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July 15, 2021
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So wad y’all think?
I haven’t got a Cody letter yet. Serial number 250363B. 38WCF.
It sure looks factory but I’m no expert. Finger lever, butt plate, elevator, bolt, side plates and magazine are all nickel plated. It even had the cleaning rods in the stock. Bore is very lightly pitted and has a shine.
May 2, 2009
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The nickel is definitely old original nickel. Have you removed the stock and checked for assemble numbers? If you have numbers there then go looking under the sideplates. On special order guns they sometimes numbered the parts so they can be tracked and put back together after finishing.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
November 19, 2006
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I agree. The old nickel plating looks authentic to me.
July 15, 2021
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The last two digits of the serial number are on the side plates. I haven’t taken it apart to clean yet. I’ll check the rest when I do.
I got a ridiculously good price cause the shop thought it looked ugly and that someone had nickel plated it afterwards ruining the collector value.
In my business we call it “patina”.
May 2, 2009
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It sounds like you got a original gun there. You might even see numbers on the lever and elevator. Just hope your letter spells it out.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
December 21, 2006
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Very interesting piece. I sure would like to know what the letter states, whether it is “partly Nickel”, “1/2 Nickel,” “nickel trim,” or “nickel trims”. Please let Us know. The one I have is ser#267796 and the letter says “nickel trims” almost identical nickel work as Yours. Nice find.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
December 21, 2006
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I see Collectors Firearms is advertising a early 1st mod. ser#627, with nickel trim , @ $47,500.00, however it doesn’t letter. What is the general concensus on this gun and the asking price? Personally I think I would rather have Yours , if it letters , or the one I have that does letter. I just can’t imagine trying to get anywhere near that kinda money though, maybe I just don’t think big enough.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
March 21, 2011
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Luthier,
In lieu of waiting for the letter, If you are a Cody museum member, you can get an emailed version usually in two days.I think you must be at least at the $150/yr membership (Bison) level. It may take 4 wks for letter receipt. I see no mention on their site about phone confirmations now but I have done that from shows and auctions before.
Very interesting, unique and I’m sure valuable piece you have!
Darrin
July 15, 2021
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I got the email letter yesterday and it doesn’t say anything about nickel trim.
It’s possible it was sent back for a trim job. Who knows, but it wasn’t delivered with the trim.
May 2, 2009
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With it having the last two digits of the serial number on the sideplates, it was made that way. They don’t put those on plain guns. How does it letter?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
July 15, 2021
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I just looked up the one at collectors firearms (W7848) and it doesn’t letter either.
I talked to Jessica and she thought they would have recorded it.
I’d be curious to know if any of you with nickel trim guns have letters to verify.
I’ll give it a good clean tomorrow and see if the serial numbers are on the rest of the parts.
November 7, 2015
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Did the ledger mention any “R & R”’s? (Repair & Return). Those can help support conjecture about features not mentioned in the ledger. I think some clear pics of both sides of the side plates may help the smart folks around here form an opinion about the originality of the finish applied.
Please clean gently, I think those early nickel finishes are a bit fragile at times.
Mike
May 2, 2009
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I have two that letter nickel trim.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
May 2, 2009
Online
And don’t clean on the nickel finish. Nickel finish is just like a brass guns, it has a patina that has developed over many years. Original nickel is dull and can be flaky. When nickel is put on its put on over bare steel not like todays plating where its copper flashed first and it sticks real good. The nickel over steel will crack with age and moisture gets under it loosening the nickel and you will get a flaky look. If you rub it a lot the flaky nickel will get removed and you end up with less nickel and you loose the aged look. Here is a closeup of my cutaway and you can see the nickel that is loose from the surface. It looks like wrinkles, now if I get to aggressive while cleaning it, I will loose nickel and I will loose the original look and unlike a brass gun time will not bring it back.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
November 19, 2006
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Yeah, it’s pretty easy for nickel to not look the best. I like the appearance of the nickel on your ’73 much more than mine. Flaked nickel is not a great look:
December 21, 2006
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W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
November 19, 2006
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Here’s the Cody letter for mine:
July 15, 2021
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Thanks for the heads up about the cleaning. I had to use some degreaser with a toothbrush to get all the old grease off. It was so gummed up I could barely cycle the action. That’s all I did. Less is more.
I took pictures of the nickel parts. It looks like some have a copper wash underneath.
May 2, 2009
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I see what looks like copper on the outside of the butt plate. Is it anywhere else?
What are the assemble numbers on the left side of the tang?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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