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April 14, 2026
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I’ll try posting this again, the first and attempt apparently didn’t go through – not exactly a phone friendly forum 😁
I just got a Cody Museum letter for my 1903 manufactured model 1894. Since I can’t post a photo of it here, I’ll type the details verbatim. It appears to have shipped with a spare plain stock… But the ‘action to interchange’ is the bit that I don’t understand.
Serial number applied on September 15, 1903
Type: Rifle
Caliber: 38/55
Barrel Type: Octagon
Trigger: Plain
Fancy, Pistol grip stock
Takedown
One Plain, Pistol grip stock and action to interchange
Received in warehouse on September 24, 1903
Shipped from warehouse on October 16, 1903, Order number 199013
November 7, 2015
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I would interpret that as the extra stock needed to be fit to the receiver (or action). Some degree of hand fitting was usually required.
Mike
October 29, 2011
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Maybe it was ordered that way–display fancy checkered stock, hunt with plain pistol grip? Bill
March 31, 2009
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Sounds like a nice gun. I agree with Mike and Bill the second stock would have been finished to fit the second action. We don’t know you. Become a Member and we can PM.
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/forum-rules-and-faqs/posting-pictures-2024/
November 19, 2006
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For me, the key here is that it is a takedown rifle.
This was ordered as basically the opposite of ordering a rifle with two barrels/front ends.
And when a rifle was ordered with two barrel/front ends, those front ends were never identical (e.g. different chamberings and/different barrel lengths).
In this case, the stocks were different. And as was suggested, maybe one for display and one for hunting.
And of course, rather than the task of needing to use a screw driver to change the stocks out, the extra receiver was already attached to the buttstock, so the simple operation of the takedown mechanism made the task quite simple.
April 15, 2005
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steve004 said
For me, the key here is that it is a takedown rifle.
This was ordered as basically the opposite of ordering a rifle with two barrels/front ends.
And when a rifle was ordered with two barrel/front ends, those front ends were never identical (e.g. different chamberings and/different barrel lengths).
In this case, the stocks were different. And as was suggested, maybe one for display and one for hunting.
And of course, rather than the task of needing to use a screw driver to change the stocks out, the extra receiver was already attached to the buttstock, so the simple operation of the takedown mechanism made the task quite simple.
Very possible… and undoubtedly a “one-of-a-kind” special order.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
July 14, 2016
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So two receivers shipped under the one serial number? I wonder how the serial numbers would have been stamped on each. A very interesting letter.
Chris
A man can never have too many WINCHESTERS...
November 19, 2006
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Chris D said
So two receivers shipped under the one serial number? I wonder how the serial numbers would have been stamped on each. A very interesting letter.
Chris
That is an interesting point. I could imagine an, “A” and a, “B” after each serial number. But that’s just my imagination.
May 2, 2009
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I would want to see the ledger entry to see how it was written along with adjacent entries. I believe its two different stocks for one receiver. If it was two receivers with one barrel they would of applied serial numbers to the receivers since they have to track them in production. They would of put consecutive numbers them or used the 1/2 serial number as they did in the 73’s for accidental duplicates. I can’t see two receivers with different specs going through the factory with the same number.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
April 15, 2005
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steve004 said
Chris D said
So two receivers shipped under the one serial number? I wonder how the serial numbers would have been stamped on each. A very interesting letter.
Chris
That is an interesting point. I could imagine an, “A” and a, “B” after each serial number. But that’s just my imagination.
or possibly a “½”
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
May 2, 2009
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Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
April 15, 2005
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Bob and I were apparently posting the same thing at the same time 
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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To my thinking two receivers is two guns. Receivers were manufactured sometime before the rifle was assembled so having two receivers with same serial doesn’t seem likely. What is the configuration of the rifle now?
Mike
May 2, 2009
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What would be interesting is what extra markings are on the lower tang and wood since its a special order stock. What is the the serial number? Anything special about it?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
March 14, 2022
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TrevReiten said
I’ll try posting this again, the first and attempt apparently didn’t go through – not exactly a phone friendly forum 😁
For posting pics by iPhone:
Press the + icon for new post.
Scroll down and press the “paper clip icon”
Scroll down and press “add files”
Scroll down and press “photo library”
Select your photos
Scroll down and press “Start upload”
Wait for pics to upload. Once pics are uploaded, then scroll up a bit and press double icon far right to post.
Hope this helps.
Rick C
November 19, 2006
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We’re all looking forward to the photos. I know I am. This is an enjoyable mystery.
There are a couple possibilities and I am drawn to the most interesting one – two actions.
I do think, in all probability, there is one pistol grip action and two pistol grip stocks.
I suspect there is only one stock with the rifle now. And if so, is it plain or fancy?
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