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10 registered members (Todd1700, Narrow Gap, BCLC, AUHoss79, fur_n_feathers, Claims Rep., jawbone, JHH, brassmagnet, Big Game Hunter),
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The one that got away
#3671722
05/16/22 08:14 AM
05/16/22 08:14 AM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 10,393 northport
deadeye48
OP
Booner
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OP
Booner
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 10,393
northport
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Back some years ago a well know customer brings a rifle case into my shop He says “ if you can guess what’s in it then you can have it” As sure as I’m sitting here I almost said a ‘73 Winchester but said that’s impossible to know He opens the case and surenuff it’s a original ‘73 Winchester chambered in 44-40 He wanted it cleaned up but not changed This barrelhad been cut down to carbine length with a saw and a file used to cut the dovetail for the front sight to back in It had some initials with the year 1855 on the stock and it had two emblems carved into it too The forestock was dented heavily on the left side I worked to reveal a 4 digit SN that read 1007 which meant it was produced in late January or early February 1874 The man contacted Cody firearms museum and immediately they wanted to buy the rifle but of course he wouldn’t sell They confirmed all my findings on the rifle and was sending someone down to look at the rifle Here’s what I found The initials were the original owner and the year 1855 is when he was born The two emblems were the ranch brands he worked for The dented forestock meant he was a left hand shooter and rode regularly with it across his legs bumping into the saddle horn The barrel was cut down to make it easier and quicker to get out of the scabbard What beats all is the owner bought a big tote of junk at an estate sale and the rifle was in the bottom of the tote I was late for a dinner date with the wife because of this rifle and my enthusiasm about cleaning it and the history it had seen It was almost mine !!!
When I need expert advice I tend to talk to myself The older I get the better I used to be
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Re: The one that got away
[Re: deadeye48]
#3671727
05/16/22 08:31 AM
05/16/22 08:31 AM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,106 Oxford
LetOff
6 point
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6 point
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,106
Oxford
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would have loved to see that one
Ain't nothing a sharp knife can't fix
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Re: The one that got away
[Re: ParrotHead89]
#3692373
06/18/22 02:51 PM
06/18/22 02:51 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,175 Birmingham
7x57_Mauser
8 point
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8 point
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2,175
Birmingham
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I was at the Cody Museum last summer and left with my head spinning. All those guns were amazing. You ought to see what they keep down in the basement out of view from the public. Artifacts that would not go over well in polite society from what my stepfather told me. He was at Bill Ruger's 75th birthday party in '91 and said you wouldn't believe some of the Plains Indian artifacts--collected by Army soldiers.
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