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Winchester Model 1873 Value
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Recently a coworker asked if I would help him sell his brother-in-law's gun collection. The guy had several items I've no clue how to value, so I'm looking for help. This is a Winchester model 1873 rifle with a hex barrel. After looking for 15 minutes I can't find a caliber stamped on it anywhere. Once again the photos are pittiful but they're the best I have at the moment. I'd rate the condition on this one as fair.
![Winchester%201873%20Side%20Post.jpg](http://home.houston.rr.com/petvet/Winchester%201873%20Side%20Post.jpg)
And the writing on the barrel,
![Winchester%201873%20Side%20Post.jpg](http://home.houston.rr.com/petvet/Winchester%201873%20Side%20Post.jpg)
And the writing on the barrel,
![Winchester%20Barrel%20Post.jpg](http://home.houston.rr.com/petvet/Winchester%20Barrel%20Post.jpg)
Comments
can you also measure the length of barrel. It looks short by the photo.
Cavanaughkid@hotmail.com
The caliber on that rifle should be stamped on the top flat of the barrel just forward of the frame ring, and it will also be stamped on the bottom of the bronze elevator block.
As it stands now, your co-worker has an illegally modified antique rifle, and it is worth ZERO $$. In fact, it is actually worth 10 years in a Federal prison and/or $250,000 in fines. My advice is to remove the barrel and destroy it, then either locate a correct (24-inch) barrel, or part out the gun.
Could this rifle have been custom ordered with the short barrel ?
I have read of a few rifles that were used on coaches with short factory barrels.
Just curious. Thanks,
Pete
Bert,
Could this rifle have been custom ordered with the short barrel ?
I have read of a few rifles that were used on coaches with short factory barrels.
Just curious. Thanks,
Pete
Hello Pete,
Yes, the Model 1873 could be factory ordered with a shorter than standard barrel... but this rifle is not one of them. The most common length for a factory "Short" rifle was either 18-inches or 16-inches. Additionally, Winchester never installed a full length forestock on a factory ordered "Short" rifle. Lastly, Winchester always installed a magazine tube retention ring that was located 3-1/16-inches behind the muzzle (for a short rifle). If the owner of this rifle wants to know what the actual factory configuration was, I suggest contacting the Cody Firearms Museum and purchasing a factory letter.
I'd inform my "Brother-in-law" to drop that bbl off a bridge... Bert knows of what he speaks...
Jeff
PS. he might want to mash it with a large hammer first!!