Winchester model 1873 serial # suffix ?
I can't believe I now own a Winchester model 1873. I am normally a Pistol shooter/fan. I bought a small collection today . & one item is a 1873. A few things I have questions about it seems like the serial is
399155 B The 399155 is lets say .165 tall but that is the vertical height with font being italic the B is most definitely a Capital B not an 8 and it is only about .110 and in a straight upright Roman font. What is the meaning of the letter B[?]
The barrel is Oct. 24.375 + or - .050 with the magazine tube about
.030 shorter then the barrel The butt plate has Key hole shaped trap door for cleaning kit . This looks like a survivor that has never been refinished in wood or metal with about 90% dull Black Not brown Front blade sight with front edge.680 back from edge of muzzle Very top of blade brass but rest of sight steel rear sight Buckhorn wit 6 step elevator. dust cover has 11 groves and 10 teeth each side. The wood is very dark Patina and unless I don't know wood fit I am convinsed it is original to the gun. It will be week end before I get this stuff home to take pictures. in the meantime if anyone can shed some light on the serial suffix I would love to know what this is. Thanks Karl
EDIT Thanks Bert I knew about model 12 and rifles like model 62 s ETC did not realize they did this letter system before 1900 .I will contact you as soon as I can get condition to get some close up pictures of sights I have questions on these.
EDIT II Thanks KIMI AND TRAPSI hope to get some good no glare Pictures this week end I have a 38/40 Colt First Gen Single action and want to give my self a History lesson of what it was like to be armed 100 + years ago. I have nver owned a lever gun because I have very boney fingers along with the rest of my body[:I] The only way I can work a lever is by grasping the bottom lever bow with thumb and forefinger.
399155 B The 399155 is lets say .165 tall but that is the vertical height with font being italic the B is most definitely a Capital B not an 8 and it is only about .110 and in a straight upright Roman font. What is the meaning of the letter B[?]
The barrel is Oct. 24.375 + or - .050 with the magazine tube about
.030 shorter then the barrel The butt plate has Key hole shaped trap door for cleaning kit . This looks like a survivor that has never been refinished in wood or metal with about 90% dull Black Not brown Front blade sight with front edge.680 back from edge of muzzle Very top of blade brass but rest of sight steel rear sight Buckhorn wit 6 step elevator. dust cover has 11 groves and 10 teeth each side. The wood is very dark Patina and unless I don't know wood fit I am convinsed it is original to the gun. It will be week end before I get this stuff home to take pictures. in the meantime if anyone can shed some light on the serial suffix I would love to know what this is. Thanks Karl
EDIT Thanks Bert I knew about model 12 and rifles like model 62 s ETC did not realize they did this letter system before 1900 .I will contact you as soon as I can get condition to get some close up pictures of sights I have questions on these.
EDIT II Thanks KIMI AND TRAPSI hope to get some good no glare Pictures this week end I have a 38/40 Colt First Gen Single action and want to give my self a History lesson of what it was like to be armed 100 + years ago. I have nver owned a lever gun because I have very boney fingers along with the rest of my body[:I] The only way I can work a lever is by grasping the bottom lever bow with thumb and forefinger.
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Karl,
The "B" is technically not part of the serial number. What it signifies is the specific mechanical configuration of the receiver group. As Winchester continued to make design improvements and changes, they used letters to denote the change. The changes often time required the use of slightly different parts during the assembly process. Winchester was not very consistent in how they marked the various models with the change designation letter(s).
The Model 1873 used the letter "A" and later the letter "B" as a suffix on the serial number.
The Model 1885 was stamped with an "A" on the bitter end of the lower tang.
The Model 1893 used the letters "A" and "B" directly above the serial number, and the continuation Model 1897 used the letters "C", "D", and "E" also above the serial number.
The Model 52 used letters "A" - "E".
In later years and models, Winchester added an "A" to the Model designation; e.g. 04A, 62A, 67A, 69A, etc.
Edit: I will look forward to seeing the pictures of your Model 1873.0 -
Bert forgot to tell you it was made in 1891.[:)] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by TRAP55
Bert forgot to tell you it was made in 1891.[:)]
[:0][:D] And that it's a Third Model, Variation 2![:D]0
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