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I bought it a couple years ago. The little painting on the stock is the Canadian motto with the coat of arms. Fully Nickel plated. I got to the conclusion that it isnt factory. I paid alot of money for it, it’s my most expensive rifle. I thought it was unique so I bought it.
I don’t believe that its nickeled at all. It looks to be just polished steel. Whats the serial number? A check of the records will tell you what it was.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Its nickel. And its not factory nickel plated. I already got it checked by a member on another forum and printed out the paper. I know its nickel because its lightly chipping in some parts.
I dont know what the serial number is now, its in the safe downstairs. Il check tomorrow morning. But it was made in 1888 if im not mistaken. 44-40. I wish it would be original nickel, i would of gotten a good deal if thats the case. Seems like a proud Canadian got it done awhile ago, doesn’t look new but not 19th century either 🙂
Its not much, but for now I found this picture. You can see the little specs on the nickel and the caliber marking. More of an engraving if anything…
Nice 1873. Fortunately, looks as thought you are getting a lot of enjoyment out of it.
Unfortunately, the rifle’s monetary value/collector appeal took a huge hit by being modified from original.
Thanks for sharing the videos with us. Always good to see these old lever actions being shot.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
Get me the serial number and I’ll run it. The other thing to do is to open the side plates and look at the back sides and the inside of the frame for finish.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
The serial number is 277603B.
I knew when I bought it that it wasnt factory and that collector value wasn’t high. I bought it because it was unique, its rare you will see old levers that got plated.
With all that done to it, I still get offers from people if I ever bring it places.
i have a 73 half magizine with 24″ round barrel in 44-40 #135320A (1885?) that has a nickled reciever and lever, with very good wood(crescent butt plate)-metal-bore(i shoot it).it has circle WP proofs on barrel and reciever. that i THINK is a franken 73, set up to fool a person before they could be checked out( like today). the price was very good for a good shooter and i hunt it. i have been offered good money for it by unknowing people, but have told them i think it,s a fake and i don,t want to sell it.
Mine isnt a fake or anything but I think it just got plated afterwards. Would be nice to know how old the plating is though:)
Have you taken it apart and looked for any markings?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Yes, what markings am I supposed to look for?
The inside side plates aren’t plated either.
Usually on the left side of the lower tang there can be markings but I was curious if the guy that did the work marked it as well. Also when they plate a gun the the entire part is plated. Is the inside blued yet?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
If the inside of the side cover is not plated, then I do wonder how just the one side was plated and not the other.
Winchester would sometime stamp a assemble number or other letters on the left side of the lower tang or if someone else did something to it they might mark the gun. Some gun shops also marked the gun out of view.
The only way they could of plated the outside of the gun with out touching the inside is with brush plating which on a large item would be very difficult to get it to look consistent. If it was brush plated, you would see nickel bleeding around the corners of the receiver into the inside. If you don’t see any of that, in other words there is nickel on one side and its not over the edge then I fall back on to my first reply that the gun is really not plated but polished to look like plating which I have seen done.
This is my opinion to what I see. If I had the gun in my hand it could change but I only have the pictures to go by.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
I tend to agree that it looks polished. Here is mine polished before CCH, while not as highly polished, they can be made to look like silver.
Plating is a process which could and would cover all parts exposed. So it’s unusual to have some the parts you show without plate.
well one way I think its not polished is because the plating is chipping beside the screws, and it tarnishes like silver. It doesnt rust. It goes black.
Want more pictures? Ask for what you want and il take them, not a problem 
Post some pictures of the flaking. Also nickel does not tarnish so its not nickeled.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
I just did quick research and it sa s it’s tarnish resistant but it does tarnish in moisture. Which is the only time I saw mine change color, when I take it outside in humid weather.
It goes a black color. Il take pictures tomorrow. I don’t know what to think of it any more. It definitely flakes around the side plate screw.
Is the any chemical tests I can do, like they do for gold?
If its turning black in moist environments then its not polished steel since it would rust or nickel since it does not change color with anything except get dull with age so it most likely silver. Its the only finish that turns black with age.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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