Identify rifles from old photos

ssix · November 19, 2013, 08:43 AM

I have several photographs from around 1901 with rifles in them. I would like to be able to identify the rifles for a book I'm doing. Any help would be appreciated.

Jim Watson · November 19, 2013, 09:05 AM

That is a better picture than the usual old album.
Clearly an 1873 Winchester rifle (as in not a carbine.)
It has an octagonal barrel which was an extra cost option ($.95) but was so popular that there are probably more octagon than round except for carbines.
The magazine tube looks small, I think it is a .32-20.

Price, $12.50 in 1901.
But this one has a lot of finish wear and was not a new rifle in 1901.

ssix · November 19, 2013, 10:16 AM

Thanks a lot! More photos to come!

ssix · November 19, 2013, 10:27 AM

Here is another

ssix · November 19, 2013, 10:28 AM

One more

Jim Watson · November 19, 2013, 10:56 AM

Post 4. I THINK the shotgun on the left is a Parker, but not certain. Not shown in my 1901 Sears catalog, but competitive L.C. Smith and Ithaca shotguns were $26 and up. Way up if you wanted to squander a hundred bucks on a shotgun.

The rifle in the middle is a Marlin, probably an 1893, caliber .30-30 or similar. Price $13.25 which is actually more than the '94 Winchester at the time.

The rifle on the right is another Winchester 1873.
Note that the guy with it has a revolver on his belt. If I cross my eyes and squint, I can imagine it is a large frame Smith & Wesson topbreak.
He is wearing a belt full of shotgun shells. Wonder why.

Post 5. I think the rifle is an 1886. An 1892 is similar but smaller. I believe it has a pistol grip Caliber .45-70 or any of a number of calibers of somewhat similar size and power. Price was $14.97 for the straight grip, I don't know if the pistol grip was an extra cost option.

The revolver is a nickel plated top break, maybe Smith & Wesson but there were a number of lesser brands of similar appearance, Iver Johnson and Harrington & Richardson the best known.

gyvel · November 19, 2013, 12:26 PM

Just a theory, but the Marlin in post 4 looks more likely to be a .32-20, based on the size of the mag tube.

Jim Watson · November 19, 2013, 02:05 PM

Maybe so, but I thought the receiver looked longer than an 1894.
Marlin Safety for sure, though.

ssix · November 19, 2013, 03:01 PM

Am I seeing things or does the Marlin appear to have a Vernier sight?

southjk · November 19, 2013, 03:51 PM

Quote:

He is wearing a belt full of shotgun shells. Wonder why.

My guess would be that when the photographer finally got ready to take the shot they just grabbed the nearest gun and posed. He probably belongs to the shotgun on the left.

Hawg · November 19, 2013, 08:14 PM

I believe the rifle in post #1 is a short rifle. The Marlin on post #4 does indeed have a small mag tube and if you look at the contour of the barrel lug on the revolver in post #5 it does appear to be a S&W.

November 19, 2013, 09:05 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	That is a better picture than the usual old album. Clearly an 1873 Winchester rifle (as in not a carbine.) It has an octagonal barrel which was an extra cost option ($.95) but was so popular that there are probably more octagon than round except for carbines. The magazine tube looks small, I think it is a .32-20. Price, $12.50 in 1901. But this one has a lot of finish wear and was not a new rifle in 1901.

November 19, 2013, 10:16 AM	#3
ssix Junior Member Join Date: November 4, 2008 Location: Reedsville, WV Posts: 13	Thanks a lot! More photos to come!

November 19, 2013, 10:56 AM	#6
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Post 4. I THINK the shotgun on the left is a Parker, but not certain. Not shown in my 1901 Sears catalog, but competitive L.C. Smith and Ithaca shotguns were $26 and up. Way up if you wanted to squander a hundred bucks on a shotgun. The rifle in the middle is a Marlin, probably an 1893, caliber .30-30 or similar. Price $13.25 which is actually more than the '94 Winchester at the time. The rifle on the right is another Winchester 1873. Note that the guy with it has a revolver on his belt. If I cross my eyes and squint, I can imagine it is a large frame Smith & Wesson topbreak. He is wearing a belt full of shotgun shells. Wonder why. Post 5. I think the rifle is an 1886. An 1892 is similar but smaller. I believe it has a pistol grip Caliber .45-70 or any of a number of calibers of somewhat similar size and power. Price was $14.97 for the straight grip, I don't know if the pistol grip was an extra cost option. The revolver is a nickel plated top break, maybe Smith & Wesson but there were a number of lesser brands of similar appearance, Iver Johnson and Harrington & Richardson the best known.

November 19, 2013, 12:26 PM	#7
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	Just a theory, but the Marlin in post 4 looks more likely to be a .32-20, based on the size of the mag tube.

November 19, 2013, 02:05 PM	#8
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Maybe so, but I thought the receiver looked longer than an 1894. Marlin Safety for sure, though.

November 19, 2013, 03:01 PM	#9
ssix Junior Member Join Date: November 4, 2008 Location: Reedsville, WV Posts: 13	Am I seeing things or does the Marlin appear to have a Vernier sight?

November 19, 2013, 08:14 PM	#11
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	I believe the rifle in post #1 is a short rifle. The Marlin on post #4 does indeed have a small mag tube and if you look at the contour of the barrel lug on the revolver in post #5 it does appear to be a S&W.