Recommendations from senior collectors to a novice wanted.

[Researcher]

turned out to be a De Luxe Winchester lever action (either an 1873 or 1876, don't remember) rifle in .45-90 caliber in around 70 % condition.

Cannot be so. To be a .45-90 it would have to be an 1886. The largest thing the Model 1876 came in was the much shorter .45-75, and the Model 1873 was made for the much shorter .44-40 and .38-40 with the .32-20 being added in 1882.

As for the OP, I'd highly recommend buying and reading the books. The two-volume set The Parker Story, the Larry Baer books and the Ed Muderlak books. Seek the advice of those here before money changes hands.

[J. A. EARLY]

A copy of the book:

Parker Gun Identification & Serialization

Some are asking several hundred dollars for one. I will p.m. you one I found very cheap so no one else buys it before you can get it.

[Kevin McCormack]

[QUOTE=Dave Noreen;417400]Cannot be so. To be a .45-90 it would have to be an 1886. The largest thing the Model 1876 came in was the much shorter .45-75, and the Model 1873 was made for the much shorter .44-40 and .38-40 with the .32-20 being added in 1882.

Yeah Dave, I am likely off by 10 model years here; mostly likely an 1886.