Winchester model 1873 made in 1885 the serial number ends with the letter B what does that mean?

Bill, What indications do you see that it has a new barrel? The B in the serial number does not mean a replacement barrel. Is there any proof marks on the barrel or receiver?

If you post pictures of the barrel marking would help in telling what era the barrel was made. When 73's came out they had just a plain serial numbers then in 1882 they started adding the A and then it changed to a B. The B started in about 1884 and intermixed with the A's into 1885 and continued until to the end of production with the B.

Winchester Model 1873. Our database contains values of serial numbers through 720609 which. Enter the serial number of your Winchester Model 1873 in. 1873 Serial number with a 'B' General Discussions & Questions. 1873 Serial number with a 'B. How in the world did a person owning an 1873 Winchester consider. Patch 3.4.1 Automapa on this page.

Well thanks for the correction. I understood the 'B' indicated the rifle had received a replacement barrel. Udp File Transfer Open Source. I can't give you the barrel markings this instant as I put it back in storage, but I have no other reason to believe it has a replacement barrel, and the barrel includes the Kings Improvement patent data stamped on it. Accordingly, it appears that the gun is original.

An interesting feature is that this rifle has an original Marble Flexible Joint tang peep sight installed and stamped MSA Co. With the October, 1903 patent date and has a circle and post front sight to match up with the peep sight.

Also has beautiful wood. I have received initial information but not the final letter. You experts are correct; it does have the case hardened receiver but also is listed as having a 26 inch barrel. My barrel measures 23 1/2 to the receiver.

I presume it is a 24' and that the measurement goes another 1/2' into the receiver. The barrel is stamped 'Winchester Repeating Arms New Haven, Conn.

And has the Kings Improvement Patented March 29, 1866 October 16, 1860 and has 32WCF on the side next to the receiver. On the top octagonal it has the oval with a W and the line through the oval.

The bore looks excellent with very good rifiling. Am I measuring the barrel length correctly? Bill, The barrel is measured to include the threaded part in the receiver. What does the information you got say about caliber? If it was a 26' and cut down 2' then you will either see a extra dovetail on the bottom of the barrel in front of the magazine band or if that was not moved then the mag band will be too close to the end of the barrel. The center mag band should be about 3.75' from the muzzle.

Just looking at the picture of the end of the barrel it does look like the mag band is too close to the end of the barrel but since the picture is taken at a angle its hard to judge distances. Bob: There is no proof mark on the receiver. Tell me, as a historian, how in the world did a person owning an 1873 Winchester consider obtaining a replacement barrel? I don't doubt it as it is obviously a replacement barrel; I just can't imagine going to the trouble of sending my rifle back to Winchester in the 1890's to have the barrel replaced. Also, with the Kings improvement patent marks on the barrel, do you have any idea what vintage this barrel might be.

I thank you for all of your valuable information. I have corresponded with the President/Owner of Marble Arms who wants to buy this rifle. I have a problem of deciding what Winchesters to collect; there are so many choices and possibilities. Proshow Producer 5.0 Build 3222.rar there. I love the.22's as it brings me back to my rabbit hunting days in the middle of Kansas when I shot many with my 62A which is still in almost perfect condition, even after climbing over many barbed-wire fences. I have acquired other popular 22's, including a 61 in its original 1940 box and a 63 with a correct box. I also have purchased four other 63's in very fine shape (I'm a sucker and figure I will control the market in excellent 63's. Still I love the old lever actions.