Winchester Rifles of the Hatfield-McCoys
With the recent airing of the Hatfield- McCoy fued on the History Channel and a recent (to Me) Pawn Stars show , I am wondering about the rifles used in the fued.
The Pawn Stars Show I am referring to has a guy come in to sell one of the rifles used in the fued. It was a 1892 Winchester and had documentation that it had belonged to "Cap" Hatfield the son of Devil Anse. The firearm was supposed to have been used in the fued. Pawn Stars showed that the rifle had seven notches in the barrel for the seven people that Cap Hatfield was supposed to have shot during the fued. Also the rifle was supposed to have the name
"Cap" stenciled in the metal. Pawn Stars did not clearly show the name.MY research has showed that this rifle was a fake. The fued between the Hatfields and McCoys was over with in February 1890 with the hanging of the Mounts boy in Pikeville. No way could a 1892 rifle been part of the fued.
Another fact of the fued was that Devil Anse bought a quanitity of (15-25)Winchester lever actions rifles. IIRC the rifles were supposed to have been delivered in Ashland Kentucky from the Winchester factory. When I think about it this does not make sense either.
With no laws at the time why would the rifles have been delivered some 100 miles from the Hatfield's home? Why not ship them somewhere closer or directly to the Hatfields?
At this time did Winchester have distributors? Did Winchester ship guns directly to peoples homes? If not Why Not?
What model of Winchester rifle did Devil Anse buy? What was the caliber?
I would like to hear your comments.