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June 26, 2013
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If so, what are the key indicators? To me it’s hard to tell. Just looking to broaden my eduaction…
December 28, 2009
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I am not close to being and expert. two things strike me about this rifle one they didn’t show the serial number and two it just looks to good. I think old refinish but like I said I am not close to being an expert just my feelings
The screws look somewhat battered compared to the condition of the rest of the rifle. The wood fit up looks off for a XX fancy deluxe.
Gene
March 20, 2010
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My first impression is that the rifle has been refinished. The color case hardening on the receiver, lever, and forearm cap arent the right combination of colors, too much browns/black/blue colors, lack of yellows, greens and reds. the wood is nice but the checking on the stocks looks a little too fresh, the finish on the stocks is too lite, most of these have a deep lacquer or oil finish. You can see the finish used in the photo with the forearm cap, the open grain and indentations next to the forearm cap are varnished over. Also too, if you look at the photo with the front sight, you can see there is a dent in the corner of the flats that is 100% blue–most dents like this will show some sort of bare metal where the blued finish has been taken off.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
May 24, 2012
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My first impression is that it is an old refinish as well.
April 15, 2005
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I too believe that it has been refinished, but it was a fairly decent attempt.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
May 2, 2009
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Most of you have caught the signs. Case colors too dark, wood finish has open grain, dent in flat of barrel is blued and wood fit is poor for the condition of the gun.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
June 26, 2013
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Thanks guys. I appreciate the education. Like most collectors, I prefer original finish guns and will pass on a restoration. Some of these restorations are getting harder to identify and the more I can learn the better off I will be. The price of this rifle was on the extreme low end if it were original, so the old saying "if it’s too good to be true…" seems right on.
