http://www.amazon.com/The-Big-Book-Gun-Trivia-ebook/dp/B00GQA26C8
What
was “the gun that won the West?” The Winchester Model
1892 carbine is the most seen lever-action weapon in Western movies (mainly
because of the 5-in-1 blank...maybe we need to talk about that some day). It is often thought of as “the gun
that won the West,” along with the similar Model 1894. The problem is that by
early 1890s the West was pretty much already won. These rifles are frequently seen
in movies set in the 1860-70s or even before the Civil War when muzzle-loaders
were just about all that was available. The honor should actually be attributed
to the .44-40 Winchester Model 1873 rifle (Also produced in .38-40 Winchester
from 1879 and .32-20 Winchester from 1884.) and the .44 Flat Henry Winchester
Models 1860 and 1866 “Yellow Boy” rifles and carbines (see below). The Models
1892 and 1894 were available in a number of calibers, the former chambered for
short cartridges (.25-20, .32-20, .38-40, .44-40 Winchester) and the latter for
longer, higher powered rounds (.25-35, .30-30, .32-40, .38-55 Winchester, .32
Winchester Special). Henry Winchesters had a relatively slow-loading tubular
magazine, but the 1873, 1892, and 1894 had faster loading side gate loading
ports. In truth, it can be said that the Winchester
was the gun that won the West and it
should not be attributed to a specific model. However, it is generally agreed
that to the Model 1873 that honor goes, specifically in .44-40 it being said to
have killed more men—good and bad—and more game—big and little—than any other
cartridge. (The .30-30 Winchester* Model 1894 carbine was long said to have
borne the distinction of killing more deer than any other rifle. This can
probably no longer be claimed owing to the profusion of modern bolt-action and
semi-automatic deer rifles in the last 40 years.) It can also be argued that the double-barrel
shotgun was the gun that won the West. They were much more widely used than
portrayed in Western movies and novels.
The Colt .45 Model
1873 single-action Peacemaker revolver, aka the “Equalizer” or “thumb-buster,”
is often called the “revolver that won the West. Of course there were many
other models of Colts and the other most common handgun makes in use were the Smith & Wesson,
Remington, and the little known or credited Merwin Hulbert. The Peacemaker
though was probably not quite as widely used as Hollywood portrays.
Regardless of what gun or guns that won the West,
what were just as important to the winning of the West, besides an intractable
pioneering spirit, were the railroad, telegraph, and barbed wire.
* Originally introduced as the .30 Winchester Center Fire in 1895, Marlin
Firearms was abhorrent to the idea of putting the Winchester name on its
weapons. They named it the .30-30—a catchy designation—and it quickly became
known as the .30-30 Winchester; even Winchester changed its designation. The
.30-30 spawned the .32 Winchester Special, .25-35 Winchester, and .219 Zipper. These
rounds were the first American smokeless powder game cartridges and were introduced
in the mid-1890s, even though some bore black powder designations.
Interestingly, while Mexican revolutionaries used a hodgepodge of weapons, the Winchester Model 1894 carbine in .30-30 was their "standard" shoulder arm. They even had a patriotic song,
¡30-30! or Carabina 30-30. I've included the song below in case someone can use it in a novel. My wife's family has two Winchester Model 1892s in .32-20, which were carried by family members during the Revolution.
¡30-30! or Carabina 30-30. I've included the song below in case someone can use it in a novel. My wife's family has two Winchester Model 1892s in .32-20, which were carried by family members during the Revolution.
Who was Henry Winchester? There was no such person.
“Henry Winchester” referred to
the .44 Flat Henry Models 1860 and 1866 rifles and carbines. These first truly
successful lever-actions were nicknamed the “Old Henry” or more commonly the “Yellow
Boy” or “Old Yellar” because of their distinctive brass receivers, actually a
bronze alloy known as “gunmetal.” Technically the Model 1860 was not called the
“Henry Winchester,” but just the “Henry.” It was designed by Benjamin T. Henry
(1821–98)
and manufactured by the New Haven
Arms Company in New Haven, Connecticut. The Model 1866 was properly called the
“Henry Winchester” and its revolutionary side-loading gate was invented by
Nelson King. This replaced the Model 1860’s awkward loading into the front end
of the under-barrel tubular magazine, a tedious job. The side-loading gate was
used in all subsequent Winchester lever-actions. Oliver F. Winchester (1810-1880)
was the primary stockholder and owner of the Henry rifle patent, from which
later Winchester lever-actions evolved. By the way, Oliver Winchester never
designed a single firearm or weapon feature; he was purely a businessman and
politician. The firm evolved into the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in
1866.
Winchester, the US Repeating Arms Company of New Haven, Connecticut,
closed in 2006 after 140 years of producing legendary firearms. That same year
the Olin Corporation, owner of the Winchester trademark, announced that
Winchester firearms would continue to be made by the Browning Arms Company in
Ogden, Utah, under the Winchester Repeating Arms brand. Browning Arms is owned
by FN Herstal of Belgium. The “Winchesters” are actually produced at FN’s US
production facility in South Carolina where today's M16 rifles, M240 machine guns, and
M249 squad automatic weapons are made.
Carabina 30-30
I'm off to battle with my 30-30
I entered the rebel ranks
If it's blood they ask for, blood I'll give them
For the people of our nation
Fransico Villa cried out
Where are you Argumedo?
Come and stand up in front
You, who are never afraid
I'm off to battle with my 30-30
I entered the rebel ranks
If it's blood they ask for, blood I'll give them
For the people of our nation
We've headed for Chihuahua
Your Indian saint is leaving town
If they kill me in the war
Go and mourn me on hallowed ground
I'm off to battle with my 30-30
I entered the rebel ranks
If it's blood they ask for, blood I'll give them
For the people of our nation
External links
Fascinating as usual. Altough firearms are of interest to me, my friends are fanatics. This information is just what they love discussing. Thank you and of course I'll have to share it with them. Doris
ReplyDeleteThanks Doris. I've long sought out interesting facts and try to sort out the many myths and misconceptions related to firearms and things military.
ReplyDeleteReally good article. I read a recent article that claims it was really the Sharps rifle that won the west. I suppose they all contributed.
ReplyDeleteA lot of Sharps went out West. They were produced from 1850-81 so saw wide use. Not all were large-caliber "buffalo gus" as many were smaller caliber. Its very true they contributed greatly. Another under-credited firearm in the Old West was the shotgun. Not just coach guns, bartender-companions, and sawed-off scatter-guns used a few gunfighters. Farmers were more likely to have a long double-barrel shotgun than an expensive lever-action rifle.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff, Gordon, thanks. You might mention the 4 segment cleaning rod located in the stock. I have a Mod. 66 (I think) that has the brass cleaning rod, said to be worth as much as the rifle as are rare and were so easily lost. Super article.
ReplyDeleteVery true about the cleaning rod. It surprises many that small related equipment, accessories, and accoutrements for firearms are extremely valuable and much sought after by collectors, especially for military arms. The reasons these seemingly unimportant items are so valuable because they were so often lost or discarded.
DeleteI think the Sharps was probably too expensive to have been in common usage, whereas those rifles used extensively in the Civil War were likely a dime a dozen at the war's end.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Imperato, the current President of Henry is one of the nicest, most approachable people I've ever had the privilege of being in contact with. Not only is he fiercely proud of his product and his determination to manufacture it here in America; he is great about sharing information about the history of the company. You have a question about the history of the rifle, how the company came to be; the Henry's place in the American West, he'll make sure your question is answered. And you may end up with one of his great coffee mugs, or a copy of their book "The History of..." which is a great research tool.
ReplyDeleteYou might be right about the cost of a Sharps. I don't know what they cost. A Winchester 1973 and 1892 cost $11 in 1897. Not cheap. A cowhand got $20-30 a month and a cavalryman $13.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting these articles, Gordo. The protagonist in my Muleskinners series uses a Henry, mostly because my great-uncle had one and I sure wish I had it. Not sure where that went after he passed. It must have been the 1866 model because it was a side-loader. My protagonist's Henry is the original model, though. I've never dealt with one of those--seems not at all convenient in the field, other than ammo capacity.
ReplyDeleteI like to do research about weapons and find its flaws and/or strong points, they all have something good or bad, and if it fits, work it into a story.
ReplyDelete