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April 16, 2024
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April 15, 2005
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Your best option is to contact the Cody Firearms Musuem (CFM) records office and obtain a factory letter for your First Model 1873. The factory letter will pin down the date of manufacture and the as built configuration.
Cody Firearms Records Office – Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
May 2, 2009
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The gun is a round barrel rifle and has been cut to 20″. From your tape measure I see the forearm wood length is 9 3/8″ which would of been used on a gun with a 24″ or longer barrel. If it was a 20″ gun the forearm wood would be 8 3/8″ long. Winchester made rifles from 14″ to 36″ long barrels.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
April 16, 2024
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Thanks for the info. We spoke with someone at the Cody Firearms Museum when we were there in March, they gave us Jathan’s email but we’ve yet to hear back from him.
May 2, 2009
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Whats the serial number.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
April 16, 2024
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1873man said
Whats the serial number.Bob
Sent you a PM
Doug
November 19, 2006
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Wisota said
Hi all, we’re new members to WACA we have a few Winchesters 94’s, 92, 73 along with some Marlins and Henry’s. Our question is concerning a rifle we inherited from my wife’s Dad who bought the rifle in the 70’s or 80’s for $25, it’s a 1873 serial number 23xxx which we believe is a manufacture year of 1878, other than that we have little information about the rifle. Our research, including looking in The Winchester Book (George Madis) has brought up a few questions. We believe the serial # indicates it should be a “first model rifle” 44 WCF, 24″ round or octagon barrel, thumbprint dust cover, forearm cap, our rifle is consistent with that but the barrel measures 20″ +/-.We understand it’s not out of the realm of possibility the rifle barrel was shortened, but did Winchester make a shorter barrel rifle that used a forearm cap and not barrel bands like a carbine?Any info would be greatly appreciated and I’ll add some pictures that maybe helpful. (please forgive the edited picture I’m not sure if it’s OK to show serial numbers)Thanks, Doug
You don’t have to worry about showing or listing serial numbers here. In fact, we prefer it.
May 2, 2009
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The gun letters as a standard 24″ round barrel rifle so its been cut short.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
