Don't know what I have, Help needed ????

MarkDSr

New poster, please be gentle. I have come to own two weapons I do not know anything about. One is a Winchester lever action, full octogon barrel, full length tube magazine, twist lever lock at rear of lever(nothing like my Winchester or Marlin 30/30's), brass block in action, top elect, side load, on top of barrel in front of rear tang are two lines, first is:"Winchester Repeating Arms, New Haven, Conn, USA", second line is"King's Improvement, Patented March 29,1866, October 16, 1860" behind the rear tang against the receiver, in a more script looking engraving is:" 38WCF", lastly, on the bottom of the receiver on the brass is also "38WCF but some of the numeral 8 is worn. Any info please, I do not even know what to call this. Is the cartridge loadable to fire this or is it strictly a piece for the safe. The finish is nothing spectacular, looks extremely used.
I think my Mossberg model R 22 is more modern and I will search it out.
Thanks
Mark D.

rufe-snow

Click on this link,

http://www.rarewinchesters.com/gunroom/1873/model_73.shtml


it will answer a lot of your questions. GOOGLE "model 1873 Winchester" for a lot more info.

11b6r

The .38 WCF, also known as the 38-40. See link to ammo article:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/38-40win.htm

Old-Colts

As has already been stated it sounds like you have a Winchester Model 1873 Rifle in 38-40 (38 W.C.F.). On the bottom tang, under the lever, you should see a serial number which will allow us to tell you approximately when your gun was made and whether or not factory records are still available, I think most are for the Model 1873.

A Standard Rifle would have a barrel length of 24 inches and have a straight non-checkered grip. If you could post pictures perhaps we could tell you more about your Winchester.

Bert H.

Unless it has a tang sight mounted on it, it should have the Model designation stamped on the upper tang rigjht behind the hammer. The serial number is on the lower tang behind the lever, and it will tell us when it was received in the warehouse.

If the rifle is in safe mechanical condition (I recommend having a gunsmith check it for you), you can shoot it with the Winchester brand Cowboy action ammo (or any other make of Cowboy action ammo).

The Cody Firearms Museum (see my Serial Number references Sticky above for the internet link) has the original factory ledgers for all of the Model 1873s.

MarkDSr

I feel rather dumb having been around guns my whole life. I missed these, the rear tang behind the hammer says plain as day,"Model 1873", the lower tang behind the lever shows serial "262998". The wood but stock appears to be a higher grade than the foregrip which I would call straight grain. They do match in finish and condition, probably rates good. The but plate is kind of crescent shaped appearing original, tang on top of but stock extending forward with a large and a small screw, slide open trapdoor in center of but plate, all there and workes smooth. I will attempt picture in the next day or two.
Just for info to the very helpful members here, Dad and I played around at gunshows for 30 years, Mom gave me these two pieces just after Dad died, right before she died. These were the only two weapons owned by him or I that I did not know some history or a story about. Thank you all for the above information, if there are any other items, please post them here. I have not asked for a possible value as I am not too sure of grading and only occasionally trade and almost never sell weapons, especially these that were some of Dads.
Thanks again.

Old-Colts

As far as a value goes it would be best to post detailed photos in this forum and you can find instructions if you look at the top of this forum or follow this link:

http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=259294

Also, historical records should be available for your Model 1873 from the Cody Firearms Museum Records Service for a small fee ($60). Information on how to use this service is available at the following link:

http://www.bbhc.org/firearms/records.cfm

Depending on how much information is available the letter can include specifics such as:

Warehouse Date
Type of Firearm
Caliber
Barrel Length & Type
Trigger
Stock
Sights
Magazine
Butt
Shipped Date
Checkering

Bert H.

The serial number indicates that it was manufactured early in the year 1888.

Have you looked carefully in the trapdoor to see if it has its original 4-piece steel cleaning rod?

If you have problems with posting the pictures, you can also send them to me at Win1885@msn.com

Wolf.

--
Your rifle sounds like a great old gun! It would be nice to see some pictures of it on here and to get a good look at the buttstock trapdoor.

Also, since no one specifically or directly said this:
The .38WCF (or .38-40) cartridge is a caliber all its own. Do not try to fire any other .38, .357, .380, etc. cartridges in your nice old Winchester.

And, it's good to hear from someone who inherits a weapon from their dad who is not particularly interested in its value.

MarkDSr

Thank you all again. The cleaning rod is not in the butstock. I will make time to learn to post pictures in the next day or two.
My son and my daughter, both in college, have already deceided which one gets most of my guns as well as my fathers guns and his fathers guns, no worry about outside sales here as they both shoot with me whenever home for a break.

11b6r

And your Mossy Mdl R was made 1930-1932. Should have a 24 inch bbl (yeah, Mossberg liked 'em long) Value about $175- $350, depending on condition. Vic Havlin at the Mossberg collectors Assn may have some more info for you.