrease the value. I’d clean the bore & action and shoot it. How’s the bore look?
Mike
April 11, 2021
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Thanks all!!!
Mike, as to the bore, I can see the rifling but it is obscured by that darn yellow fuzz that’s in everything. The yellow fuzz is from the gun sleeve padding that deteriorated over the 56 years it sat in the back of my 2nd cousin’s closet.
Henry, LOL, I’ve always had the obsession, but now its burning a bit hotter! Watched a few Colt Bisley’s and SSA’s in 38-40 over the weekend. Wow, they’re pricey! I’d like to have a set as carried originally.
Based on everyones feedback, I’ll get the internals cleaned up and oiled lightly, hopefully the internals are in good working order.
Can anyone comment on the brass floor plate shown here sitting low when the action is closed? I’d think it should be flush with the bottom of the receiver. 
Anything else your guys can tell me about this rifle would be helpful. I’ll get the letter up shortly, it showed nothing special, pretty standard sounding 1873 in 38-40 by the letter.
Bob, would it have come with the tang tapped and plugged if it didn’t come with a tang sight? Or was the tang tapped later?
Should I wax the exterior as suggested in the NRA Museum care guide?
Lastly, so is it a collector, or a shooter, and any values estimates?
Thanks again!
Matt
Rock Chalk Jayhawk #44
June 4, 2017
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Matt.
Your gun is a third model rifle and the tang sight holes would have been standard.
From the pictures your gun looks to have traces of original blue with color added at a later date, possibly cold blue or browning solution. Products like G96, WD40, and other cleaning/rust removers can remove the smooze but will destroy the aged look. Just plain motor oil on a rag won’t, it’s the best thing on the metal surfaces but keep it off the wood. As to the wood wax is good.
Collectible gun, value $1500. nice example of an old 1873. The value to you as a family heirloom is priceless, enjoy it. T/R
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