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I used to never view the bore, or even care about it, when I was younger, and was very trustworthy, buying all the Winchesters I could walk out of a show with, that I could carry! LOL!
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It’s nice to know the condition of the bore, whether I plan to shoot it or not! Someone did mention this being an older rifle, and the ammunition that went through it probably, for the most part, was Black Powder,as I agree with that also, and it should show that. Yeah it should have some common pitting in the bore, and hopefully some grooves left in the bore, separating the glands from the grooves.
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A good honest rifle with some older wear, and some old wood refinishing done to it, is still better to see, than not. Especially being a first year, earlier rifle.
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Thanks to the OP, for coming here and showing us.
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Antonio
mrcvs said
Even if you want to look down the bore, how can you at a gun show when the plastic band is applied through the lever to disable opening the action? Â
Every legitimate dealer that I know will cut the plastic tie band off and let you inspect the bore if you ask. If you encounter a dealer that will not cut the tie off, move on to the next table.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
mrcvs said
Even if you want to look down the bore, how can you at a gun show when the plastic band is applied through the lever to disable opening the action?
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Every legitimate dealer that I know will cut the plastic tie band off and let you inspect the bore if you ask. If you encounter a dealer that will not cut the tie off, move on to the next table.
Bert
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Okay, fair enough.  So little worth even bargaining for at shows lately.  Perhaps a decent 1894 at the last show I should have bought.  Everything else lately has come from a collector friend, with tie, that I know if I got the tie off at home and the bore was a problem, he would cheerfully refund my money—that is, if I looked down the bore to begin with.  The last purchase was so good on the outside, that I don’t think the bore condition would sway my decision—and that’s my point!  If you have a 90 to 95% rifle with a good price tag on it, would pitting in the bore make you walk away?
mrcvs said
Bert H. said
mrcvs said
Even if you want to look down the bore, how can you at a gun show when the plastic band is applied through the lever to disable opening the action?
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Every legitimate dealer that I know will cut the plastic tie band off and let you inspect the bore if you ask. If you encounter a dealer that will not cut the tie off, move on to the next table.
Bert
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Okay, fair enough.  So little worth even bargaining for at shows lately.  Perhaps a decent 1894 at the last show I should have bought.  Everything else lately has come from a collector friend, with tie, that I know if I got the tie off at home and the bore was a problem, he would cheerfully refund my money—that is, if I looked down the bore to begin with.  The last purchase was so good on the outside, that I don’t think the bore condition would sway my decision—and that’s my point!  If you have a 90 to 95% rifle with a good price tag on it, would pitting in the bore make you walk away?
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I most certainly would be very concerned if the exterior condition of the rifle was 95%, but the bore was not! That is an extremely strong clue that the gun has been refinished. Any original gun with a 95% graded exterior should have a matching condition bore… if they don’t match, the flashing red lights & sirens should be going off in your head!!
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Just to be to the point. Yes, I would. Inside condition should match the outside condition. Tim
Bert H. said
mrcvs said
Bert H. said
mrcvs said
Even if you want to look down the bore, how can you at a gun show when the plastic band is applied through the lever to disable opening the action?
 Â
Every legitimate dealer that I know will cut the plastic tie band off and let you inspect the bore if you ask. If you encounter a dealer that will not cut the tie off, move on to the next table.
Bert
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Okay, fair enough.  So little worth even bargaining for at shows lately.  Perhaps a decent 1894 at the last show I should have bought.  Everything else lately has come from a collector friend, with tie, that I know if I got the tie off at home and the bore was a problem, he would cheerfully refund my money—that is, if I looked down the bore to begin with.  The last purchase was so good on the outside, that I don’t think the bore condition would sway my decision—and that’s my point!  If you have a 90 to 95% rifle with a good price tag on it, would pitting in the bore make you walk away?
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I most certainly would be very concerned if the exterior condition of the rifle was 95%, but the bore was not! That is an extremely strong clue that the gun has been refinished. Any original gun with a 95% graded exterior should have a matching condition bore… if they don’t match, the flashing red lights & sirens should be going off in your head!!
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Now that I think about it in reverse, yes, a higher condition Winchester should also have a higher condition bore.  Which is why I imagine it’s less of a concern to me.  Simply because—and not to sound arrogant—but I’m beyond collecting wall hangers or shooters.  I do shoot some of the nicer stuff carefully, but I’m generally not in the market for a 20% condition gun with an equally poor bore—or searching for that shooter with a really good bore, that belies its exterior appearance.
On the other hand, there’s no reason why a nearly new Winchester couldn’t have a poor bore.  Fire five black powder rounds the day you buy it, with mercuric powders and stash it away for your heirs to clean.  It seems to me a century later, the bore might look quite bad.
When I viewed the “Cleveland Rifle”, at the auction house, they kindly asked me not to move the lever, opening the receiver, and viewing the bore or inside the action/receiver, hence taking me out of the running as far as bidding on this rifle, if I was so inclined, as to which I wasn’t. I completely understood they’re point also, as too many like to play Lucas Mcain, with a rifle that they have no intentions buying in the first place. At the gun shows as Bert stated, ask kindly and most will let you, or will remove the plastic tie from the action, and the bore can be viewed with you’re handy pocket bore lite, or similar methods used to view the bore. Today I won’t buy a collectable gun without completely examining the gun, inside and out, unless it’s a parts gun. I like to buy the gun, and not the story. As interesting as the stories can be, and I like to hear them, I still go back and focus on the gun. If the bore doesn’t match the gun, then it seams the story starts to unravel as I pursue the journey. Hence things tent to start to get misaligned. IMO!Â
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A lot of good honest opinions here on this rifle, to help out a guest. I hope he list’s it here to the members, in the Swap meet section, as that’s what we all enjoy, having an opportunity at an honest rifle.
A lot of very good Honest Hombre’s here and we aim to try to keep it that way. 
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Antonio
Thank you everyone for your input. I plan to make a video and upload it this afternoon, showing as much up-close detail as possible. I don’t have a bore light, but I think I have a small light that should do the trick to be able to record down the barrel. I’m very interested myself to see the condition. I also plan on posting it in the Swap meet section in the next few days, although, I live very near Gettysburg and plan to take it to Gettysburg Trading Post to see what they say as well. Â
Online
Well… I do see rifling. But to me this bore is not inspiring. I would be surprised if it shot with “hunting accuracy” with lead bullets. It might be able to do so with jacketed bullets – but that’s where the .40 caliber chambering makes it tough. I don’t think I’ve ever loaded a .40 caliber jacketed bullet in any of my .40 caliber rifles. Â
November 7, 2015
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Hard to say, Jeff. Sometimes a bore like this one shoots surprisingly well but it’s unlikely to be what I’d call a good shooter. It only takes several inches of decent rifling to stabilize a bullet but a rough bore fouls quickly.Â
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Mike
TXGunNut said
Hard to say, Jeff. Sometimes a bore like this one shoots surprisingly well but it’s unlikely to be what I’d call a good shooter. It only takes several inches of decent rifling to stabilize a bullet but a rough bore fouls quickly.ÂÂ
Mike
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Mike makes a good point with his statement regarding the bore fouling quickly. In a pitted and rough bore, there’s lots of places to leave lead behind. Your first shots in a well-scrubbed bore might not be too bad, but just keep shooting and see what happens. For someone who’s entire focus is hunting, maybe where the first couple shots will land is all that matters. Â
Cleaning lead out of bores is not my favorite thing. Â
 When Winchester made your barrel one of the steps was to straighten it and how straight it was depended on the craftsman that did it. Judging from the early ledger pages on the 1873 model it varied greatly as to what was acceptable. I have some guns shoot better than others regardless of bore condition within reason. You won’t know until you try.
 I start with lead cast in an original Winchester mold without sizing using, 32grs of 3031, and corn meal as a filler. This gives me original velocity of 1445fps. If that doesn’t work I substitute a jacketed .406 fn sp 260gr bullet from Buffalo Arms. I have bought ammo that key holes targets and these loads don’t. As to group size, if your not happy keep trying and you might get there. I’ve shot bores that look like yours and been pleasantly surprised and I’ve shoot better bores and been disappointed. Lead fouling has not been an issue for me at these speeds.
 My loads are what I do and I’m not recommending them.
                                                                                  T/R
Just received the Cody Certificate. Looks like my Grandfather ordered it in 2004. Received in the warehouse on October 18, 1886.
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I feel this letter will help solidify this rifle when you sell it!
It definitely won’t hurt, that’s for sure!
GLWYS, as I’m heading to the mountains to do some Elk Hunting!
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Antonio
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