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October 14, 2025
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Have any of you ever seen the wood worn like this.
April 15, 2005
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EWMN said
Have any of you ever seen the wood worn like this.
That looks like saddle pommel wear
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
October 14, 2025
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Sorry about the pictures. I’m still new and trying to figure out how the fourm works. Pictures should be up now.
October 14, 2025
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Interesting, I never considered that. I just thought it was from hand carrying.
May 2, 2009
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Thats saddle wear. In Jim Gordon’s book he has some pictures of guns with saddle wear to the point the magazine tube is visible.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
November 13, 2008
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That is absolutely saddle wear. There are collectors that specifically look for and collect these. Yours has all the typical characteristics usually observed on such guns. Weather worn wood with dry and wet weather cracks,checks,splits. Typically what you would see from being on the saddle in various weather. The dark oxidized wood where it meets the metal. Sharp lip of lower frame rounded. Gun in well used condition. Cool piece.
Jeremy Scott.
WACA LIFE MEMBER, CFM MEMBER, ABKA MEMBER, JSSC MEMBER, MNO HISTORIAN
March 14, 2022
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Nice honest gun EWMN unlike others unfortunately sometimes. I like the scabbard as well.
Rick C
November 19, 2006
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That rifle has some stories to tell!
October 14, 2025
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It truly is beautiful to me. And it definitely had a life in its early years. All internal parts are there, it is missing the dust cover. I found it at a garage sale. I’ll never forget. The guy said he had a few guns he inherited from his father, he took me into his home and opened a safe, pull out a old bolt action shot gun I took it looked and set it down. Next he pulled out a marlin model 1894. I was holding it when out of the coner of my eye I seen the 73 come out of the safe. Now I’m having to control myself. He told me his dad bought these guns at garage sales in the St. Louis in the 1960s. And never did anything with them. The rifles looked like they had sat around in a closet for the last 90 years. There was also a model 43 spanish mauser In 8 mm. Turns on the mauser is pretty rare. It’s a civilian model in excellent condition. The marlin is 32-20 mfg. 1905. The 73 is 44 mfg.1885
November 19, 2006
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EWMN said
It truly is beautiful to me. And it definitely had a life in its early years. All internal parts are there, it is missing the dust cover. I found it at a garage sale. I’ll never forget. The guy said he had a few guns he inherited from his father, he took me into his home and opened a safe, pull out a old bolt action shot gun I took it looked and set it down. Next he pulled out a marlin model 1894. I was holding it when out of the coner of my eye I seen the 73 come out of the safe. Now I’m having to control myself. He told me his dad bought these guns at garage sales in the St. Louis in the 1960s. And never did anything with them. The rifles looked like they had sat around in a closet for the last 90 years. There was also a model 43 spanish mauser In 8 mm. Turns on the mauser is pretty rare. It’s a civilian model in excellent condition. The marlin is 32-20 mfg. 1905. The 73 is 44 mfg.1885
So did you leave with all of them?
October 14, 2025
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Yes, I got all 4. The shot gun is a German mauser action 12 gauge.
July 14, 2016
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I have a 1873 first model rifle with a nearly identical wear mark to the fore end. I will share a picture next week. Good score mate!
Chris
A man can never have too many WINCHESTERS...
October 14, 2025
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Chris D said
I have a 1873 first model rifle with a nearly identical wear mark to the fore end. I will share a picture next week. Good score mate!
Chris
Thank you sir. I look forward to seeing your pictures.
December 9, 2002
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steve004 said
That rifle has some stories to tell!
I also like this “Well Traveled 1873”!
I also like the idea, of the stories that one can imagine, if this rifle could talk!
Thanks for sharing!
Anthony
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