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November 19, 2006
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I found this rifle interesting, from a couple perspectives. I found it attractive and I like special features such as fancy wood, pistol grip checkered, Swiss butt, case hardened receiver as well as special barrels. I have a real soft spot for heavy barreled Winchesters. I also have a penchant for original finish. And finally, a price that isn’t multiple tens of thousands of dollars has appeal. This one hit all those check boxes with an auction estimate of $6000 to $9000.
Now, we get into why that estimate. There are two flaws. It has a heavy barrel and the letter doesn’t specify heavy barrel. And, the barrel has been shortened.
I concur with the RIA that the barrel is original. In fact, I think this is a prime example of an error (an omission) in the factory ledger. And this isn’t example of a, “repair and return” situation. The fact the the ledger does note a special sight location of the rear sight seat tells me that this barrel is original to the rifle.
I found the cut barrel unfortunate but visually, it did not spoil the attractiveness of the rifle. Also, I knew the cut barrel would likely push the hammer price down by over $10,000.
In the end, others of like mind emerged, with the rifle exceeding the high estimate by over $6000 and a realized price of $15,275. I sure would have like to have picked this one up for the low estimate!
November 7, 2015
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I like it for many of the same reasons you do, Steve. In addition I like the chambering. The shortened barrel is a problem but I suspect the rifle balances much better with the shortened barrel. Shooting offhand with a 28″ heavy barrel sounds a bit challenging to me.
And no, I wasn’t the winning bidder.
Mike
December 9, 2002
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Steve,
Interesting perspective. I guess I really didn’t think about it, until I dug into what you we’re saying, as far as the barrel goes. It makes a lot of sense now that I look at it like that!
It’s a shame, that Jessica didn’t find anything, when she recorded the information in January, for the current letter. Hence, like you said, the error seems like it occurred, when the information was recorded originally, at the factory, and the heavy barrel, and the shortened length, possibly wasn’t recorded.
I agree, as it’s a very attractive, 73!
Anthony
May 2, 2009
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You can tell if it was originally a heavy barrel by measuring the front of the frame height and width. If they had a picture front the top showing the flare from the sides of the frame to the front you can see it. If it does measure oversize then it was made heavy and was shortened.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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