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So IF it was possible to send a special order back in time to have one custom rifle built What would you choose and with which features?
Not for resale but to just keep for yourself…
1873 36″ extra heavy OB, xxxx wood with PG and checkering. Set trigger, case hardened with tang and beeches sight. 1 of 1000. 44 of course.
Any hunting rifle without sling swivels (or hooks) is dead weight in your hands.
Let’s see, a Model 1892 Take-down, 44WCF, 20″ Octagon, Deluxe Walnut with Checkering, Engraved Receiver (I’d have to think about the pattern) in a French-fitted case with the accessories.
Mod. ’94, 14″ trapper in 25-35 full mag with checkered stocks and a little engraving, sigh.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
January 26, 2011
Online
Hmmm …. how about a 17″ Deluxe 1886 short rifle with a matted 1/2 octagon barrel, birds eye maple stock w/ cheekpiece and 3/4″ short, swiss butt, first year single digit, with a Lyman 38 and no rear sight dovetail. I suppose it might as well be in 50 cal. and have sling swivels since we are dreaming.
Do I have to pay in 1886 dollars or todays? If its todays dollars, I’ll take a nice clean M67 and a box of shells.
~Gary~
[email protected] said
So IF it was possible to send a special order back in time to have one custom rifle built What would you choose and with which features?Not for resale but to just keep for yourself…
I’ve thought about this many times. Might have even posted a similar topic in the years I have been here. I’ve got a lot of different answers but what comes to mind tonight is: Model 1886 .33 SRC – standard in every way but with full figure fancy grade wood.
November 7, 2015
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David McNab said
Let’s see, a Model 1892 Take-down, 44WCF, 20″ Octagon, Deluxe Walnut with Checkering, Engraved Receiver (I’d have to think about the pattern) in a French-fitted case with the accessories.
I like the way you think, David. Torn between that and a similar 1886 in 45-70.
Mike
I would order one of these in 50-100-450…
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
I would order one of these in 50-100-450…
Bert
Excellent choice Bert. I like it, but I might be tempted to go big bore in my selection. I’m thinking .577 Eley 🙂
Bert H. said
I would order one of these in 50-100-450…
Bert
I believe I would forego the Swiss butt plate for a recoil pad…… OUCH!! 
November 7, 2015
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Bert H. said
I would order one of these in 50-100-450…
Bert
Now that you mention it, make mine a 32WCF.
Mike
“Not for resale but to just keep for yourself…”
73 short rifle 20” octagonal barrel full mag 44WCF with pistol grip If they’d make it. Add a Lyman 21 receiver sight, Lyman no6 Folding rear, & Lyman no5 front.
RickC(AG)
I suppose such fantasy threads are fun to pretend one was alive “back in the day”, but the reality is that life in the 19th Century was tough. Odds are you would have been working in a mill or other manufacturing capacity 12 hrs a day 5 days a week, and a half day on Saturdays. Or would have been trying to make a living farming and experienced crop failure, etc.
And, the cost of a Winchester back then, and the ammunition to feed it, was a greater percentage of one’s wages than it is today. For the average person to waste a box of ammunition target shooting was a rarity indeed.
Given the aforementioned, this is why most Winchester rifles today are well used and usually lack special order features. Most were happy to have a basic Winchester and the lack of finish today is from carrying and improper storage. It certainly wasn’t from firing a lot, as ammunition and its components were expensive back in the day.
I just thought it worth mentioning as it might not be intuitive.
Just like today. Many in society wish they owned a brand new Mercedes but the reality is most drive a second hand Kia.
I’d have to order something that never existed, just cause Winchester would have made it for me if ordered!
It’d have to be Serial #1, a 1 of 100 Model 1886 Takedown with Highly Engraved receiver & barrels (multiple set, 1 of every possible interchanging calibers) with platinum & gold inlays with a gold wash on the receiver & Carved / checkered stocks with special drop & length Ivory cheekpiece stocks with pistol grip with buffalo head at the end of the grip & shotgun butt plate with color case hardened finish. Also throw in an engraved gold plated brass plaque in the stock. A set of cased Lyman sights. Factory nickel plated cleaning rod. All enclosed in a factory buffalo hide leather presentation case.
I’d loan it to Teddy Roosevelt and inscribe the date when we both shot and killed the last remaining pair of Sasquatch, thusly making them extinct.
Of course I’d pass away, and my son would sell it at auction with four barely lite photos and for the bargain price of 1 billion dollars with payment only made with $500 gift cards or in bitcoin.
Sincerely,
Maverick
P.S. Wait a minute! I need to change my order because I think I just found my rifle listed at an online auction! Lucky me! 
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
mrcvs said
I suppose such fantasy threads are fun to pretend one was alive “back in the day”, but the reality is that life in the 19th Century was tough. Odds are you would have been working in a mill or other manufacturing capacity 12 hrs a day 5 days a week, and a half day on Saturdays. Or would have been trying to make a living farming and experienced crop failure, etc.And, the cost of a Winchester back then, and the ammunition to feed it, was a greater percentage of one’s wages than it is today. For the average person to waste a box of ammunition target shooting was a rarity indeed.
Given the aforementioned, this is why most Winchester rifles today are well used and usually lack special order features. Most were happy to have a basic Winchester and the lack of finish today is from carrying and improper storage. It certainly wasn’t from firing a lot, as ammunition and its components were expensive back in the day.
I just thought it worth mentioning as it might not be intuitive.
Just like today. Many in society wish they owned a brand new Mercedes but the reality is most drive a second hand Kia.
So topic should be: If you were filthy rich and could turn the clock back and place a special order what would it be?
Think I would have to keep it simple, practical, and useful. Something you could enjoy regularly and not worry too much about packing around. Would have to be an 1873 carbine in 44WCF and rifle butt or an 1894 carbine in 38-55 with rifle butt. Either way, they would have to have sling eyes, set trigger, blued finish, and sights of my choosing.
If I were going for something pretty to look at, it would have to be an early first model 1873 straight grip H checked deluxe with early style forearm checking, cheekpiece, case hardened receiver, tastefully simple scroll engraving, heavy 30″ 1/2 Oct barrel, full magazine, 44 WCF, sling swivels, set trigger, and sights of my choosing.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
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