Speedo66
Member
Another question is why Winchester called the cartridge the “.44”WCF, when in reality it’s actually a .42.
what the heck is a .44-.40?
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Depends what side of the zeroes it is….
Bazoo
Member
It's interesting to note that the dot "." is not listed on SAAMIs cartridge drawings/names. There may be some names that it's listed, but none of the ones I've seen have it.
Wikipedia lists a dot for most cartridge names, incorrectly.
The 1890 Winchester big W cartridge board does not have the dots in the name listings.
In Clyde Williamsons book, The Winchester Lever Legacy, there are numerous chamber and cartridge drawings. The old Winchester drawings from circa 1912 do have the dot before the first number (.50-110). In the same book, the Omark cartridge and chamber drawings also list the dot for 44-40 (.44-40). There is not a Winchester 44-40 drawing in the book.
A keen eye will not the absence of the dot on BulletMatch's cartridges. We actually had a pretty long discussion about it when we were programming it, and I decided to not have a dot. I think that the dot is incorrect since it's not indicating a measurement, rather a caliber class.
Wikipedia lists a dot for most cartridge names, incorrectly.
The 1890 Winchester big W cartridge board does not have the dots in the name listings.
In Clyde Williamsons book, The Winchester Lever Legacy, there are numerous chamber and cartridge drawings. The old Winchester drawings from circa 1912 do have the dot before the first number (.50-110). In the same book, the Omark cartridge and chamber drawings also list the dot for 44-40 (.44-40). There is not a Winchester 44-40 drawing in the book.
A keen eye will not the absence of the dot on BulletMatch's cartridges. We actually had a pretty long discussion about it when we were programming it, and I decided to not have a dot. I think that the dot is incorrect since it's not indicating a measurement, rather a caliber class.
It stems from the switch from healed bullets.
But to exasperate the confusion over nomenclature they decided to confuse things more by naming the 40 caliber cartridge 38 WCF.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Maybe they thought it was British, where the parent cartridge comes first like the .450/.400. 
Pretty sure .427 rounds up to .43. Still has little to do with naming conventions. Funny, this is about .44’s 99% of the time, while no one boo hoos about the .38Spl, .327Fed or .250 Savage. Who cares???
Pretty sure .427 rounds up to .43. Still has little to do with naming conventions. Funny, this is about .44’s 99% of the time, while no one boo hoos about the .38Spl, .327Fed or .250 Savage. Who cares???
Speedo66
Member
I no longer have an original ‘73, curious if there was a caliber mark dot on the original barrels?
Jim Watson
Member
There are Spanish and Belgian knockoffs marked .44 Winchester 73. Or just .44 1873.
Marlins were set up for a slightly heavier bullet, 218 grains, maybe.
Marlins were set up for a slightly heavier bullet, 218 grains, maybe.
LonesomePigeon
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If the OP is asking if that's a real Colt I believe the answer is yes. Somewhere in or around the 2007 -2011 time period Colt did a run of short-barreled, ejectorless, black powder frame Sherriff's and Storekeeper models. The caliber designation was on the left side of the barrel.
I spent 30+ years in manufacturing, worked with several people more than capable of miss marking a batch of barrels.Did colt mark all their barrels like this??
For instance
Had one that messed up a part and they marked it "scrape" before putting it in the bin.
ETA I guarantee there was another person at Colt muttering under their breath something I can't say on THR.
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Savvy Jack
Member
Did colt mark all their barrels like this??
LOL, they can not make up their mind whether it should be a .400, .427, .429, or a .430. Probably stamped by the same people that call the 45 Colt a long colt.
lee n. field
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1880s equivalent of .40 S&W. Nothing to be sneered at.
You really missed the point (pun absolutely intended)
OS/N
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Guess they don't want to use the Winchester name on a Colt "44-40 WCF". Either that or someone got slap happy with the type setting stamp. Or maybe don't know what they are doing.Did colt mark all their barrels like this??
Savvy Jack
Member
This topic is proof that "language" is important!
BLACKHAWKNJ
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Actually the 44-40 is the equivalent of the 44 Special, 45 Long Colt, 45 Schofield, a 200 grain bullet over 40 grains of black powder.
I read there was a gentleman's agreement between Colt and Winchester, Colt would not make long arms, Winchester would not make handguns.
I read there was a gentleman's agreement between Colt and Winchester, Colt would not make long arms, Winchester would not make handguns.
King Medallion
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38/40 is the equivalent to the 40sw
OP
OP
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This one has no periods
Archie
Member
Just for fun the correct Czech designation should be (mm/grams) "11.176/2.59 Winchester Center Fire". Who is blazes would grasp that one?
(Life is hard enough using decimals...)
(Life is hard enough using decimals...)
Jim Watson
Member
The European designation would be 10.7x33. Bore diameter - case length.
OP
OP
1KPerDay
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10.7x33R, right?
Bwana John
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Are we sure this is a ”real” Colt, not a foreign clone?
Kind of reminds me of the Chinese Norinco 1911 marked “Model of the 1911”
View attachment IMG_0120.webp
I just learned that the Spencer Rifle was among the last that used the case diameter at the rear, then the case diameter at the front, to designate caliber. Hence .56-.56 means a straight walled case, while the .56-.50 is a tapered case, and the .56-.42 was a bottlenecked case. But nobody did it like that afterward as far as I know.
Martini-Henry .577/450 Martini-Henry 1871-1918 (11.43×55R)
Kind of reminds me of the Chinese Norinco 1911 marked “Model of the 1911”
View attachment IMG_0120.webp
I just learned that the Spencer Rifle was among the last that used the case diameter at the rear, then the case diameter at the front, to designate caliber. Hence .56-.56 means a straight walled case, while the .56-.50 is a tapered case, and the .56-.42 was a bottlenecked case. But nobody did it like that afterward as far as I know.
Martini-Henry .577/450 Martini-Henry 1871-1918 (11.43×55R)
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OP
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gwpercle
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The offical name is 44-40 Winchester .
Colt didn't want to put Winchester on their revolvers ...
ergo ... the stamping , Colt SAA 44-40 ...
Just marketing and advertisment stuff ... don't overthink it !
Gary
Colt didn't want to put Winchester on their revolvers ...
ergo ... the stamping , Colt SAA 44-40 ...
Just marketing and advertisment stuff ... don't overthink it !
Gary
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