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The history of the “One of One Thousand” Winchester rifles is discussed in detail in “Winchester: The Golden
Age of American Gunmaking and the Winchester 1 of 1000” by R. L. Wilson which features a photograph of
this “Winchester ‘73” rifle in the front piece and also features and discusses it on page 102. The latter also
includes a photograph of Jimmy Stewart and Herb Parsons on set with the caption noting “The rifle held by
Stewart is Model 1873 number 551816”. The rifle is accompanied by a trove of information about this rifle
and the search for the original “One of One Thousand” Winchester Model 1873s in 1950, including original
letters and documentation relating to the rifles turned up in the search. Among the documents is one of
the rare “WANTED!” posters showing this hero rifle from the film. Also included is “’Winchester 73’ Gun Safety
Instructions as Demonstrated by James Stewart and Herb Parsons” which notes “Stewart’s rifle used in these
pictures, is the ‘hero’ of his new Universal International movie...” Along with the document are photographs of
Stewart and Parsons demonstrating safe gun handling. The included May 1950 issue of “American Rifleman”
features an article by Bill Depperman about the “One of One Thousand” rifles and the film and shows Jimmy
Stewart holding one of the three specially made Winchester One of One Thousand Model 1873s on page
15. This rifle is shown again on page 16 by itself as well as another production still showing one of the rifles
from the film and a photograph of Winchester test shooter Jack Lacy holding a target shot by one of the
special rifles showing an under 1 1/2 inch group at 100 yards. One of the rifles is also shown on page 36 of
the included October 1950 issue of “American Rifleman” in Depperman’s article about the conclusion of the
search for the One of One Thousand rifles. On page 38, he wrote about the three rifles, identifying them as
serial numbers 551816, 703161, and 706716. He noted that “These engraved Model 1873’s were made as
movie props. They are highly accurate and today are in excellent mechanical condition. They are different
from conventional rifles of this type because they have gold inlay running along the right and left side of the
barrel. These also have a brass plate embedded in the right side of the stock.”
The rifle can also been seen in the film and in various production stills and promotions. The small dings just to
the rear of the plaque and just above are scarcely visible in color but shows up more prominently in black and
white and demonstrates that this specific rifle is the one used for the close up shot of the rifle’s prize plaque
in the film and also demonstrates that this is the same rifle cradled by Jimmy Stewart in the promotional
photo of him with blood on his face. It was naturally also used for a great many other scenes in the movie.