Description of the Rifle


            The Winchester, Model 1873 rifle, Serial #31829, was one of a batch-order of 100 shipped on February 21, 1879, from the Winchester factory in New Haven, Connecticut to an unrecorded Texas address. The records show it was produced on work order #1460 with a standard plain trigger and an octagonal, standard length 24 inch barrel chambered for .44-40 caliber ball, as well as a standard steel front sight.  Rifle #31829 has the original 24 inch octagonal barrel shortened to 12 inches and a rawhide sleeve added to reinforce a cracked stock. The shortening of the barrel and the addition of the brass front sight is presumed to have been done by a Texas or New Mexico gunsmith or blacksmith, probably someone with military ordinance experience like the well known Henry Kimball of Tascosa, Texas.

Pat Garrett’s well documented cattle brand “PAT” is carved into the right side of the stock, just behind the grip. In addition, another brand is carved into the same side of the stock, just adjacent to the butt plate. It is the image of an L over a flying V. On the left side, between the butt plate and the raw-hide sleeve, is a carved image of a single L.

The condition of the rifle is extremely distressed, the probable result, of having been used as a toy by children. The stock is badly cracked and the action no longer functions properly.  The condition and presence of the original mechanical components is unknown.

Note: Item # 1 -- See copy of post card from Winchester Gun Museum, 11/21/1969 and sketch of carvings location on gun stock, attached.