Winchester 1873 Dust Cover Rail
I recently purchased this Winchester 1873 chambered in .32 W.C.F.
Serial number 525801B. It was missing the dust cover + rail. I purchased a cover + rail but the receiver only has 1 hole and the rail 2.
Did they ever make a 1 hole rail ? Did my receiver originally have 2 holes ?
Serial number 525801B. It was missing the dust cover + rail. I purchased a cover + rail but the receiver only has 1 hole and the rail 2.
Did they ever make a 1 hole rail ? Did my receiver originally have 2 holes ?
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There is something really odd about your Model 1873. The serial number identifies it as a January 1899 production Third variation.
The Third variation Model 1873s were all manufactured with an integral rail (milled as a part of the receiver frame) versus a detachable rail. The detachable rails were the defining feature of the Second variation Model 1873.
So, something is very strange about your Model 1873... it should have a solid milled rail, but it is possible that the lower tang (with the serial number) was removed from a different Model 1873, and installed in a much older Model 1873 frame. That however, does not explain why there is just one hole in the top of the receiver frame... a true mystery.0 -
There were a small number of 1873s made with no provision for a dust cover and no extractor dog. These were originally serial numbered in the mid-20,000s but since the SN on an 1873 is on the lower tang which is easily replaced, SNs aren't terribly reliable on that model after 100+ years. Yours does have the extractor dog but that may be a replacement also.
If the SN is original to your gun, consider that it was made in the dying years of the 1873 manufacture. Winchester was never one to throw away NOS parts. Maybe your gun was assembled with an old no-cover frame, a new lower tang and bolt, etc. Who knows. Never say "never" with Winchester!!!0 -
Should I proceed to drill + tap a hole for the rear mounting screw, or should I hold off and try to figure out what I have ? 0 -
I would never alter this rifle, replace parts if needed yes, but never change the original configuration 0 -
quote:Originally posted by truthful
If the SN is original to your gun, consider that it was made in the dying years of the 1873 manufacture. Winchester was never one to throw away NOS parts. Maybe your gun was assembled with an old no-cover frame, a new lower tang and bolt, etc. Who knows. Never say "never" with Winchester!!!
I strongly disagree with the statement that serial number 525801 was manufactured "in the dying years of the 1873 manufacture". As I previously mentioned, it was manufactured in January of 1899, which was 34-years before Winchester manufactured the last Model 1873. To be more specific, Winchester wrapped up production of the Model 1873 at serial number 720610 on January 3rd, 1933, which was 34-years and 194,809 serial numbers later. Production of the Model 1873 remained very robust from January 1899 through February of 1918 (serial number 720502), with parts clean-up taking place from March 1918 through January 1933, with just (108) serial numbers produced in that 15-year period of time.0 -
You really do have a unique 1873 there and I would agree with the comment that no effort should be made to add a dust cover.
It was not manufactured as an "open top." I'm certain their openings were rectangular without the cutout at the back of the opening. That cutout is for the dust cover stop that rides on the underside of the dust cover. The extractor snags the dust cover stop to open the dust cover when the lever is worked. So the dust cover opens before the action tries to eject the empty shell.
Right behind that opening is the place for a detent ball to put a little pressure on the dust cover and to hold it closed. That is not a screw hole. So it is lacking both screw holes for a second model screw-on rail.
It is also lacking the machined in dust cover rail for a third model.
So the big question is did it leave the factory like that, i.e. did the original owner order it to be delivered without a duct cover? Back then Winchester believed in having it your way and would do just about anything a customer wanted. If so that would be a very rare find and you could confirm that with a factory letter.
Alternatively, did someone weld up the second model screw holes? I doubt that because there were only about 50,000 second models made vs. about 630,000 third models and the .32 was introduced right at the end of the second model.
So if it did not leave the factory like that, my guess is someone removed the machined in third model rail. On further examination can you tell if a rail was removed? If so, screwing on a new rail would destroy that bit of history represented by your rifle.
Either way, a unique 1873!0 -
I've examined the receiver closely under bright light and magnification and I'm satisfied that no post factory worked has been performed, such as filling in screw holes or removing of any metal. I'd say a factory letter is the next course of action. 0 -
quote:but it is possible that the lower tang (with the serial number) was removed from a different Model 1873, and installed in a much older Model 1873 frame.
There's the catch. I'm putting one into shooting order for a friend right now, an oct bbl Sporting rifle. I had Bert check the serial number, and it came back as a round bbl Carbine. So we know what the trigger group came from, but we'll never know when the rifle was made.0 -
Hello Knifecollector,
I would recommend getting the serial number checked with the original production ledgers kept at the Cody Firearms Museum. That will help clear up what the original configuration of the rifle with that serial number was.
Michael0 -
After looking at the photos, it does not look like there was any work done to the top of the receiver in recent history. The only way you would end up with the cutout and hole in the top like that is if it had a third model rail which was milled off. Winchester would do most anything to a gun if you paid for it and it could be someone asked for no dust cover on this third model. In that case they would of taken a third model receiver and removed the rail. It would be money well spent to get a letter on it because if does letter with "No dust cover" it would be a very rare 73.
Bob0
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