OK all, I picked up a nice looking mod. 1873, S/N 165270, see letter that came with it. I messaged with a couple people here privately, but wanted to put a question on the furniture out to the masses…
It letters with “X stock” and the forend wood is marked “270X” in pencil. The butt is stamped “2X” and does somewhat match the graining, at least to my eye, of the forend. I can find no “XX” or assembly numbers stamped into either tang.
My question is, does anyone recognize the butt stamp marking as something that was maybe added later? All thoughts and discussion welcome. I have more pics but just included those with the wood.
JP
I would have expected to see normal assembly numbers on the toe of the butt plate, on the butt stock under the upper tang, and on the side of the lower tang with the X grading next to it. Very seldom is there any mark on the forearm wood, but I have seen penciled assembly numbers on the inside without any wood grading marks. The stock assembly mark is not in the normal location. I would expect Winchester to list the actual X grade, but it does not have checkering so maybe not. It looks one X or just extra figure like a case frame 73 would have. Maybe it was made without assembly numbers and someone later added the wood markings. More questions than answers.
I’m curious to hear what 1873man has to say.
T/R
TR said
I would have expected to see normal assembly numbers on the toe of the butt plate, on the butt stock under the upper tang, and on the side of the lower tang with the X grading next to it. Very seldom is there any mark on the forearm wood, but I have seen penciled assembly numbers on the inside without any wood grading marks. The stock assembly mark is not in the normal location. I would expect Winchester to list the actual X grade, but it does not have checkering so maybe not. It looks one X or just extra figure like a case frame 73 would have. Maybe it was made without assembly numbers and someone later added the wood markings. More questions than answers.I’m curious to hear what 1873man has to say.
T/R
I did message 1873man privately and he had not seen a stamped stock like that before, mentioning that it would normally be on the tang(s).
Now, additionally, the buttstock had a couple cracks repaired at the wrist but I don’t think in that process they destroyed or covered any markings but it could’ve happened.
It’s a beautiful gun for about 140 years old though! If this butt isn’t original, someone did an excellent job fitting it some time ago….she fits nice and snug.
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
Jeremy,Here is one of mine that letters “X Stock” and set trigger. The tang is marked “xx 4788 R”. This is the normal marking I would expect to see if its marked at all.
Bob
Thank you Bob for the pics, looks very similar to mine, except I have a Lyman 1A rear peep and a half mag. Looks like you have the same front Beach as well!
I definitely don’t have the tang markings, perhaps rear stock crack repairs might’ve led to that stock marking being covered with epoxy or acraglass, hard to say but it doesn’t look as smooth as yours in that area so a repair may be the culprit. In that pic of the toe, is that the wood or the metal buttplate?
Jeremy,
That is the toe of the butt plate (The metal)
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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