Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.
Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
A friend of mine made the 6 hour trip over to my place this past weekend to do some serious shooting. We got to the range about 10:00 am on Saturday and shot until 5:30 pm, taking an hour off for lunch. He also brought a pile of nice old Winchesters. When he left this afternoon, he had one of my old '86s (octagon barrel, half mag made in 1904) and I had acquired two of his old Winchesters. One of them is a '76, highlighted in my other recent thread 'Two Old Pards Ride Again' http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=17259. When I saw how good that old rifle shot, I could not resist it. I've wanted a '76 .45-60 increasingly badly ever since I traded my other one off about 3 years ago.
The 44-40 is an original Winchester Model 53 made in 1927. This is a sweet little rifle! I saw an article years ago about the Model 53 44-40 and now I finally have one. The Model 53 was made in 25-20, 32-20, and 44-40. The 44-40 is very rare and doggone hard to find. According to Madis, there were only a total of 3,293 44 W.C.F. Model 53's made. I now have both the 25-20 and 44-40 and only need the 32-20 (Rangerider, if you are ever thinking of parting with your Model 53 32 W.C.F., please keep me in mind). Here's a photo of my two Model 53's. The top one is the 25-20 and the bottom one is my 'new' 44-40 ....
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester. Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
Sometimes when it rains, it pours. I was sorry to see that old '86 go, but I already had the old takedown in 45-70 as well as my Springfield 1888, and trading the '86 made the acquisition of both the '76 and the 53 possible. Also, the past few weeks I've sold my Model 65 and my Winchester 1892 .38-40, which all helped to get the two rifles I got this weekend ..... and I've got a chunk of cash left over!
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester. Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
KirkD, for sure mine would fit in nicely, but I like it too. They are the most fun to carry and shoot. If I sell or trade it you will be the first to know. Great addition!
salvo wrote:What year is the 25-20? Those two 53's look like they are in comparable shape, nice shape that is!
Salvo, the 25-20 is a first year model .... 1925 if I recall correctly.
Rangerider, I know the feeling. These little Model 53's are light, fast and handy.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester. Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
The .32-20 Model 1892 rifle I had two years ago had a button mag, and looked exactly like a Model 53 - which is what I had thought I bought for $700, until I looked closer.
The .32-20 Model 1892 rifle I had two years ago had a button mag, and looked exactly like a Model 53 - which is what I had thought I bought for $700, until I looked closer.
.
I like those Model '92 button mags too. Aside from some cosmetic differences in the buttstock, the main difference is in barrel length. The Model '92 tends to have a 24" barrel as standard, whereas the Model 53 has a standard 22" barrel. I'd be happy to settle for either and for an old geezer like myself, a longer barrel gets that front sight out there a bit further so I can see it. However, I find I can shoot well enough with this 22" barrel. I'll be posting a detailed range report on my Model 53 44 W.C.F. sometime this summer.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester. Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
Son of a gun Kirk - it looks like those two were owned all their lives by the same person, using them about the same amount, in the same condition. Talk about a sweet pair. I hope you get a chance to add the .32-20 to the mix!!!
Kirk,
Very nice acquisition! That caliber is harder than hens teeth to find in the 53. Be sure to give us the range report when you get some load work done.
!
