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Win. '73 serial number,
elubsme
Member Posts: 2,188 ✭✭✭✭
What does the B mean at the end of a Winchester 1873 serial number? Thanks, Ed
Comments
Nothing really.
Its a change in the Manufacturing that so far no one has been able to figure out.
Bob
Cody Firearms Member
Winchester Arms Collectors Association Life member
There isn't always a B. Sometimes it is an A. But I have never seen any other letter. You will notice that the font of the letter is square, not the slanted font of the numbers, as if the letter was stamped in later. I have never seen any letter after the numbers of an early 1st model 1873. I tend to agree with the theory that the letter indicates which group or area of the plant assembled that particular gun. With the early guns there was only a single area thus no letter needed.
I have also heard that it meant that it was returned to the factory and reworked in some way. And yes, the "B" is slightly crooked. Thanks guys, Ed
1873man is correct. Per the Blue Book, the letter A or B has no definite meaning. After serial number 200,000 the letter B is usually encountered.