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December 9, 2002
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Here’s an interesting Winchester Model 1873, in the .44 caliber, src, configuration, that I just completed going through and lightly addressed some gentle removal of some years old gunk, and crusty yet hardened rust inside, and being careful, not to overdue anything, as a very nice all original and historical piece. I wasn’t looking to do any kind of restoration naturally, nor would I! This needs to stay just like it is! IMO!
I gave this serial number to Bob, the 73 man, for the survey as a new entry, last month, which pleased me. #395496B, mfg. 1891, is a very used, and not really abused carbine, that saw hard use, that is in a chocolate brown state of patina and full of honest and interesting wear. The bore is probably a 5-6, out of 10, as the lands are very visible, along with it’s rifling, and lightly pitted yet common for these, of this era, bore.
I will post more pictures with better light in the morning, as natural light will work better for that. In the meantime I will post some pictures in different angled light showing the left side plate only, as some interesting marks we’re put there a long time ago. What looks like possibly a name with an early style of writing maybe from the late 1800’s or early 1900’s, which would make sense on this wonderful and honest specimen.
What looks like , two initials, and a four or five letter last name, possibly. With a line underneath, and some what looks like triangular pieces.Upside down triangles, or hearts, or circles, or are they, “Indian Teepee Symbols”! Ahhh the romance of the West does come to mind!
Not sure, as It’s interesting to me and maybe some others!
Anthony
March 15, 2020
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Anthony, you might try putting the side plate on a copying machine and make a copy. I used to have to read old nearly illegible documents ( I’m an old surveyor). As the copier only recognizes black or white it will enhance the colors making them more legible. Don
December 9, 2002
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86Win said
Anthony, you might try putting the side plate on a copying machine and make a copy. I used to have to read old nearly illegible documents ( I’m an old surveyor). As the copier only recognizes black or white it will enhance the colors making them more legible. Don
Don,
I like you’re suggestion, and I’ve got nothing to loose trying that. Thanks for the tip!
Anthony
December 9, 2002
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I was able to take advantage of some some natural lighting, even though it’s cloudy and overcast. Here I tried to show the different angles of a very well used and honest 73 src, in it’s final stages of a light and enjoyable cleaning, with out restoring it, or boiling parts or even soaking anything, as some of the historical encrusted dried grease, that will remain in place, as it should, and without removing the patina on it. IMO!
Oh it’s got it’s dents and scratches and so called handling marks, as I wouldn’t classify these as mere handling marks, but good honest to goodness use! In the 6 th picture where I showed the split/crack, that I repaired from the inside, with wood glue only, just to keep it from splitting further or getting worse. You can see a gouge in the barrel, in front of the split forearm. More character, as I view it!
The front barrel band screw is broken and the last half is missing. In the pictures the right side of the receiver shows some old pitting, as does a few other common places on these, such as the muzzle, butt plate, loading tube, and barrel, and in areas that didn’t get cleaned regular, that doesn’t look to be wire wheeled, but possibly cleaned up, a long time ago, with a rag soaked in oil. Also in the pictures I tried to show a split in the wood, at the front of the forearm. From the detailed pictures I tried to show an honest representation of a true 73 src, that I have been searching for, and another member suggested to me, through their contact to call this gentleman. A real honest looking Antique src, inside and out!
Okay the pictures have decided to turn on their side, even as I tried to go to the least amount of mgb, (small size).
I’m very happy with it, as they are getting harder to find and come by, that aren’t fussed with, or restored, and even with cold blue wiped all over the metal, and the wood refinished! IMHO!
Anthony
July 8, 2012
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Anthony,
What a neat old 73 carbine. The letters on the side plate were on there for a very long time. Love to know the history.
Thanks for sharing.
Al
April 30, 2023
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…and chambered in .44 WGF, very rare I hear! 
December 9, 2002
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Yes gentlemen, it has what many are looking for.
Anthony
November 2, 2009
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I like it. Looks like a used carbine in untouched condition. I wondered too, about the caliber marking, WGF. Caliber marking is hard to read, so maybe someone over stamped the C, thinking it was supposed to be a G. From the photo I see, it definitely looks like a G.
November 19, 2006
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Tony –
This carbine has some stories to tell! I think you were wise to not clean it up any further than you did. I enjoyed looking at all the photos.
December 9, 2002
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win4575 said
I like it. Looks like a used carbine in untouched condition. I wondered too, about the caliber marking, WGF. Caliber marking is hard to read, so maybe someone over stamped the C, thinking it was supposed to be a G. From the photo I see, it definitely looks like a G.
AHHHH Grass hopper you are Very astute! I purposely tried to show that without mentioning it! I will try to get a better look at it as time allows and report back! Nice pick up Rick!
steve004 said
Tony –
This carbine has some stories to tell! I think you were wise to not clean it up any further than you did. I enjoyed looking at all the photos.
I’m in agreement with you Steve, as “if they only could talk”! You can understand what I mean, when I say, “This one speaks to me”! You know me well enough, from our posts, to know that I wouldn’t take it too far, with the light cleaning and keeping the patina that took so many years to get there!
Tony
December 9, 2002
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It sure looks like the middle letter, which win4575, has pointed out, definitely looks like a “G”, and not a “C”, as it should be. Being more pronounced than the, “W”, and the, “F”. The “F”, also stands out a little more than the, “W”! It sure is possible that these last two letters we’re re struck, and the reason a “G”, might have been used, is who ever did it, might not have had a letter, “C”, and or the letter ‘W”, for that matter, in their metal stamps. Due to the angle of the picture, the “F”, doesn’t look to be struck as hard, but again that could be the different angle of light in the photo. Because it does look to have been struck fairly hard enough.
Anthony
November 19, 2006
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Anthony said
It sure looks like the middle letter, which win4575, has pointed out, definitely looks like a “G”, and not a “C”, as it should be. Being more pronounced than the, “W”, and the, “F”. The “F”, also stands out a little more than the, “W”! It sure is possible that these last two letters we’re re struck, and the reason a “G”, might have been used, is who ever did it, might not have had a letter, “C”, and or the letter ‘W”, for that matter, in their metal stamps. Due to the angle of the picture, the “F”, doesn’t look to be struck as hard, but again that could be the different angle of light in the photo. Because it does look to have been struck fairly hard enough.It sure looks like it’s been there awhile! In reference, I am wondering if anyone has seen any other similarities to this, on another Winchester Rifle over the years.
Anthony
A long stretch of the imagination for sure, but maybe someone who owned the rifle at some point, had the initials, “W.G.F.” and by a minimal alteration of the, “C” they could have a personalized carbine.
March 31, 2009
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My initials are CFW. Maybe I should scratch that on a few rifles.
December 9, 2002
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steve004 said
Anthony said
It sure looks like the middle letter, which win4575, has pointed out, definitely looks like a “G”, and not a “C”, as it should be. Being more pronounced than the, “W”, and the, “F”. The “F”, also stands out a little more than the, “W”! It sure is possible that these last two letters we’re re struck, and the reason a “G”, might have been used, is who ever did it, might not have had a letter, “C”, and or the letter ‘W”, for that matter, in their metal stamps. Due to the angle of the picture, the “F”, doesn’t look to be struck as hard, but again that could be the different angle of light in the photo. Because it does look to have been struck fairly hard enough.It sure looks like it’s been there awhile! In reference, I am wondering if anyone has seen any other similarities to this, on another Winchester Rifle over the years.
Anthony
A long stretch of the imagination for sure, but maybe someone who owned the rifle at some point, had the initials, “W.G.F.” and by a minimal alteration of the, “C” they could have a personalized carbine.
Steve,
We might never know, as that has never crossed my mind!
Chuck,
I think you should do it! Report back with pictures, please!
Tony
March 20, 2010
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Look to me it reads “C G Paul”
Cool Carbine with some character!!
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
December 9, 2002
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1892takedown said
Look to me it reads “C G Paul”
Cool Carbine with some character!!
Chris,
That’s one of the ideas I have on paper!
I’m in agreement as I do like this one. Far from perfect, and with some character, but made in 1891, so the era, 135 years ago and moving forward we’re most certainly different times, with the Indian wars pretty much wound down by then, maybe a European, who came over and landed back East, and wanted to try his luck out west, as many did back then, had it, as the writing has a flair of that style of writing, in some aspects.
Maybe the side plate, on the copier trick, will help when I get a chance!
Anthony
May 2, 2009
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The name on the sideplate, is it engraved in?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
December 9, 2002
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Bob,
Possibly.
It’s really hard to tell. As I run my fingers over the top, it feels pretty smooth. My guess is that it was etched in, a long time ago, as I can’t imagine anything, would hang onto the metal that long, without being either etched into the metal, or lightly engraved, or scratched into it.
It doesn’t look to be a typical engraving, but more of a writing style of the time period, of the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s.
With the style of writing as a swirl at the beginning and at the ends of the letters, it has some early Victorian style flair to it, and maybe with some Spanish style along with it!
Whoever owned was proud to have, and decided to put, what looks like their name on it, with some design under the long line drawn underneath, what appears to be they’re name.
Tony
December 9, 2002
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Bob,
I had forgotten to post these pics from the early stages of disassembly and the light clean up I chose to do on the carbine.
What are the marks, and their indications in front of the receiver, on the underside? Which looks like “I”, “.”(punch dot), “2”, “3”, and two more punch dots!
I didn’t see anything on the front of the receiver, where the wood forearm rests against the receiver. Looking at the first picture here, I can see something on the front of the receiver that I didn’t notice before, while cleaning. My eyes aren’t what they used to be! That’s for sure, and the extra light and the aid of the magnification is needed, on many occasions!
Tony
November 19, 2006
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Well, this thread just keeps getting more interesting. Tony – thanks for posting the additional photos. I don’t know what those stamped numbers mean but I am looking forward to hearing from someone here who does.
Let me add that I appreciate the very careful and limited way you cleaned this carbine up. Many times I’ll see a rifle/carbine advertised with the comment, “has a lot of crud on it – needs a good cleaning.” For many of these old pieces, there is the risk of cleaning away the history and essence of the rifle. I have seen countless pieces that have been excessively cleaned. I think your technique was a fine balance. Obviously, individual preferences will vary, but sometimes when people start on the cleaning path, they go too far – and what they’ve done can’t be undone.
