I need to know about a famous winchester rifle?

Question

There was once a very famous Winchester rifle. It was a mass produced gun, but there were 1000 of them that were different. They were perfect, and If I remember correctly, they were marked with a star. If someone could please tell me what this gun was called, when it was made, and where I could see a picture of it, I would be obliged.

Answer 1

You have a few different things mixed up. Winchester made a lot of rifles, but, a select few turned out better than the others, better looking stock, etc. Winchester would take these rifles and spend some extra time with them. They would label them 1 0f 1000 because it was about every 1000 rifles that they had one turn out so nice. These were usually engraved as 1 0f 1000 and or had more engraving etc done to them and then presented them to dignitaries, politicians, big busness owners etc as a promotion for winchester rifles. There was a movie starring Jimmy stewart about one of these rifles, it was a model 1873 I think, and supposedly the character played by Jimmy Stewart won it in a shooting contest. You can contact winchester and talk to one of their historians direct if you need more info. Sometimes they charge depending on what you need to find out.

Answer 2

There were 163 - 1873 Winchester 1 of 1000 - The two I saw were engraved as 1 of 1000

Yours truly being an idiot, turned down the opportunity to buy an almost perfect 1 of 1000 1873 Winchester, and I regret it to this day. :((

Later: This site says there were 136 or the 1 0f 1000 1873 Winchester rifles - So either it's my dyslexia acting up or theirs* :))
http://www.rarewinchesters.com/gunroom/1873/model_73.shtml >This is a very nice site, with many photos of rare WInchester rifles.

There were only 8 of the 1 of 100 1873 Winchester rifles.

*Probably mine since it was at least 20 years ago that I was offered the rifle and did a little research into it.

Answer 3

Randy and Orion are both correct.

And in addition to the "1 of 1,000" Winchester M-1873's there were only slightly less highly finished "1 of 100" models.

And the M-1873 stayed in the Winchester lineup until 1935.

As for Randy's suggestion of calling Winchester and talking to the historian, save your phone minutes. Winchester went belly up back at the first of the year, and I've no idea where the archives might be. This time last year, it would have been good advise, but now.....it is a good idea who's time has passed.

Doc

Answer 4

That must be the Winchester lever action model 1873 which produced 1000 custimized rifles. Try to go to the Winchester web site or the National firearm museum of the NRA.

Answer 5

It's the model 1873, the only rifle whose name is the name of a movie (with James Stewart starring). It was produced from then up to, I think, 1919 despite being in competition with Winchester's own model 1892, a better rifle in the same pistol calibers.
This has nothing to do with the "star guaged" Springfields. You're just getting the two mixed up a bit, no big deal.

Answer 6

As a practicing Certified Gunsmith, I have never heard of a Winchester Rifle than was engraved with a "Star" as you have described. The most famous Winchester firearm historically, is the Winchester Model 1894 that years ago was changed in designation to the "Classic" Winchester Model 94 Lever Action Rifle

NOTE* The 1903 Springfield rifle was manufactured by Springfield Armory and not by Winchester....

Answer 7

I think you are thinking of the 1903 Springfield. Weapons that were chosen to be extremely accurate over the already accurate rifle were designated with a star on the barrel and used for sniping and competition shooting.

Answer 8

i think randy had the answer you were looking for, but there were actualy more than 1000 of these made,, the name 1 of 1000 meant that that gun was flawless