Guns International #: 103311124

Category - Winchester Rifles - Model 1873 - Winchester Rifles - Antique Lever

Category
Winchester Rifles - Model 1873
Winchester Rifles - Antique Lever

1873 Winchester SRC James Rosier Marked and Possible Pentridge Prison Gun

Description:
1873 Winchester Saddle Ring Carbine and may be a possible Pentidge Prison Guard Gun? I would reiterate that is possible and my opinion only that this particular 1873 Winchester SRC was sold to the Pentridge Prison. Please enjoy the following information. 
This is great little write up by my friend Brent Wilburn owner of Antique Arms Inc. I could spend days trying to explain the rich history of the 1873 Winchester but Brent gives a wonderful explanation in his write up as follows:
 Winchester 1873 SRC from Pentridge Prison
It's not often one finds antique guns with history that can be traced back over 100 years.  This Winchester 73 saddle ring carbine  is one of the few that we know exactly where it went and what it did during its life.  To some, the Model 73 is so deeply enmeshed with the American West that we often overlook the fact that Winchester was a world superpower when it came to the sale of its repeating rifles.  Winchester salesmen like T.E. Addis travelled the globe peddling Winchesters to 6 different continents with almost evangelical zeal.  This particular Winchester found its way to the frontier of another continent out West...in fact it went so far West, you might say it  almost went East.  
In the year 1898 it was shipped to the continent of Australia to a dealer in the colony of Victoria named James Rosier whose store was located in the city of Melbourne. While Winchester lost nearly all of its shipping records in the 1930's leaving some us collectors with a lifetime of frustration over all the golden history forever lost, Rosier was one of a few dealers who stamped all of the Winchesters retailed through his store with a tiny "J.R." and an inventory number located on the bottom of the frame. Over the years, Rosier's tiny markings have often been overlooked and when found, usually mistaken for other things by Winchester collectors.  BTW, you won't read this in a book so please don't email me asking what publication I found this in....this is from 20 years of personal collecting and learning from old-timers...they took the time to pass it on to me so its my responsibility to pass it on to you guys....J.R. on the bottom of the receiver means JAMES ROSIER!  As interesting as this all sounds imaging this carbine sitting on a rack or inside of a crate inside of Rosier's Melbourne store on 66 Elizabeth street was just the beginning of this little 73 src's life as well as a few of its brothers in the 500,000 serial range.  Yes, there's more, quite a bit actually! 
Rosier may have sold this little carbine to the Victorian Penal system where one day it entered through Blue stone walls of the castle style fortress known as the Pentridge Prison.  The Pentridge prison was built in the 1850's....quite impressive with high granite walls with a tower with a large clock beside the front gate. It operated for nearly 150 years up until just recently, 1996 I believe, where it housed some of Australia's most hardened criminals.  No doubt, the large magazine capacity and fast action was why 1873 was regarded as one of the world's best repeating rifle for several decades.  This made it an ideal solution for guarding prisoners.  Most of the 73 carbines used at the Pentridge prison were carried for decades by the prison staff and have very distinct markings and wear patterns. One common festure on the Pentridge guns are muzzle wear consistent with being laid against the granite walls of the prison.  All guns generally have a very smooth pleasing light patina and perfect bores which is logical given the fact that guards rarely fired upon prisoners. 
Most of the Pentridge guns were used for several decades and possibly as late as the 1940's.  During the 1950's, the prison began selling off their aging 1873 carbines.  I have heard several stories of these guns being sold to citizens of Melbourne at the front gate of the prison around the year 1955 for 5 Pounds each!  What a deal!  However, when prison officials realized that these 1873's were winding up in the hands of dealers and selling for more, they halted the sale at the front gate.  The remainder of the 73 carbines were locked up in the prison armoury where they were inventoried during the mid-late 1970's and were sold at public in 1980. (Courtesy of BW Antique Arms Inc. 
Overall condition is a nice brown / gray patina with blue hidden in protected areas. Very nice bore and good markings. Both forend and buttstock are in good condition showing the normal handling marks that you would expect to see from an antique firearm of this age. Correct and original sights. 20" barrel and full magazine tube. This SRC is an antique and can be shipped directly to your doorsteps. Please see pics of the James Rosier markings. 
183211 over the JR (see pics). Please feel free to ask questions. I do offer a layaway and will consider trades. Please feel free to make a reasonable offer. 

SOLD

Antique: Yes