cartridges introduced in 1873 (45/70, 45 colt, and ?????)

dntorbert · May 30, 2002, 09:05 AM

I've been considering getting a 45/70 rifle and have been doing a lot of reading about the cartridge and I recall seeing a picture somewhere saying 1873 was a good year because of 3 cartridges introduced that year and I am almost sure that two of them were the 45/70 and 45 colt but I cannot remeber what the third was....any ideas????

Jeeper · May 30, 2002, 09:13 AM

I would guess the 32-20 or 405 winchester. No real idea but those sounded good

**Mike Irwin** · May 30, 2002, 10:00 AM

It was the .32-20, in the Winchester 1873 rifle.

The .405 Winchester was introduced 20 years later, with the Winchester Model 1895 rifle.

WIL TERRY · May 30, 2002, 10:04 AM

44WCF IN THE WINCHESTER '73 RIFLE.
WE KNOW IT NOW MOSTLY AS THE 44/40 WHICH WAS MARLIN'S DESIGNATION. THEY WEREN'T ABOUT TO PUT " WCF "[ WINCHESTER CENTER FIRE ] ON THEIR RIFLES AND CARBINES.

Jeeper · May 30, 2002, 10:59 AM

Mike,

I have a 1873 chambered in 32-20 and that is why I thought that. I just wasn’t sure if it was earlier than that in a pistol

BigG · May 30, 2002, 11:15 AM

I am no expert but... I thought the original 1873 Winchesters were all in 44 WCF for several years. That's why the real oldies are not even marked as to caliber - you bought the rifle and you bought a box of cartridges marked for the Win '73.

The other '73 cartridges like 32/20, 25/20, and 38/40 were introduced AFTER 1873, IIRC. Remember, the 1873 was produced until 1929.

What? Not as old as you thought?

I will need to check COTW at home to be certain.

Jim Watson · May 30, 2002, 12:41 PM

How about 11 mm French Ordinance, as starred in The Mummy?
It came out in '73 but was probably not what they were talking about.

**Mike Irwin** · May 30, 2002, 12:45 PM

Damn...

You're right, G. The .32-20 wasn't introduced until the 1880s.

It was the .44-40.

The .38-40 was introduced in the middle to late 1870s.

All of the 1873s I've seen, though, including some in the triple digit serial number range, have had caliber designations on them.

sricciardelli · May 30, 2002, 01:32 PM

The .25-20 was sometime between 1893 and 1895.
The .32-20 was in 1882.
The .38-40 was in 1874.
The .44-40 was in 1873.
The .45-70 was in 1873.
The .40-90 Remington Special was in 1873.
The .45-50 Peabody was 1873.

May 30, 2002, 09:05 AM	#1
dntorbert Member Join Date: July 20, 2001 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 78	cartridges introduced in 1873 (45/70, 45 colt, and ?????) I've been considering getting a 45/70 rifle and have been doing a lot of reading about the cartridge and I recall seeing a picture somewhere saying 1873 was a good year because of 3 cartridges introduced that year and I am almost sure that two of them were the 45/70 and 45 colt but I cannot remeber what the third was....any ideas????

May 30, 2002, 09:13 AM	#2
Jeeper Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2001 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 776	I would guess the 32-20 or 405 winchester. No real idea but those sounded good __________________ Gun control theory - A woman raped and strangled is morally superior to a woman with a smoking gun and a dead rapist at her feet.

May 30, 2002, 10:00 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	It was the .32-20, in the Winchester 1873 rifle. The .405 Winchester was introduced 20 years later, with the Winchester Model 1895 rifle. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

May 30, 2002, 10:04 AM	#4
WIL TERRY Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2000 Location: BLACK HILLS Posts: 1,322	THE THIRD WAS THE 44WCF IN THE WINCHESTER '73 RIFLE. WE KNOW IT NOW MOSTLY AS THE 44/40 WHICH WAS MARLIN'S DESIGNATION. THEY WEREN'T ABOUT TO PUT " WCF "[ WINCHESTER CENTER FIRE ] ON THEIR RIFLES AND CARBINES.

May 30, 2002, 10:59 AM	#5
Jeeper Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2001 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 776	Mike, I have a 1873 chambered in 32-20 and that is why I thought that. I just wasn’t sure if it was earlier than that in a pistol __________________ Gun control theory - A woman raped and strangled is morally superior to a woman with a smoking gun and a dead rapist at her feet.

May 30, 2002, 11:15 AM	#6
BigG Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 4,334	I am no expert but... I thought the original 1873 Winchesters were all in 44 WCF for several years. That's why the real oldies are not even marked as to caliber - you bought the rifle and you bought a box of cartridges marked for the Win '73. The other '73 cartridges like 32/20, 25/20, and 38/40 were introduced AFTER 1873, IIRC. Remember, the 1873 was produced until 1929. What? Not as old as you thought? I will need to check COTW at home to be certain. __________________ o "The Earth is degenerating today. Bribery and corruption abound. Children no longer obey their parents, every man wants to write a book, and it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching." Assyrian tablet, c. 2800 BC o "In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain o "They have gun control in Cuba. They have universal health care in Cuba. So why do they want to come here?" Paul Harvey o TODAY WE CARVE OUT OUR OWN OMENS! Leonidas, Thermopylae, 480 BC

May 30, 2002, 12:41 PM	#7
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	How about 11 mm French Ordinance, as starred in The Mummy? It came out in '73 but was probably not what they were talking about.

May 30, 2002, 12:45 PM	#8
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Damn... You're right, G. The .32-20 wasn't introduced until the 1880s. It was the .44-40. The .38-40 was introduced in the middle to late 1870s. All of the 1873s I've seen, though, including some in the triple digit serial number range, have had caliber designations on them. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

May 30, 2002, 01:32 PM	#9
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	The .25-20 was sometime between 1893 and 1895. The .32-20 was in 1882. The .38-40 was in 1874. The .44-40 was in 1873. The .45-70 was in 1873. The .40-90 Remington Special was in 1873. The .45-50 Peabody was 1873. __________________ http://stevespages.com/page8.htm