Chapparal M'1876 Winchester NWMP carbine ....

GrantR

GrantR

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Well, friends, last week I discovered that the long-awaited NWMP (North West Mounted Police) carbine version of the Chapparal Arms' reproduction Model 1876 Winchester rifle is now actually in production. When I first learned some months ago that this project was going ahead, I made up my mind I had to get one when they became available.

I also learned that the very few (maybe four) carbines in the first shipment were sold "instantly", and that a second shipment of only six more of them was on its way to the exclusive U.S. distributor - Scott Meyer/'Sixgun Shorty' of Nevada Western Firearms (http://www.nevadawesternfirearms.com:80/)
..... and I was able to score one! :dancingbanana:

These carbines are a very faithful recreation of the original NWMP carbines (though of the later configuration, after a few design weaknesses noted on the first ones had been corrected). They are in the original .45-75 chambering, and have a proper round barrel with "Spanish Meter" rear sight, musket-style forestock, carbine butt and "sling ring", with serial numbers in the same range as the original NWMP carbines (I am advised that my carbine has serial number 2750 ... which is the sixth lowest known/confirmed serial number on the original NWMP rifles.) These carbines are even marked in the appropriate location on the buttstock with a NWMP cartouche. I understand that there will be a very limited production of these carbines - possibly only 100, or less. The model may be added to the Chaparral Arms line, but without the special "NWMP features" ....

At any rate, here are a few images of a sample carbine (click on each thumbnail to enlarge) -











Well .... that's the good news - the bad news is that I and the only other Canadian purchaser so far (who is the person who alerted me to the fact the carbines are finally in production) will likely be waiting at least two or three months before we actually receive our rifles, while all the rigamarol surrounding export from the US is gone through ... :(
 
M'1876 Winchesters in Military Service

Although this configuration of 1876 winchester is best known for its service as the primary Mounted Police longarm from 1878 through 1905 (with many remaining in service until at least 1914) it is not so well known that approximately 700 of them also were issued to troops by the Department of Militia & Defence during the 1885 North West Rebellion.

There were approximately 6,000 troops involved (west of the Great Lakes) in the North West Rebellion campaign - the majority of those were "Active Militia" from Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia (i.e. "part time" militia, mobilized for the emergency) together with most of the "Permanent Militia" units (i.e. "full time" militia, who were the closest thing Canada had to an actual army at that time - it had just been formed in 1883 at a total authorized strength of only 750 men, with Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery components.)

All of these men, being serving Militia, would already have firearms (mostly Snider-Enfield rifles and carbines) on issue to them. However, many more firearms firearms were also issued to Provisional Militia units raised in the North West specifically for service in the conflict or to Home Guard units in various communities in the North West. (Although I presume that mobilized Eastern Militia units would also have been issued replacement firearms for any on issue to them which were found unserviceable prior to their departure for the West.)

Winchester carbines/rifles were issued to mounted provisional units (e.g. the Dominion Land Surveyors Intelligence Corps, the Moose Mountain Scouts, and the Rocky Mountain Rangers) and were also issued to the Permanent Militia cavalry unit (the Cavalry School Corps Troop A) and the two Active Militia cavalry units (the Governor-General's Body Guard and the Winnipeg Cavalry Troop) serving in the North West, in replacement for their single-shot Snider-Enfield cavalry carbines.

Here is a period photograph of some members of the Governor-General's Body Guard (now the Governor-General's Horse Guard) in camp at Humboldt, District of Saskatchewan, NWT, during their service in the 1885 Rebellion ... the '76 Winchester carbines are clearly visible ...
GGBG_Humboldt2.jpg


Records of the day use the term "rifle" as well as "carbine" in reference to Winchesters issued in 1885, but it is most likely that is simply a case of both terms being applied by different record-keepers to the same model - i.e. the Model 1876 carbine. That is what David Edgecombe speculates in "Defending the Dominion: Canadian Military Rifles 1855-1955". However he also reports that, of a total of 684 Winchester rifles acquired by the Department of Militia and Defence, 500 came from the stocks held for issue to the NWMP (i.e. would definitely have been the NWMP carbine configuration) but the rest were "purchased from the trade" - in other words, from various retailers. Although those purchases are all believed to have been Model 1876's, it seems unlikely that commercial gun sellers would have had the quasi-military NWMP carbine configuration in their inventory, or at least not all that many of them. Thus it can be assumed that these separately purchased Winchesters were various models - i.e. whatever the retailers had on hand. It does seem fairly certain, however, that they would all have been chambered in .45-75, since that would be the only ammunition available through the official chain of supply ...

It should also be noted that many of the Provisional mounted militia units (notably the Rocky Mountain Rangers) were only issued firearms "as needed" - enlistees in most of these units were expected to provide their own firearms, mount and other gear, if possible ... For example, the general terms under which the raising of the Rocky Mountain Rangers was authorized by the Minister of Militia & Defence included the following: "The arms to consist of 1 revolver Mounted Police pattern or any other serviceable Revolver in their possession. One Winchester carbine or other serviceable Carbine or Rifle in their possession. 1 Cartridge belt with knife attached (M.P. pattern.) (A limited deficiency in Arms to be supplied by Government, but the conditions of enlistment to require them furnished by the men.)"

Here is a period photograph of a member of the Rocky Mountain Rangers, an irregular (i.e. non-uniformed) mounted unit of mostly ranchers and cowboys. Although the lever has been erased for some reason (presumably during re-touching or whatever) his rifle is clearly of the NWMP pattern ...
rmranger.jpg


Here is a photograph of a group of Rangers on patrol - the rifles carried NWMP-fashion across the saddle pommel on the horses on the left appear to be NWMP-pattern, but the rifle held by the man kneeling in front is clearly a half-stocked model ....
rmrpatrol_sm.jpg

RMRpatrol_detail.jpg


Here is a group of NWMP scouts and Rocky Mountain Rangers, photographed at Fort McLeod ...
Rangers_sm.jpg


To show what I meant about the rifles being carried across the pommel "NWMP-fashion", here is a photograph of a North West Mounted Police rig of the period (western-style stock saddles were used) followed by a period photo of a NWMP Constable and his mount ...
mpsaddle.jpg

NWMPconstableandhorse_sm.jpg
 
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I would love to find an original someday, but that will likely not happen, nor would I likely have the $$$$ to buy it!! I've only ever seen pictures....

Just like 649...everybody has a dream!
 
Turkeyslayer 1300 said:
I know where there is an original Nwmp '76 rifle. Unfortunately the chances of it ever being for sale are slim to none.
Click to expand...

Well, if that 0.001% chance ever does come up and it goes on the selling block, let me know! Better start saving my pennies!! I've seen a couple regular 76s lately, but not a NWMP one yet. What a stout rifle! Can't imagine carrying one of those in the woods all day. What are they, 9 lbs and change??I plan on hunting with an 1886 45-70 or 40-65 this fall, and those are heavy enough....

By the way, those are some great pics!

Matt
 
Although I have managed to score an operational NWMP-issue .476 MkII Enfield revolver, like
most of us I don't expect I'll likely ever get a chance to own an original NWMP Winchester,
which is why I made up my mind to "blow the wad", as it were, on this Chaparral clone.

The full-size version will be the "big brother" of this rifle ... my pistol-caliber (.45 Colt) "Faux NWMP
Carbine", made up on an original Model 1873 action for use in cowboy action shooting -

fauxnwmp.jpg


Here are a few more period images ....

First, Officers and Scouts of the Rocky Mountain Rangers photographed at Medicine Hat
(if you are familiar with Medicine Hat, I believe this was taken at or near the brow of the
"Southeast Hill area, above the downtown area) -

RMRofficersandscoutsMedicineHat_sm.jpg


Notice that most of them are carrying their rifles across the saddle pommel, and that the
fellow on the left, at least, definitley has the NWMP-pattern Winchester. On the far right is
Chief Scout "Kootenai" Brown ....


Here is a Rocky Mountain Ranger Patrol formed up on the outskirts of Medicine Hat -
"Kootenai" Brown is in the lead farthest from the camera, with Captain Lord Richard Boyle
riding beside him. At the far left (flanking the column) is Major John Stewart, C/O of the RMR,
with Lord Boyle's brother Lt. Henry Boyl riding beside him .... Again, many of the men in this
photo are carrying their rifles across the pommel -

patrol2_sm.jpg



Getting back to the NWMP and their Winchesters, here are a couple of interesting photos
of members of the NWMP contingent who were sent to London in 1897 to attend Queen
Victoria's 60th Jubilee celebration (i.e. marking the 60th year of her reign) -

Lndn97a.jpg


Lndn97b.jpg
 
Grant,

Thanks for the great pics! That's some really fantastic history. I'm guessing you're a bit of a history, NWMP, or Winchester enthusiast? I just started collecting old Winchester levers and love them. So much history with some of these great old rifles. I just started, so I have a long way to go. And maybe, just maybe someday, when I win the lottery, I'm going to find me an original NWMP rifle. I've never been out to Medicine Hat way myself, but it sounds like there's some really neat history out that way!

Thanks again for sharing!

Matt
 
There are two to be sold at bud haynes auction this august at the next gun auction . auction estimate is 4000.00-8000.00 per
 
Dez:
Buy me one, O.K.? :D
(Seriously, though, if you are going to the auction, maybe I could get you to bid on some of the .45-75 brass somebody mentioned is in the listing, it it is decent ....)

Matt:
Yes, I'm a military and western history buff, cowboy action shooter ... and would-be re-enactor - I have all the stuff, but there isn't much happening out here on the re-enactment scene. I satisfy that interest by combining it with my shooting activities as much as possible ... in the past in conjunction with black powder shooting, and more recently in cowboy action shooting. Our local CAS group, largely through my influence, is called the "Rocky Mountain Rangers, No. 4 Troop". (The original RMR was authorized at a total of four Troops, but only three were actually raised ... two of which were posted to Medicine Hat during the North West Rebellion. For a lot more detail visit my website, which also hosts our club web pages - link in my signature block.) :canadaFlag:
 
gadcustomcartridges.com PH#715-748-0919 sells 45-75 brass for 1.00 per. so 20.00 for 20 brass etc. also cast bullets. dies for 50.00 and I think Bernold said he had a couple extra moulds to sell
 
Dez:

At only $1.00 per case, I strongly suspect that it is re-formed .348 brass (which I wanted to avoid, if possible) - but I'll maybe give them a call to get at least some, if they'll ship to Canada, since Buffalo Arms is even out of their re-formed .348, and I understand Jamison Brass (who are the only source of currently-made properly headstamped .45-75 brass, that I'm aware of) may not be in a position to produce any for several months. (Got sidetracked on military contracts, apparently ...)

Bertold?
 
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