Winchester Collector - Forum: Winchester Rifles

mrcvs on 1886 in 45-70 upgrade?!

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 02:01:05 +0000

To be honest with you, I would rather have the rougher example. At least it has some original finish. The refinish does not plus it also appears there are extra screws in the frame where there was once a receiver sight.

Cowboy103 on 1886 in 45-70 upgrade?!

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 01:54:50 +0000

Picture of previous “rougher” model

Cowboy103 on 1886 in 45-70 upgrade?!

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 01:50:26 +0000

So picked up 1891 mfg 1886 rifle in 45-70 today from a fairly local gun shop, that I normally hate going to because it’s all the same plastic and names I don’t recognize guns. But I do keep there gunbroker account on my watchlist and check every now and then to see if they have any used stuff on there. Well I noticed last night that they had a handful of used stuff posted and one being this 1886, had a buy it now price and a starting bid but no one had bidded yet. I had recently sold the only original 86 I had which was also a 45-70 rifle, that was kinda rough, but I got it for a good deal and did some cleaning on it and it had great mechanics. Guy who was buying another gun from me wanted a price and I gave him one and he took it. So when I seen this one local that had been refinished and was less than what I sold the rough one for, I had to jump on it, so went and checked it out and no one had bid yet and they actually gave me a little better deal on it not going though GB. When it was refinished it did have the serial number restamped on the lower tang, so waiting to hear back from Jessica with a serial search.

Bert H. on Winchester 55 first year production

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 23:48:30 +0000

I agree, it is a faintly stamped "4", and that is precisely what it should be.

Thanks,

Bert

Gunsnfishin on First year guns

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 23:38:36 +0000

Chris D said
Now that would be an impressive feat. Have you found a true 1st year production 1873 made in 1873? There were not many made - I believe it will be a 2 digit serial number to be made in 1873.
This post may be helpful for you:
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/winchester-1873-dates-of-manufacture-from-1961-winchester-newsletter/
Your quest depends on what source you are relying on for your dates.
Chris

No I do not have a 1873 yet - once I get the easier ones I will focus on the more expensive hard to find - I have Cody letters on most - and yes lots of first year disinformation out there - I have made a spot for each one to fill - prob start selling off some of the other 60 guns I have to finance the rare ones

Chris D on First year guns

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 23:27:57 +0000

Now that would be an impressive feat. Have you found a true 1st year production 1873 made in 1873? There were not many made - I believe it will be a 2 digit serial number to be made in 1873.

This post may be helpful for you:

https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/winchester-1873-dates-of-manufacture-from-1961-winchester-newsletter/

Your quest depends on what source you are relying on for your dates.

Chris

Gunsnfishin on First year guns

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 22:41:41 +0000

I am trying to get 1 gun in first year serial from 1873thru model 55- by my count 30 guns - I currently have 24 of them - looking for -1876- 1885-1895-1897-1910-1911- looking for good condition guns - not mint - not poor - anyone got anything ?

Gunsnfishin on Winchester 55 first year production

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 22:29:31 +0000

Tore it back apart - cleaned with a toothbrush - will not show up in a pic but can definitely without a doubt see a faint 4 - here’s best pic I could get and it shows the bottom line of the 4

Bert H. on Winchester 55 first year production

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 22:09:21 +0000

Henry Mero said
I just got new glasss and I see a 21

Again, not possible. Winchester did not manufacture any Model 55 barrels prior to 1924. Serial number "1" was manufactured (serialized) on June 26th, 1924.

Bert

Henry Mero on Winchester 55 first year production

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 21:47:47 +0000

I just got new glasss and I see a 21

Bert H. on Winchester 55 first year production

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 19:31:13 +0000

Gunsnfishin said
Could also be a lightly stamped 24 - what I find odd is mine runs opposite of examples you have - my 2 is toward the barrel yours are toward the gun - would have to see another 24 stamp - there’s a small tail on bottom of my second digit that isn’t on the 27 example you have - who knows 🤷🏾

I have seen multiple examples of the 2-digt date stamp going both directions.

I also thought it could be a lightly stamped "4". It is possible that a light cleaning and different lighting & angle of the picture might better reveal second numeral.

Bert

Gunsnfishin on Winchester 55 first year production

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:26:00 +0000

Could also be a lightly stamped 24 - what I find odd is mine runs opposite of examples you have - my 2 is toward the barrel yours are toward the gun - would have to see another 24 stamp - there’s a small tail on bottom of my second digit that isn’t on the 27 example you have - who knows 🤷🏾

Bert H. on Winchester 55 first year production

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:00:43 +0000

gobblerforge said
Looks like 21 to me.

The problem with that interpretation is this... production of the Winchester Model 55 did not begin until June 1924. Winchester would not have manufactured a barrel for that rifle in the year 1921. The Model 55 barrels were unique to that model only.

Bert

gobblerforge on Winchester 55 first year production

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 10:52:21 +0000

Looks like 21 to me.

MidwestCrisis on 1892 32-20 value

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 03:02:50 +0000

Early on in my career I had a foreman tell me “some people know more than they’ll ever learn “. Later in my career I found there’s 2 types of people. Those being who cannot extrapolate from incomplete data.