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My dad passed down some hunting guns to me along with an 1873 Winchester. He told me that it was my grandfather's gun and that it has been in the family since the late 1940s or early 1950s. It is a great looking gun and would love to get it semi-restored and operational so I can take it out for my dad to shoot as a surprise.

I have quite a few questions and wondered if anyone on here can point me in the right direction of clue me in what exactly I have. All I know is that it is an 1873, has a 24" octogonal barrel, seems to have a loose trigger but the action still operates, and has none of the obvious idiosyncrasies of some of the rarer 1873s out on the internet. The serial number is 112790A.

First, what caliber? I think that it might be a .44-40 but without a known (to me) marking on the gun, I have no idea what caliber it is.

Second, is there an appraiser in Houston that can be recommended by one of the forum members and/or does someone know what a ballpark figure of what its value might be?

Third, does anyone have a recommendation for a gunsmith who could get the gun in working order/do a restoration which will not diminish the value of the gun?

Thanks! I also have a French made musket from what appears to be mid-late 18th century, also from the same grandpa, which I may have to post on here.

I am posting this because you asked about someplace to have it restored. I have seen before and after pics of restorations these folks have done and their work seems excellent. I have NOT personally used them, just seen the pics. Hope this helps.

http://www.turnbullmfg.com/

Heartland Patriot wrote:I am posting this because you asked about someplace to have it restored. I have seen before and after pics of restorations these folks have done and their work seems excellent. I have NOT personally used them, just seen the pics. Hope this helps.

http://www.turnbullmfg.com/

Thanks. I think that is where Vince Buckles from Red Jacket sent his 1873. They look like they do a good job.

I'll go ahead and through this out there, since I should have included it in the original post. The gun was manufactured in 1884.

You can find all kinds of information on that rifle from the Cody Museum, I had them research mine and they sent me a very nice letter stating the year of manufactur and the "options" that the gun was built with. I contacted them and received the letter for mine and have it framed next to the rifle, kind of cool having a rifle built in 1882 and being able to shoot it. I ordered some reduced power cartridges for it and once in a while break it out and fire some through it, the black powder cartridges is fun to shoot and does not kick to bad..... On restoring it and work done will not increase the value, if it is something you want in the family forever then go for it. It is a true family heirloom, thanks for sharing it with us......

http://www.bbhc.org/explore/firearms/

Salty1 wrote:You can find all kinds of information on that rifle from the Cody Museum, I had them research mine and they sent me a very nice letter stating the year of manufactur and the "options" that the gun was built with. I contacted them and received the letter for mine and have it framed next to the rifle, kind of cool having a rifle built in 1882 and being able to shoot it. I ordered some reduced power cartridges for it and once in a while break it out and fire some through it, the black powder cartridges is fun to shoot and does not kick to bad..... On restoring it and work done will not increase the value, if it is something you want in the family forever then go for it. It is a true family heirloom, thanks for sharing it with us......

http://www.bbhc.org/explore/firearms/

Thanks! That is great.