Buffalo Bill's Gun?
- Thread starter mechengr
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DWalt
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Definitely not a S&W - they didn't make lever actions. I'd say it's a Winchester 1873, but it could possibly be an 1866. As a showman he may well have a customized rifle that was a little different than what could have been bought off the shelf at that time. But it's for sure a lever action.
Alk8944
US Veteran
It's an 1873 Winchester.
badguybuster
Member
It has to be a winchester. I dont think the henry's had wood forearms at that point
BearBio
Member
I vote a 73. Front part of the action does not look long enough to be an 1876.
David LaPell
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That is definitely a Winchester, either an 1873 or maybe a 1876. Oddly enough, it looks good in a photo but that was not Cody's favorite gun. Cody had an 1863 Springfield that he had converted to fire .50-70 (2nd Allin Conversion). Cody called the gun "Lucretia Borgia" after a beautiful and murderous woman in a Victor Hugo play. Lucretia Borgia was the gun that earned Cody the name Buffalo Bill. What is left of Lucretia Borgia is on display at the Buffalo Bill Historical center. THe stock was broken on the butt. If I can, I will dig out the photo of Cody with Lucretia Borgia.
Close up
A close up of this Winchester for you Winchester guys to determine if it is an 1873 or what. Not so very good blow up from the original picture.
A close up of this Winchester for you Winchester guys to determine if it is an 1873 or what. Not so very good blow up from the original picture.
Driftwood Johnson
Member
Howdy
If you know what you are looking for you can see the rectangular bottom of the cartridge elevator in the photo. That makes it definitely a toggle link Winchester. Clearly not a Henry, they never had wooden forearms, except for a very few prototypes. Difficult to determine from the photo if the frame is brass or iron, but it looks most likely to be iron to me, so that rules out a '66. Most likely either a '73 or a '76. Difficult to tell the scale from the photo. The '76 was considerably larger because it was chambered for larger cartridges. But the proportions look right for a '73 to me.
If you know what you are looking for you can see the rectangular bottom of the cartridge elevator in the photo. That makes it definitely a toggle link Winchester. Clearly not a Henry, they never had wooden forearms, except for a very few prototypes. Difficult to determine from the photo if the frame is brass or iron, but it looks most likely to be iron to me, so that rules out a '66. Most likely either a '73 or a '76. Difficult to tell the scale from the photo. The '76 was considerably larger because it was chambered for larger cartridges. But the proportions look right for a '73 to me.
opoefc
US Veteran
That's a '73 Winchester. There are those on this Forum who will tell you I gave that Winchester to Cody. They are incorrect - It was a loan for the photo op and he gave it back and it's in my gun room right now. So there! Ed.
Does anyone know if replicas are made of the 1873 Winchester or the "Lucretia Borgia"? I've got some family ties to William Cody that I'm trying to track down. The guns are just the fun side of that 
.
Not sure what to make of this?
.Not sure what to make of this?
opoefc
US Veteran
mechengr, That's tongue-in-cheek humor for Dan Meigs benefit! If you watch this Forum lomg enough you will recognize Dan. He's the Moderator with the Golden Horse shoe hidden you know where! Ed.
David LaPell
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I actually know one person with a .50-70 Trapdoor, its original and the guy still shoots the darn thing. The amazing part is he is over 80 years old. He is a former judge in these parts and during deer season he goes out and sits down in one place and waits for a whitetail to pass by. I know four or five years ago he plastered one. He has alot of old guns, but that big .50-70 is his favorite. You might be able to find one used, there are still some making the blackpowder cartridge circuits from here to there. We used to have a gun shop that specialized in nothing but old guns, but he is closed up now only by appointment for his stuff do to the economy. I know I need to give him a call about a .43 Spanish Rolling Block that has been on his shelf for a while because I want to get into that sport too and I can't afford the big .45-70 Sharps replicas.
Ballarat
Member
I go along with the 73. On closer inspection looks to have the Octagonal barrel. Think I can see Eds prints on it too!!! So there maybe truth in what he says LOL
I own a Uberti 1873 in 44WCF and its the most accurate levergun I have ever owned. Call it a copy or whatever, but its a superb rifle on its own merrits.
I own a Uberti 1873 in 44WCF and its the most accurate levergun I have ever owned. Call it a copy or whatever, but its a superb rifle on its own merrits.
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dogngun
US Veteran
David, isn't Lucretia the one he used to kill Yellow Hand in the duel from charging horseback?
DWalt
Member
As part of the Army's "Final Solution" to the Indian problem, in the 1870s it gave away many of the obsolete .50-70 trapdoors and ammunition for them to encourage buffalo market hunting, thereby depriving the Indians of their main source of sustenance.
semperfi71
US Veteran
Others here have correctly identified it as an 1873 Winchester with an octagonal barrel. The most visible difference between and 1873 and the 1876 is the rear of the action. In the 1873 it extends past the trigger-guard and into the lever area. In the 1876 it barely extends into the trigger-guard area. And of course the 1876 is just larger as well.
There are many marketers of the replica 1873 Winchesters, all of which are made by Uberti, and two other companies of whose names escape me. The Ubertis have the widest distribution and the most reliable reputation.
You can go here to see the differences in the Uberti reproduction 1873 and 1876 rifles: Cimarron Firearms - Old West Guns and Cowboy Action Shooting Firearms
There are many marketers of the replica 1873 Winchesters, all of which are made by Uberti, and two other companies of whose names escape me. The Ubertis have the widest distribution and the most reliable reputation.
You can go here to see the differences in the Uberti reproduction 1873 and 1876 rifles: Cimarron Firearms - Old West Guns and Cowboy Action Shooting Firearms
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