Winchester Model 1873 Rifle

This is an above average little Winchester 1873 rifle.   Standard 1873 3rd Model sporting rifle in caliber .38 WCF with 24" octagon barrel, full magazine, and crescent rifle buttplate with trapdoor for 4-piece jointed cleaning rods (which are perpetually absent).  Serial number is in the 229,000 range which dates its period of manufacture to the year 1887.  That year, Grover Cleveland was POTUS, Buffalo Bill Cody opened his Wild West show in London, the first barb wire was patented, and Sherlock Holmes novels were all the rage.   Barrel has the early correct style marking with 2-line Winchester address and patent dates.   Upper tang is clearly marked "MODEL 1873" bracketed by two fleur-de-lis designs.   Loading block is marked "38 CAL" in script with what appears to be the original owners' initials, "DKB" scratched in near the edge.

Overall condition grades to NRA Antique Fine and 100% original down to the smallest screw.  The receiver still shows 40-50% original blue that's thinning with balance turned to a light brown patina.   Nice sharps edges throughout.   60% fire blue on loading port.   Hammer shows 35% soft fading case colors while lever reveals 5-10% colors with balance faded to silvery gray.   The barrel and magazine tube show 40% original blue.   A few scratch marks on left side of barrel (see photo).   Very Good+ screws overall.   The wood shows a lot of character in terms of original varnish mixed with light nicks and some rather prolific chatter marks to the high points of the right side of the buttstock...where it appears to have been kept in some type of gun rack....or possibly in a wagon.   The forearm shows a bit of scabbard wear as well.   Overall, the wood retains 50-60% original varnish that's mostly confined to the buttstock.   Nice wood-to-metal fit that's tight with the walnut swelling slightly over the metal surfaces.   Original sights have never been disturbed and include the semi-buckhorn rear and standard Winchester front with German silver blade.   Being 1887 vintage, it does not have the set screw.   The mechanics are Fine with the lever still "clacking shut" and firing pin indexing properly.   The bolt and firing pin still show strong traces of original blue.   Bore is Good overall...still shows some sheen with good lands and grooves and a few scattered pits.   Overall, this 1873 is a very good original example of a 3rd model with a nice blend of original finish and colorful character wear.   Many 1873's that were used as tools like this one stayed in service until they were well worn and brown...this one has a nice blend of condition vs. wear in my opinion.   We see guns like this one occasionally at shows with tags that read more and more like phone numbers than realistic prices.   This is a nice 1873 for the money.

Item# 1134

SOLD