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In the summer of 1992, I was younger, didn’t have too much money, or certainly not enough to spend on a 95% condition firearm such as the above. It was a dealer in or near Auburn, Maine who had for sale a takedown lightweight rifle in .45-70, one barrel being the standard .45-70 rifled barrel, and the other, if I recall correctly, being, at least advertised as, a smoothbore. Is this possible? Any records exist suggesting that Winchester even made such a thing? I have not seen or heard of anything like this since then, so I may have confused details or it is possible that the smoothbore was made later and/or fraudulently. 22 and a half years is a long time to remember specific details, but is this even possible?
I know in the 73’s Winchester made smooth bore guns mostly used for bird shot so its possible Winchester made it. How was the barrel marked?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
I’ve seen an 1885 that lettered Set trigger, Swiss butt and smooth bore. Somewhat strange combination for a smooth bore, until you realize that when they ordered the rifle, they intended to have it rifled outside of the factory: Pope etc.
Maybe whoever ordered it wanted to go squirrel, or rabbit hunting, a 45-70 with shot would be about like a 410
1873man said
I know in the 73’s Winchester made smooth bore guns mostly used for bird shot so its possible Winchester made it. How was the barrel marked?
Bob
I cannot recall, it has been over 22 years now. I DO recall that it was a lightweight rifle, and likely post late 1901 or so, as the receiver was not case coloured and was blued. I think it was in a case that was made for the double set of barrels. I cannot recall if the case was original or not, and probably did not have the level of experience then to determine if it was original or not to the gun. My level of experience was sufficient enough at that time, however, to determine if the finish was original, and it most definitely was. I seem to recall an asking price of $5,000. I do know that in March of 1991, I did buy a takedown 1886 in .45-70, lightweight rifle with blued receiver, in 95% + condition, and that ran me 2 grand, so five grand at that time was a considerable amount of money for that — or, maybe not, if it was or is one of a kind!
Is it possible it could have been a two barrel set, one being .45-70, and the other being .410? I had wondered that myself MANY times before, but, as my level of experience has grown, and I have handled a fair amount of 1886’s since then, NONE of them being smoothbore or .410, I guessed the passage of time had made me think a possibility was impossible. MAYBE the smoothbore was chambered in .410? It does seem more plausible than a .45-70 round containing shot, as the latter is not commercially available, I don’t think, and perhaps never was.
A .410 will fire in a 45-70 but not feed from what I read about it.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Winchester sold “shot-cartridges” for almost every caliber they produced. So there wouldn’t of been a need to chamber the barrel in .410.
Bob,
I’m also of the understanding that original .410 bore shells were 2 inches in length and not of the modern 2.5 inches in length. So I suppose a period .410 shell would fire in one? Granted I’ve never tried anything as such and not sure I would want to.
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
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