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February 20, 2015
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Hi
I have a 1873 38 cal rifle with a shotgun butt and wanted to know if it was a rare option ?
May 2, 2009
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Tony,
The 38 caliber 73’s originally came standard with shotgun butts and then they put rifle butts on them occasionally and they would note that in the records as Rifle with a Rifle Butt then they went to rifle butt as a standard option. I would not call a SGB rare.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
February 20, 2015
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One more question. When I dissembled it to clean I noticed the lower tang stamped with a 3 digit number that matched the same number stamped in the upper tang of the stock. I always thought that was a work order number for special order guns. the serial number of the rifle is 95742A.
May 2, 2009
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Tony,
The numbers are assemble numbers so the parts can be tracked and put back together after certain finishing processes and not the order number. Usually they were put on guns that had some special features but this is not a hard rule. Did you letter your gun? What is the configuration of it?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
February 20, 2015
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I didn’t get a letter for it yet. It looks to be a standard rifle. 24 inch octagon barrel full length tube. Front sight doesn’t look factory. Stock might be a better quality than stock ? I thought shotgun butt was the special order. Bore looks smooth but most likely shot out.
May 2, 2009
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Tony,
I checked and your gun comes back as a Rifle, 38 cal, Octagon barrel and plain trigger. It does not list a shotgun butt but based on the serial number its early enough that it was standard to have the SGB.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
November 7, 2015
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Don’t give up on that bore. A gentle cleaning and the right load may surprise you.
