38-40 winchester lever action

T

tsillik

New member
I have an uncle getting up in years, he has a winchester lever action in 38-40 cal. It came from his grandfather,none of his kids seem very interested in the rifle, he asked me if i would be interested in taking it.Of course i said yes, have not seen it yet. Does the 38-40 cal. give an approximate date of the rifle? Terry
 
38-40 and 44-40 were once popular deer cartridges with market hunters. But this was over a century ago. I'm not sure if the barrel of your rifle can take the pressure of modern smokeless powder but a skilled smith can determine this for you.

Jack
 
Do you know if it is an original Winchester 1873 or the 1892 model lever action ? I think both models were chambered for the 38-40 cartridge !
 
Have some info on this rifle now. It say's model 1873,#192066B,has a 30" octagon barrel,on the barrel it says kings-improvement patented march 29 1866.october 16 1860. Also says 38 cal but nothing with a 40 behind it. Can anybody tell me anything on this rifle? Terry
 
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1885 is what my book says. 38-40 is basically 44-40 necked down. Takes
a .400-.401 bullet.

I've got a later (1914) '73 in 38-40 that shoots surprisingly well with
almost no rifling visible.

30" barrel? If that is indeed the case, and it is octagonal---you
appear to have a special order gun. Don't do ANYTHING to it.
A little wipe down with a slightly oily rag is OK---but don't
"clean it up". Get a "factory letter" on it--that long barrel could be worth
some serious bucks.
 
Yes , a 30 " octagon barrel it is a special order....they did make a Winchester 1873 musket version with a 30 " round barrel but it sounds like you have a special order sporting rifle ( that normally came with 24" barrel ) and carbine version came with a 20" barrel ! The 38-40 was first offered in 1879 for the model 1873.......38 CAL mark is the 38-40 !
 
+1 don't do anything to it other than a superficial cleaning and oiling. I wouldn't shoot it, including period-appropriate/safe blackpowder, but OTOH couldn't blame you for curiosity to check it out--after a pro smith checked it out first. The .38 is .38 WCF (Winchester Centerfire) aka .38-40. The "38" part is a misnomer not uncommon in the industry As suggested, as it is closer to a .40 cal (some modern revolvers so chambered can also shoot .40 S&W and 10mm with different cylinders) . So it really is more a .40-40, as in .40 cal bullet over 40 grains of powder. Maybe Winchester felt that tripping that off the tongue sounded too close to .44-40! In any event "manufacturer's license" to call their cartridges whatever they wanted. (a .44 Mag or Special is really a .429 or if you will, .43. .44 sounds better!).

Great old west ground with decent "inherent" accuracy and pop in modern loadings/chamberings, that seems to be getting some renewed, if still niche, interest.
 
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Check out oldguns.net........according to the serial number you posted your model 1873 was manufactured in 1885 !
 
Under no circumstances shoot that gun with modern/smokeless powder. If it is checked and OK'ed by a good 'smith then you could shoot it with Black Powder. They are excellent guns and some still see a lot of shooting with Cowboy action Shooters. I've know other Shooters to use an original '73 along with original SAA Colts. The .38/40 is pretty close in power to the .40 S&W that is the current choice of a majority of US Cops. At a reasonable range, I believe 100 yards or less it's plenty for hunting game up to the size of WT Deer.
BTW, if you shoot it with Black Power it has to be cleaned with soap and water.
You can go over to the BP and Cowboy forum here to learn more. Your gun may be worth quite a bit of money.
 
Where do you get a factory letter on it?....
Click to expand...


Cody Firearms Museum/Buffalo Bill Historic Center is the caretaker for old Winchester records. Start here:

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


Neighbor freind took some whitetail with a similar vintage 38-40. BP level loads out of a long barrel are very polite and your ears can easily tell if you hit bambi or a tree. When you fall in love with shooting it consider that soft lead will easier on your vintage barrel than modern hard jackets.
 
Another warning note...

NEVER shoot jacketed bullets out of it.

The older black powder era guns had barrel steel that is a lot softer than today's steels.

You can do a lot of wear and tear on the barrel in very short order by shooting jacketed slugs. It can strip the rifling out.
 
Here are some pics. of the 1873 rifle, i am not the best picture taker! I have a request in at the Cody museum for the Winchester letter, hope to find out if that longer barrel was a special order. Does make the rifle worth any more? Terry
 

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Anything 'Special Ordered' is worth more. Condition has at least as much a bearing on value. After you get your letter go to a Professional Firearms Appraiser and get a written appraisal. If, God forbid, anything happens to the gun you'll need it for an insurance claim.
Do print up a history on the gun, who has owned it and how it was passed down. That can effect value and might keep someone from taking it to a Pawn Shop in the future.
 
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