What is this Winchester Percussion Rifle
- Thread starter JAckMackeath
- Start date
That's not a factory rifle. Some parts may be Civil war era original, can't tell under all that paint. The lock, the trigger, the stock, could be modern Italian parts, could be older. Been a lot of replica rifles made since the 1950's. That Winchester barrel was never on a Civil war era percussion cap rifle.
Aguila Blanca
Staff
What caliber is it?
Smoke & Recoil
New member
My opinion is a crafty person put it together from several parts. I can see
a lot of wood filler between the barrel and stock. Take a real good look near
the breech end for any more script such as a caliber marking such as would
have been on an old Winchester lever rifle.
a lot of wood filler between the barrel and stock. Take a real good look near
the breech end for any more script such as a caliber marking such as would
have been on an old Winchester lever rifle.
Aguila Blanca
Staff
Let's consider the history of "Winchester."
Its predecessor, Volcanic Repeating Arms, was incorporated in 1855 and made the Volcanic rifle. It was not a success. The company then changed hands and became the New Haven Repeating Arms company in 1857. This company introduced the .44 Henry rimfire cartridge, and the 1860 Henry rifle.
In 1866 the company again reorganized, finally becoming the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The first rifle produced under the Winchester name was the 1866 "Yellowboy," which fired the same .44 Henry rimfire cartridge as the 1860 Henry rifle.
There never was a percusssion cap rifle like that made by Winchester.
Its predecessor, Volcanic Repeating Arms, was incorporated in 1855 and made the Volcanic rifle. It was not a success. The company then changed hands and became the New Haven Repeating Arms company in 1857. This company introduced the .44 Henry rimfire cartridge, and the 1860 Henry rifle.
In 1866 the company again reorganized, finally becoming the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The first rifle produced under the Winchester name was the 1866 "Yellowboy," which fired the same .44 Henry rimfire cartridge as the 1860 Henry rifle.
There never was a percusssion cap rifle like that made by Winchester.
JAckMackeath
Inactive
Thank you for all the informative replies.
I can't find any caliber markings yet. I will go over it with a magnifying glass when I pick one up at the store tomorrow.
So you are thinking it is a Winchester barrel that someone mounted to a bunch of spare parts? Do you think it is a remotely good idea to try and fire?
I can't find any caliber markings yet. I will go over it with a magnifying glass when I pick one up at the store tomorrow.
So you are thinking it is a Winchester barrel that someone mounted to a bunch of spare parts? Do you think it is a remotely good idea to try and fire?
Aguila Blanca
Staff
Do you have a caliper? You can get a pretty good idea what the nominal caliber is, even if you don't know the specific chambering. Since it's a muzzle-loading percussion rifle, in fact there is no chambering -- you just need to know what diameter lead balls to shove down its throat.