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What was serial number cut off on the thumb print?
http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/winchester-1873-raised-thumbprint-dustcover-w5727/#.U4ZZMjh8OUk
If memory serves around 2,500. But I’ll see if I can confirm that when I get a minute.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
The gun is right, in his text he misquotes the serial number as 708 but the tang is 707 and the fax copy is 707. It has the reverse rear barrel sight which is correct for the first 1250 or so. It has the correct early first model receiver. The thumb print did go to about 2500.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Just to get a little more specific. In Gordon’s book he lists the serial range from 1-2500. The last gun he has pictured being a carbine #2381. And the first small oval dust cover pictured is a musket #2705. Not to long ago #2681 having the raised thumbprint dust cover was auctioned by Greg Martin. So I would imagine not much past 2700 will any raised thumbprint covers be found.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Wow I dint realize their was so few, I was thinking they went to 9k. Thanks for the information. That’s a sweet gun! Do you think it will fetch that price?
I don’t know if it’ll sell for that, but he’s sure right when he says "This is a gun that would be near impossible to improve upon".
In my opinion I imagine the $35,000-40,000 range is closer to what it should be sold for based on guns close in serial range and in condition. But its only worth what it sales for.
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Ok, I get to chime in on this one. I own, and have owned for quite a long while, raised thumbprint SRC serial #2703. We believe it is the highest known raised thumb 73. I have never seen, nor heard of a higher one. I ditto what was said about the numbers in Gordon’s book, and add to it this way.
This past January at the Vegas show, I had a nice conversation with Jim Gordon, mostly about Kentucky Rifles, but I had to ask him about my 73. Basically he said what we all know already, those are estimates based on his survey. A handful of numbers in any direction is completely expected. So for now, I think I have the latest/last legit raised 73. But I guess, another just a few digits more could turn up eventually.
Just to add since I was thinking about this… In Tulsa last month a dealer had 2 raised thumb 73 carbines on his table, both under 1000 serial numbers, but not by much. One was 19" barrel that he tried desperately to legitimize the barrel length, but when I checked it out with my trusty mag glass with the led lights, it was an obvious cut down. I couldn’t tell without the mag glass, but with the led light mag glass it was obvious. He was in denial. He still wanted 27K for an ugly brown carbine.
The second gun was a correct 20" carbine. Clean, smooth, very nice gun with maybe 10% blue with the rest a very pleasing patina. Nice wood, good fit. A gun, anyone would be pleased to own. If it were a later gun, no, but as a raised thumb under 1000 serial number, yes! It was 35K and he said not a penny less and I think he meant it. I have been going to Tulsa since 1980 and I have never seen two raised thumbs there at one show, let alone on one table. He said they were out of his personal collection. Just an FYI.
I’m pretty sure Jerry Senter had three on his table at Tulsa. I told him that’s the most Iv ever seen and he said I have ten more. Impressed me!! 8)
Are you sure they were all RAISED thumbs? Were they carbines or rifles, and what kind of money? There is a distinct difference between a first model and a RAISED first model.
Up on the upper level about a row in I saw 2 or 3 raised thumbprint carbines on a table at the last Tulsa show. In the middle of the lower level on a end table there was a couple raised thumbprint guns.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Yes they were raised he had one high conditioned gun probably 70% or better he turned down 25k for I think it was in the 700s it was a rifle. Then he had two 40% one of each rifle 9s. I think the carbine was 11s.He was middle lower deck. He was also was in Denver I dint go but he did. Ran his table for a little bit so he could eat and freshen up. He was good friends with Harlan Clark and so was I so we kinda knew each other.
I threw a low bid at this gun for 32k and was politely turned down. Figured what the heck! 😉
If that 70% rifle is the same one I looked at on the lower level, It looked like it had some blue added.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
You are correct Bob, the table on the fist row up top had two raised carbines. I examined both in detail.
Since I made my earlier post and since this thread is still going, I have checked my notes. I also have the dealers card, although I make it a habit of not calling people out by name UNLESS they personally do me wrong.
Anyway, they were raised carbines serial #430 and #403. I tell you #430 was 30K and a CORRECT very nice, attractive, brown patina gun with decent wood and good wood to metal fit. If it were a late 3rd model you wouldn’t want it at all, but make it a raised 3 digit and it is very nice. I’d also mention it had a slight flashes of blue in protected areas, maybe 5-7% or something small. Good honest gun. I liked it.
#403 is a different story, and was $21,500. But I wouldn’t buy it for half that. It’s a shame dealer was in denial, claiming it was factory, but trust when I tell you I"m right, he is not. It was cut down to 19 inches, and NOT factory. But, it was a true #403 raised thumb carbine. I don’t know about you, but I won’t own a cut down gun. #403 was plain brown, "blah" type gun. Not attractive.
I never saw the other ones on the lower level, wish I had. But as far as these two carbines, I examined them well. I tend to pay attention to raised thumb 73’s and early 1st model 66 carbines.
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