b'MC2021_FeedYourPassion_Poster_Western_HQpriint.pdf 1 2/17/21 3:39 PMBy Jim and Bobbi Jeen Olson,WesternTradingPost.comA n iconic image when one thinks of the Old West is that of a lever actionWinchester. John Browning had Winchester rifle. They were used by frontiersmen, Native Americans,brought forth a rifle that was Cowboys, and just about anyone who came to the Old West during thedesigned to handle the larger hey-day. When most folks think of the Old West, its a period that started aboutcalibers better than any other up the mid-1800s and ended with the turning of a new century. But a short twenty- to this point in time (including years or so from about 1870 to 1890 is actually the period packed with the mostthe model 1876). There were legends and lore over any other in our history. approximately160,000 of them produced in a variety of mostly Most of our exposure to the Old West nowadays comes in the form of moviesbigger calibers. Teddy Roosevelt and books. Although not usually historically accurate, Western movies havethought so much of the model brought more exposure about the Old West to a broader audience than86s, it was said to be his rifle of most any other form. Anyone watching a classic Western movie has viewedchoice and anyone looking for the iconic lever-action Winchester rifle. An interesting side-fact about this,more firepower during this period however, is that in most Westerns (especially those which do not pay attentionprobably also used an 86.to historical accuracy) the rifles being used are guns that came out well after the events being depicted. The model 1992 has become C FEED YOUR This brings us around to the subject of our discussion. What classic Winchestericonic with movie buffs, mostly because of John Wayne and Chuck lever-action rifles were used during the period of the Old West? Here is a tidbit ofConnors. The large loop, lever-Winchester lever-action 101 every budding collector should know about. action used in many John Wayne movies was a model 1892 (although this was a custom job and not standard). There we seven different Winchester lever-action models released during the lastChuck Connors also used a large loop 92 in the popular television series The M half of the 1800s: the models 1866, 1873, 1876, 1886, 1892, 1894, and 1895. ThereRifleman. Model 1892s were basically an upgraded and improved version of were other Winchester firearms released during this period, but the lever-actionthe 1873s made for folks who preferred to shoot .44 and smaller calibers. It was Y PASSION models that are so iconic are those listed above. nicknamed the Yellowdesigned by John Browning for Winchester and was a scaled-down version of CM the model 86 design. There were over one million of the 1892s made well into The model 1866 was the first model produced under the Winchester name afterthe 20th century.MY Oliver Winchester gained control of the company formerly known as the New Haven Arms Company. The 66 was a successor and improved version of theThe model 1894 was the most prolific Winchester model ever made at around 5.5 CY Henry rifle produced by New Haven Arms. Like the Henry, they were chamberedmillion units. The model 1894 first came out in a .32-40 and .38-55 black powder CMY in .44 rimfire. There were around 170,000 model 1866s made between 1866 andcartridge but was soon marketed for the new smokeless powered cartridges (the 1898. They are easy to spot, because of their bright brass frame and they arefirst repeating rifle specially made for smokeless powder). The model 1894 has K long been the hunting rifle of choice for small and mid-sized game hunters, but it Grown for the Life We LoveBoy because of it. Theyis also known as the rifle Tom Horn carried. This model is what you see more often are highly sought after than not in those old Western movies. An by collectors. interesting fact about the model 94 is only about the first 350,000 were made during The next model for study isthe 1800s, before the turn of the century. the Winchester 1873. TheyConsequently, these pre-1900 models tend are easily identified by ato have a higher collectible value than their BUY 1, SAVE $2.00 rectangular brass spot onmates manufactured after 1900.the bottom of the frame and a raised side plate,We close out the 19th century with the giving them a uniquemodel 1895. This was the last lever action look. This was the firstmodel created by John Browning for Winchester designed toWinchester. It featured a new box fire centerfire cartridgesmagazine and was designed for larger on any bagged or compressed bale product and it was slightly morecalibers powered by the recent smokeless powerful than the 1866.powder invention. The 95 was popular There were approx.amongst big game hunters and this model Visit standleeforage.com/coupons to print this offer. 720,000 of them madealso saw service in World War I. There and they came in a variety of calibers. The model 1873 has been nicknamed, Thewere about 425,000 model 1895s produced.Coupon required at purchase. Gun That Won the West and it gained this reputation because it was more widely used than any other rifle during the Old West period.Above is a very brief synopsis of lever-action Winchesters from the Old West period. Once you have the models down and can spot one at a glance (because The model 1876, also known as The Centennial has a similar look to the modelthey all look slightly different from one another), then you will want to expand 1873 and was pretty much just a bigger caliber version of the 73. They first cameyour knowledge into the various versions or changes within each model. But out in a .45-75 caliber, but other large calibers were soon added. There weredont stop there, why not go further and look into the single-shot models (like the around 64,000 76s made, making them a little harder to find than some of the1885 for example) and even into lever-action shotguns (such as the Winchester other models. Thus making them pretty high on the collectability scale.model 1887). Chances for expanding your knowledge about classic Winchesters from the Old West are innumerable and exciting!Next, lets study the model 1886. This was the first lever-action model designed by John Browning with the rights being purchased by Winchester. It wasMany folks enjoy collecting classic Winchesters of the Old West period; perhaps Offer is valid the beginning of a long and successful relationship between Browning andyou are one of them! standleeforage.com April 1 stto May 31 st ArizonaRealCountry.com April 2021 39'