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October 8, 2012
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I picked up a 73 today at a local gun show and it has a serial # of 135784A. Can someone explain the “A” to me? thanks. The gun is a 44-40 oct. barrel with no cal. markings anywhere. Looks like a common rifle with plain wood.
May 2, 2009
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The letter has no real meaning. When 73’s came out they had just a plain serial numbers then in 1882 around serial 89,000 they started adding the A and then it changed to a B. The B started in about 1884 around serial 171,000 and intermixed with the A’s into 1885 around serial 195,000 and continued until to the end of production with the B.
Winchester did not mark the caliber on the 73 since at first there was no other caliber so they didn’t need to mark the guns. Then after they started to introduce other calibers they marked the new calibers but the 44’s continued to be unmarked for a while.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
October 8, 2012
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Thanks. I knew I had a “B” on my 32-20 but didn’t recall why.
May 23, 2009
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To add to what Bob stated. Your 73 having been made well after 1879 when the 38-40 was introduced and also most likely being a 3rd model would have been and should be marked for its caliber on the elevator and barrel. Granted if the rifle has much use then the markings very well could have simply be worn off. Even if the caliber marking is worn off on the top of the barrel and elevator, it would most likely still be visible on the underside of the barrel underneath the forearm. If it is not, then the barrel is likely a replacement.
Sincerely,
Maverick
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October 8, 2012
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I’ll give it a better look. The rifle is in poor condition but my inspection saw no sign of marking on barrel or lifter. There is a sharp proof on top of the barrel just ahead of the receiver proof. Have not removed forearm yet.
May 2, 2009
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Your gun was made before they were proofed marked so if you have a proof marked barrel and receiver, it went back to the factory. Originally it may of not had caliber markings on it. It wasn’t until 150,000 that they consistently marked 44’s
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
October 8, 2012
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My mistake, no proofs. Must have looked at too many 94’s this weekend. I’ll try to post some pics.
May 23, 2009
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I’m going with that you markings have worn off. Especially as how hard it is to read the serial number. Looks like those adjacent hash marks on the elevator maybe part of the “44 wcf” marking remaining.
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May 2, 2009
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Brady,
I looked at those and they don’t correlate to any caliber marks, they slope the wrong way.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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