Is this gun right? Awful nice gun for some unknown guy making questionable boxes and crates to have. Wouldn’t a high grade gun like this normally have some provenance of ownership? It is not something you just found behind a barn door. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=430485297
The only thing that catches my eye is the butt plate has been replated.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
The butt plate has 100% nickle, not even corner wear as far as I can see and judging from the lack of varnish on the receiver I would say the rifle got used some but taken care of. There should be some loss of finish on the butt plate since historically that is the first place you lose finish.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
The butt plate has 100% nickle, not even corner wear as far as I can see and judging from the lack of varnish on the receiver I would say the rifle got used some but taken care of. There should be some loss of finish on the butt plate since historically that is the first place you lose finish.Bob
Nickle is quite durable, and this gun was obviously handled carefully.
1873man said
The butt plate has 100% nickle, not even corner wear as far as I can see and judging from the lack of varnish on the receiver I would say the rifle got used some but taken care of. There should be some loss of finish on the butt plate since historically that is the first place you lose finish.Bob
When I first got interested in collecting a guy who had been collecting Winchesters for many years told me he always looked at the butt plate really good to start with on a gun for the same reasons that Bob mentioned. I’m not commenting on this particular gun, just a good memory I had forgotten about.
Brad
wolfbait said
Nickle is quite durable, and this gun was obviously handled carefully.
You are mistaken. The nickel plating that Winchester used was not durable, and it quickly wore very thin.
Bert
As did the case hardening and stock varnish, but this gun obviously saw very little use and was well cared for. It was not dragged around in the woods and stored in the barn. Again, this is quite a gun, one you would think had some known provenance. But it is offered by the same guy with the other high grade guns with the questionable boxes and crates. Lives in a town of 3000 people, is not known to attend the major auctions or gun shows, and he keeps coming up with this stuff.
This one held up quite well, and it was obviously a using gun, not a wall flower like the one we are discussing. I have seen pictures of other super high grade original nickle Winchesters where the nickle looked like new. But a hands on inspection of this gun would tell more. http://live.littlejohnsauctionservice.com/Rare-factory-nickel-plated-Model-1873-Winchester-lever-action-rifle-in-22-short-cal-200200B-wi_i14986150
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