1873Win, 'Short Rifle',,,how early ?

[Marshal Deadwood]

What is the earliest example of an 1873Win short rifle ?

[Marshal Deadwood]

Would'a thought someone here knew.

[Fox Creek Kid]

The 1890's.

[Marshal Deadwood]

That's about what I came up with too.

Thanks

[Buck Stinson]

With all of the reproduction Winchester 1873's being offered, the term short rifle means a rifle with a 20" barrel.  The truth is, when the model 1873 Winchester was originally in production, 24" was the length of a standard rifle barrel in that model, while anything shorter than 24" was considered a short rifle.  On the survey I have, there are many rifles in the 40xxx, 50xxx and 60xxx serial range with 22" barrels. The earliest 20" short rifle on my list was serial number 66524 (1881).  This was .44 with a 20" octagon barrel and full magazine.  Although the majority of 20" barrel short rifles in the model 1873 were made between 1895 and 1924, there were many others in earlier serial ranges.  It is interesting to note that the very last 1873 Winchester to leave the factory was a 20" short rifle.  It was a .32-20 with octagon barrel, full magazine and shotgun butt.  It was shipped to Abercrombie and Fitch in New York on January 9th, 1933.