What should I look for when viewing a short rifle. There is one for sale in my area. 20 inch barrel shotgun butt serial #121789. I know forearm should be 8 3/8 inch, dove tail on tube 4 inch from end of barrel. Sight from end of barrel ?? Anything else to look for. Will this gun letter with information on configuration when built
Thanks
Tony
Tony,
Cody has records for the 94 up 353,999 which would show if the gun is a short rifle. If you are going to be buying Winchesters on a regular basis its worth your money to join the museum. For $150 a year you get 5 phone searches, you can call, email or fax and get the configuration for a gun whit in a day. The other things come with experience and reading books so you recognize non Winchester work. The center of the front sight should be about .9″ from the muzzle
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
January 26, 2011

Tony
To add to what Bob said, it appears you are a WACA member so you will also receive an additional 15 searches because of that. I figure if a serial number search confirms one gun is original, or more importantly proves a gun has been modified at some time, it is worth a heck of a lot lore than $150 for that information.
~Gary~
When I am looking at Winchester 1894 Short Rifles, the tell tale sign is the front site. Look at the dimension from the end of the barrel to the site slot. I own 2 and have looked at quite a few. The cut on the site slot is not correct on any of the ones that I looked at that were not factory original.
The forearm may be the longer forearm depending on configuration.
I have the longer forearm on a 20 inch octagon barrel take down short rifle with full length magazine tube.
Tony,
You don’t have a link or item number for the gun.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1 Guest(s)
