Model 73 "made for 1876 Centennial Exhibition"|Page 3|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

win38-55 said

Something that has crossed my mind is that a counterfeiter could build rifles to match factory letters and hope that the original rifle does not surface until after he has sold it. The expense involved would rule out ordinary rifles, but if a disreputable person found a factory letter that described a deluxe special order rifle, he might be tempted. Still, the cost of doing a good job on it vs. the risk and the net profit would make this an ‘iffy’ proposition.

That is exactly what happened with the bottom rifle on the cover of Dr. Ed Lewis’s Book.

Except the counterfeiter didn’t know that the factory ledger was written wrong and the real rifle is a actually a 1 of 100 and not a 1 of 1000. 

twobit said

Shouldn’t the lever be case colored???

Michael

Originally it most likely was, or may of had a different lever altogether. This gun was restored and reblued in the 1950s by the Winchester Factory. The factory no longer did color case hardening and so the lever was blued. 

Sincerely,

Maverick

apache said

Maverick;

      On the cover of Dr. Ed Lewis’s book on the Winchester 1 of 100’s and 1 of 1000 rifles you mention a 1 of 100 mistaken for a 1of 1000. My question is did E.L. in the book describe the Winchester correctly or as a 1 of 1000? I never got around to purchasing the Lewis book on the subject, thus I’m curious as to what he said it was. 

Apache.

NO. You read that wrong or I guess I didn’t explain it well enough or something.  What I stated (or meant to get across) is the fact that the “Counterfeiter” made a One of One Thousand from the ledger of a serial number that is actually a One Of One Hundred. The faked 1 of 1000 was thought to be genuine for years and is in even R.L. Wilson’s book. Even knowing this the FAKE sold at auction not to long ago for 5 figures. Go figure.  

To answer your question, Dr. Lewis describes the Winchester Correctly and several others. There are very few errors, at all in Ed’s book and it is well done. I’d splurge $50 and get yourself a copy, as it a good read. 

Sincerely,

Maverick