South African Model 1873 Winchester

Attachment 69101

--The RCMP (then the NWMP, or Northwest Mounted Police), used Winchester M1876 Muskets from 1878 until they were replaced by SMLE rifles in approximately 1910. Long-Lees were purchased as interim rifles as the Winchesters were retired, most having receivers that simply "wore out" and which were considered non-repairable. Long-Lees were not popular as they were not handy and somewhat fragile. The SMLE addressed these problems following the lessons taught by the Boer War. Winchester rifles were surprisingly durable and I've been told by a South African correspondent that ex-Boer and donated Model 1873s were used in the 1914 South African invasion of German Southwest Africa. No doubt British-supplied rifles were in very short supply at that time!