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Nothing special here, but I’m just posting this for your visual enjoyment. This Winchester, chambered in 44 W.C.F., was shipped in 1876 (correction 1888 …. I am going from memory and totally messed up), and wound up on a homestead somewhere north of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It stayed in the family and on that same homestead or a nearby farm for about 120 years and then a generation was born that didn’t want anything to do with guns, so I took it off their hands, while feeling sorry for their loss. It was very well worn, and must have seen a lot of use back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The bore was very rough, but I could still put 5 shots into a 3 & 1/2″ circle at 100 yards using cast bullets. For the photo, I propped the old timer against a sugar maple tree along the fence beside our house, with the river flats in the background.
Yes, great photo and history on the rifle. Thank you for sharing both.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
Kirk Durston said
This Winchester, chambered in 44 W.C.F., was shipped in 1876 and wound up on a homestead somewhere north of Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Dear Kirk,
Have you lettered the rifle? I don’t doubt that the information you described as it having been told to you from a previous owner. But the 73 in the photo looks like a 3rd Model receiver. Its hard to tell, but even if it is a 2nd model receiver the earliest it would have left the factory would be 1878.
For it to have been shipped in 1876, it would be a 1st model receiver, which it doesn’t appear to be. As it also doesn’t have the 1st model lever as well.
All that said, GREAT photography!
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Great picture and story.The picture brings back for me, memories of hunts long ago.For awhile in my early 20’s I used a Model 1873 in .38-40 on a number of deer hunts.However, never was able to bag a deer with the rifle.
It’s a very cool ’73, but Maverick is right. That is not a 1st model and I’m not sure it’s a 2nd model either. Photo is not clear, but it looks like there is only the left side screw for the lower tang and if the rear sight is original to the gun, it’s too long for most serial ranges in the second model. What is the serial number range?
You all are right about 1876 being the wrong date. I was going by memory and totally messed up. I checked my records and the serial number is 283388 which indicates a date of 1888. I sold it in 2008 and the old memory let me down this time. I did get it lettered, but included the letter with the rifle when I sold it.
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