Movie "Winchester 73", Jimmy Stewart and the "1 of 1000" Winchester rifle...

canoeguy · Mar 24, 2010

Movie "Winchester 73", Jimmy Stewart and the "1 of 1000" Winchester rifle...

Just finished watching "Winchester 73" with Jimmy Stewart. Jimmy Stewart and his evil brother compete in a shooting match to win a Winchester "1 of 1000" Model 73 lever rifle. Good movie for gun buffs...

Got me interested in the "1 of 1000" Winchesters, apparently a marketing ploy by Winchester to market a high end Model 73 in the mid 1870's. Seems like only 170 or so were actually built and sold. Price was $100, back when that may have been a years wage for some workers. Adjusted for inflation, the rifle would have cost the equivalent of $2000 today.

Also seems the rifle was introduced during a period of economic slowdown or recession, so not too many high rollers buying expensive rifles.

Gene Autry had one in his gun collection, when they filmed "Winchester 73", the film makers canvassed the globe seeking authentic specimens to make a copy, giving a new Winchester 1894 to the owners so they could examine the real deal.

The Blue Book of Gun values show some astronomical numbers for an authentic "1 of 1000" Winchester, but caution that fakes and fake letters of authenticity abound, just like any other gun of high value.

Have any of you lever rifle fans seen one? Any of you lever rifle fans actually own one?

Indycar · Mar 24, 2010

Only in my childhood western dreams (sigh).

EQGuy · Mar 24, 2010

Ellinson’s in San Mateo CA (closed many years ago) had one on display along with a news article referring to the movie mentioned above. This was the rifle associated with the movie. Mr. Ellinson told me that a fellow brought in to have some work done on it and decided to just give it to Ellinson. Ellinson gave him $5.00 for it just to make it a legit transaction. He noticed the 1 of 1,000 on the barrel and thought it might be somewhat unique. This was long before anyone knew much about these guns, probably in the 40’s or 50’s. He added it to his collection. When he heard the movie studio was looking for one he contacted them and as reported he was given a new model 94 for the use of his rifle. The rifle was in a glass case attached to a post in the middle of his store for all to see along with the news clipping. He had an extensive collection of guns lining the walls of his store from floor to ceiling. I sure do miss that store.

I attended an auction is San Francisco a few years ago and watched an original 1 of 1000 model 73 sell for $650,000. I kept my hands in my pockets during that one. Actually after the price surpassed $250,000 all of the action was between two absentee buyers on the phone.

jag312 · Mar 24, 2010

Back when I was 15 or 16, I saw one that belonged to a collector that I knew. He was an older guy who liked to show items from his collection to us Boy Scouts and explain the history behind each gun, sword, or other item. Although the Winchester was impressive, the gun I liked the best was a 1st generation Colt Single Action that was factory engraved, nickel plated, with checkered rosewood grips.

n4zov · Mar 25, 2010

I'm old enough to have seen the movie when it was first released, it sure brought a lot of attention to a rifle that was obscure up to that point. Somewhere I have read that Winchester also sold a "1 of 100" Model 1873 and it is much rarer than the 1 of 1000.

2152hq · Mar 25, 2010

All I ever got was this big metal button.....

Must have been a big deal when it played on TV too.

Good movie..

Winchester made 'One of 1000' model '76's also.
You see them on display in the big shows. You see fakes too unfortunetly.

That scene in the movie where Stewart wins the shooting contest by shooting through the center of the piece of jewelery(?) with a stamp pasted over the center to prove the hit, was actually done for the camera.
The shooter was Winchester professional trick shot Herb Parsons and he was just off camera to the side of Stewart in the scene and made the shot with a Winchester M63 22 semi auto rifle.

First throughts are why bother,,it's only a movie and such things were/are done all the time. But the producers must have sensed that the scene would have had many people asking to themselves if it was possible to do, though they never really went out of their way to make note of the fact that it was actually done for the film.
Maybe it had something to do with Winchesters involvement in the movie.

At least they didn't curve a bullet around rocks in the last shoot out to get the bad guy!

sceva · Mar 25, 2010

2152hq said:
At least they didn't curve a bullet around rocks in the last shoot out to get the bad guy!

No; But Jimmy Stewart did bounce them (ricochet) into the rocks after his brother.

Tony Curtis had a (very small) role in the movie too. He was the trooper that picked up the rifle only to have the sargeant tell him to give it up as one of the officers would take it from him. And it was too good for an officer.

45Wheelgun · Mar 25, 2010

Ah, the only gun to have a movie named after it.

Interesting comment on the 1 of 100. The way I heard the story was the the 1 of 1000 was actually rarer then the 1 of 100. Of course that was gun show isle talk, who knows....

krautski · Mar 25, 2010

The public school I attended showed "Winchester '73" on movie night at the school. This was right after the movie was released and before it was shown on television. Don't think that would happen now.....times were different then.

Wyatt Burp · Mar 25, 2010

I read somewhere once about who did the real ariel shooting while shooting out of camera range. Ad Topperwein maybe?
This is a great movie with very realistic shooting in those rocks at the end. Great ricochets as someone already mentioned. At one point the bad guy shoots and misses, then throws his rifle on the ground saying, " That's the problem with these old Henry's" when it's a Win. 73 he was using!
A great western even with Rock Hudson as an Indian chief.(please. no Brokeback Mountain jokes!)

s&wchad · Mar 25, 2010

Wyatt Burp said:
I read somewhere once about who did the real ariel shooting while shooting out of camera range. Ad Topperwein maybe?

Herb Parsons. His station wagon was a rolling arsenal with giant WW shotgun shells on the roof. All kinds of Winchesters, explosives, a Thompson sub-gun... with custom storage racks in the back.
I would love to have that station wagon!

Wyatt Burp · Mar 25, 2010

s&wchad said:
Herb Parsons. His station wagon was a rolling arsenal with giant WW shotgun shells on the roof. All kinds of Winchesters, explosives, a Thompson sub-gun... with custom storage racks in the back.
I would love to have that station wagon!

Thanks! Yeah, I've seen old footage of him in action. He's probably on u-tube.

jag312 · Mar 25, 2010

I just checked George Madis' Winchester book. For the Model 1873, he lists the serial numbers of five 1 of 100 rifles and 136 1 of 1000 rifles. For the Model 1876, he lists the serial numbers of five 1 of 100 and sixty-two 1 of 1000, but a few of the 1 of 1000 serial numbers are questionable pending the examination of the rifles, if they have survived. Sure wish I had any of these.

bobcat · Mar 25, 2010

I saw one in the Winchester Museum in Cody, WY., let me tell you, if you like guns, this place will overload your senses. I have a (film) picture I took of it at the time, so can't post it.

It was an absolutely gorgeous rifle,

Take care...

wyo-man · Mar 28, 2010

bobcat said:
I saw one in the Winchester Museum in Cody, WY., let me tell you, if you like guns, this place will overload your senses. I have a (film) picture I took of it at the time, so can't post it.

It was an absolutely gorgeous rifle,

Take care...

Next time I visit there I'll check it out and update the forum for those that are interested.

wyo-man

perrazi · Mar 28, 2010

have had an original one in my hands. at the time the asking price was $350,000 was on of the better condition real ones left. was a very impressive thing to see. it later went to europe,but don't know what it actually brought for price.

lever4ever · Mar 29, 2010

krautski said:
The public school I attended showed "Winchester '73" on movie night at the school. This was right after the movie was released and before it was shown on television. Don't think that would happen now.....times were different then.

As a middle school counselor, in his forties I truly think it is too bad that too many in our society view movies with guns as being horrible. Winchester '73 is a fun and exciting movie that I would feel to be appropriate for my whole family from my wife, my 18 year old down to my seven year old to watch.

Young folks need to watch movies like Winchester '73 instead of the too common and senseless shoot'em ups or video games marketed toward them. These noxious offerings can truly wreak havoc on a youngsters psyche. They need and deserve a different and more positive socialization process and the gun hating adults need an education.

As for the 1 of 1000 concept - interesting; however, I'm a practical person and think my plain old Winchester levers to be just dandy. Just my two cents.

Lever4Ever

n4zov · Mar 29, 2010

45Wheelgun said:
Ah, the only gun to have a movie named after it.

Interesting comment on the 1 of 100. The way I heard the story was the the 1 of 1000 was actually rarer then the 1 of 100. Of course that was gun show isle talk, who knows....

Here's a quote from the Rare Winchesters website regarding production of the 1 0f 1000 and 1 of 100:

"One hundred and thirty six model 1873 1 of 1000’s were produced. Only eight model 1873 1 of 100’s were made; and of the eight, only two had round barrels, with this being one of the two."

This site has a lot of interesting information on the Model 1873's:

Winchester model 1873

spricks · Mar 29, 2010

I actually know someone who has one in his collection. It's really weird that this guy doesn't hunt or shoot....just collects old Winchesters. His collection is prolly one of a kind.

spricks

Movie "Winchester 73", Jimmy Stewart and the "1 of 1000" Winchester rifle...

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