View Full Version : winchester model 1873?
jphelps4
October 3, 2005, 09:34 PM
I am looking for any info on the winchester model 1873 in 32-40. Thanks for the help
Jim Watson
October 3, 2005, 10:27 PM
Winchester did not make the 1873 in .32-40 although they did in .32-20.
Any information? There are whole books on the '73.
Mike Irwin
October 3, 2005, 11:30 PM
I belive the first Winchester model chambered in .32-40 was the 1886, but I may be wrong about that.
Jim Watson
October 4, 2005, 08:20 AM
Grrr.
.32-40 was one of the first chamberings of the 1894 Winchester along with .38-55. Took them til the next year to get the smokeless .30-30 on the market.
The VERY FIRST Winchester in .32-40 was likely the 1885 Single Shot.
1886 was not made in either .32 (although there is a .33 in the next room.)
But if Jphelps will let us know just what he would like to know about that 1873 .32 WCF I bet we can give him some information short of a book-length treatise.
jphelps4
October 4, 2005, 09:07 AM
My Grandfather gave me a old lever action rifel a few years ago and it has just been siting around and I want to find out what the deal is on it. Just behined the hamer it says model 1873 and on top of the barrel it says 32 wcf. The barrel is octagone and is 19 and a half inches long. On top of the barrel is says Kings improvement patented march 29 1866 october 16 1860. Any info will help like when it was made, if this is a long gun that should be shot any more, and value. It is not for sale I would just like to know how much it is worth. thanks for the info.
Jim Watson
October 4, 2005, 10:48 AM
.32 WCF (Winchester Centerfire) is commonly known as .32-20 because the other makers like Marlin and Colt didn't want to put a Winchester trademark on their guns.
Kings Improvement is the receiver loading gate, improved from the Henry.
1873s were made from 1873 til 1919 (.32-20 came out in 1882) and were assembled out of parts on hand for years after that. If you give the serial number, located on the bottom tang behind the lever, it can be tied down to the year of manufacture.
An octagonal barrel 19 1/2 inches long was either a special order or has been sawn off, which is much more likely.
It can be safely shot with current production .32-20 ammunition if in good condition, which I cannot judge over the internet. There is always a warning not to shoot a '73 with the high velocity loads made for the '92 but those have not been made for 40 years.
Dollar value will vary greatly depending on originality and condition. If Grandpa's rifle is in really nice condition and if the 19 1/2 inch barrel is a factory "short rifle" length, then the collector's value would be many thousands of dollars. If it is well used and cut off, it might be worth $1000 or less.
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