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1873 winchester with brass side plates

dsmc1
I have this rifle in 32WCF which I bought MANY years ago, but have never seen another with brass side plates. Was this common/ Was this a custom order, or a repair?
Would appreciate any info.
Dave
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • Bert H.
    Hello Dave,

    If the side plates truly are brass, it is someones "Bubba" repair job. Winchester never made them out out of anything other than steel. Are you sure that they are solid brass and not plated?
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  • Spider7115
    Try a magnet. If it sticks, it's brass-plated steel.
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  • dsmc1
    Thanks for the imput. Will try a magnet on them, and weigh back in.
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  • glabray
    Actually, Winchester made 1873 side plates and receiver frames out of plain iron until the early 1880s when they switched over to steel. While most of us have learned to "never say never" concerning anything Winchester may or may not have done, it is highly unlikely that your brass side plates were made by Winchester. There are a couple of other possibilities however: (1) Awhile ago somebody was selling brass sideplates for 1873s to cowboy action shooters who wanted to "gussy up" their gun and have something that looked a little different. (2) At one time a number of 1873s had their entire receivers brass plated to resemble 1866s. This was done for one of the major movie studios.
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  • dsmc1
    Hi Guys
    Thank for the feedback and info. It failed the magnet test; the sideplates are steel or iron. They apparently were plated, as was the dust cover and the side plate screw, all except the threads. However on closer inspection, it appears it MIGHT be GOLD plate rather than brass, as it has held a nice finish and shine. You're probably right that someone decided to "gussy it up".

    The gun is a SN 230440B (made in 1887 from research I did years ago; going to recheck that date against newer books I've picked up) 24 1/4 inch round barrel 32WCF, and apparently professionally reblued; nice job, but a few dings in the frame under the blue.

    Thanks again for your ideas and info
    Dave
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  • Bert H.
    Hello Dave,

    Winchester did (on rare special orders) gold plate parts or all of the receiver/frame on the old Winchesters. You might consider contacting the Cody Firearms Musuem research department and purchasing a factory letter for your rifle. Before doing that, I also highly recommend posting a few clear close-up pictures of the side plates... I can usually tell in an instant if it is original gold plating or not.
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  • dsmc1
    Hi Bert
    Will take some pix tomorrow and try to see if I can post them. I'm guessing it's NOT original plating: there is a trace of etching under the plating on the left side plate. and the plating in the slot of the screw is just too pristine to be 100 years old or more. Also there is virtually NO wear on the plating on the insides of the side plates.

    But I will gladly accept your offer to look at it, and offer an opinion.
    Confirmed the 1887 date of mfg in Madis's book. Can anyone tell me what the "B" after the serial number stands for?
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by dsmc1
    Can anyone tell me what the "B" after the serial number stands for?

    Sure, but it will cost you....... just kidding.

    The "B" signifies that a mechanical production change was made to the receiver assembly, and in this case, it has to do with the way the mortise (dust) cover rail was attached to the top of the frame (milled as part of the receiver frame versus being attached with screws). This change is what defines a Third Model versus a Second Model.
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  • dsmc1
    P8110168.JPG
    P8110167.JPG
    P8110169.JPG
    P8110172.JPG
    P8110170.JPG

    Here are the promised pix (I HOPE) you can see some minor pitting on the side plates UNDER the plating, very thin plating on the dust cover, and very little wear on the insides of the plates from the toggles. Also no buggering of the slot on the side plate screw. My guess is that this is a fairly recent plating job. I've owned the rifle since 1973. Not sure if "cowboy shooting" sport was active back then, but suspect Glabray was right about someone Gussying it up.
    Not too sure if it's Gold or Brass though.
    Am HOPING you can enlarge the pictures, they look very small when I preview them
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  • Spider7115
    Don't shoot the messenger for the size of these pics; these are what were uploaded. It looks like modern gold electroplating to me.

    P8110168.JPG
    P8110170.JPG
    P8110172.JPG
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  • Bert H.
    I concur with Spider... it is modern applied gold-plating.
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