Thanks,

Bert

Chris D said
Now that would be an impressive feat. Have you found a true 1st year production 1873 made in 1873? There were not many made - I believe it will be a 2 digit serial number to be made in 1873. 
This post may be helpful for you:
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/winchester-1873-dates-of-manufacture-from-1961-winchester-newsletter/
Your quest depends on what source you are relying on for your dates. 
Chris
  

No I do not have a 1873 yet - once I get the easier ones I will focus on the more expensive hard to find - I have Cody letters on most - and yes lots of first year disinformation out there - I have made a spot for each one to fill - prob start selling off some of the other 60 guns I have to finance the rare ones

This post may be helpful for you:

https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/winchester-1873-dates-of-manufacture-from-1961-winchester-newsletter/

Your quest depends on what source you are relying on for your dates. 

Chris

Henry Mero said
I just got new glasss and I see a 21
  

Again, not possible.  Winchester did not manufacture any Model 55 barrels prior to 1924.  Serial number "1" was manufactured (serialized) on June 26th, 1924.

Bert

Gunsnfishin said
Could also be a lightly stamped 24 - what I find odd is mine runs opposite of examples you have - my 2 is toward the barrel yours are toward the gun - would have to see another 24 stamp - there’s a small tail on bottom of my second digit that isn’t on the 27 example you have - who knows 🤷🏾
  

I have seen multiple examples of the 2-digt date stamp going both directions.  

I also thought it could be a lightly stamped "4".  It is possible that a light cleaning and different lighting & angle of the picture might better reveal second numeral.

Bert

gobblerforge said
Looks like 21 to me.
  

The problem with that interpretation is this... production of the Winchester Model 55 did not begin until June 1924.  Winchester would not have manufactured a barrel for that rifle in the year 1921.  The Model 55 barrels were unique to that model only.

Bert

Buck1967 said

I think it looks great! You can’t beat that character and history. Guys looking to invest won’t appreciate this one but as a collector, I love it and don’t think $900 was a bad price. I think it fair to say while many of the guys on here would have paid less, many more outside of here have paid more for a similar Winchester! Congrats my friend I think you got a beauty! 

Thanks  Buck ! l have other guns in my collection LC smith ah fox Stevens, Ithaca and others out of my Winchesters I think this will end up being one of my favorites maybe second to my 1897. It has the most character of all of my lever actions and in my opinion a nice looking gun once it was cleaned up not necessarily a collectors gun but hopefully it will be a nice shooter and I’m learning a lot by working on it and have met some really nice people in the process i don’t think I will be long before shooting it ! 

This rifle is a train wreck!  Why try and sugar coat it?  This beginning Winchester aficionado made a huge mistake.  Hopefully he learns from it and doesn’t make the same mistake again.

This rifle is maybe worth $500 and you have to find the person who actually wants it. -mrcvs

Maybe so, but beginning collectors learn from their mistakes. OTOH I think OP likes the gun and is making an interesting project out of it. Reminds me of a Radney Foster song...and a few Winchesters that have followed me home. 

Mike

Thanks for checking it.

Bert