Win. '73 serial number,

elubsme

October 09, 2023 00:07

What does the B mean at the end of a Winchester 1873 serial number? Thanks, Ed

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  dunbarboyz

  October 09, 2023 02:00

  Nothing really.

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  1873man

  October 09, 2023 12:44

  Its a change in the Manufacturing that so far no one has been able to figure out.

  Bob

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  truthful

  October 09, 2023 19:53

  There isn't always a B. Sometimes it is an A. But I have never seen any other letter. You will notice that the font of the letter is square, not the slanted font of the numbers, as if the letter was stamped in later. I have never seen any letter after the numbers of an early 1st model 1873. I tend to agree with the theory that the letter indicates which group or area of the plant assembled that particular gun. With the early guns there was only a single area thus no letter needed.

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  elubsme

  October 09, 2023 20:56

  I have also heard that it meant that it was returned to the factory and reworked in some way. And yes, the "B" is slightly crooked. Thanks guys, Ed

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  navc130

  October 09, 2023 21:04

  1873man is correct. Per the Blue Book, the letter A or B has no definite meaning. After serial number 200,000 the letter B is usually encountered.

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