Premiere Collector's Firearms Auction - April 20, 21 & 22, 2012
April 20, 21 & 22, 2012
Premiere Collector's Firearms Auction
| Lot #: 3012 | Estimated Price: $5,000 - $8,000 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter | |||
    Click on the image(s) above to view a larger version | |||
| Got one to sell | |||
| LOT SOLD | |||
| Serial #: | 175468B | Manufacturer: | Winchester |
| Model: | 1873 | Type: | Rifle |
| Gauge: | 38 WCF | Catalog Page: | 121 |
| Barrel Length: | 24 inch octagon | Finish: | blue |
| Grip: | N/A | Stock: | walnut |
| Class: | Antique | ||
| Condition Rating: | |||
| Description: | This is a very fine example of a Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle. The factory letter confirms the serial number, rifle configuration, octagon barrel, and plain trigger. The rifle was received in warehouse on April 9, 1885 and shipped from the warehouse on the same day on order number 19902. The rifle has the Third Model integral dust cover rail, dust cover with serrated edges and concealed trigger pin. The 24-inch octagon barrel, full-length magazine, forearm cap and receiver have the Winchester high polish blue finish. The loading gate is niter blue. The hammer, loading lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The buttplate has a sliding brass trap door and the upper tang is factory drilled and tapped for a tang mounted rear sight. The straight grain, black walnut stock and forearm have an oil finish. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail mounted sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and a sporting style rear sight with serrated edges. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN.CT./KING"S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH. 29. 1886. OCTOBER 16. 1860.". "38-Cal." is roll-stamped on the top of the barrel just in front of the receiver. The bottom of the brass cartridge elevator is roll-stamped "38 CAL". The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped "MODEL. 1873." in fancy letters with foliate designs at either end. The serial number is stamped in script on the lower tang between the lever latch and the tang screw. The four piece cleaning rod is included with the rifle. | ||
| Condition: | Very fine. The rifle retains 80% original blue finish with the balance a crisp gray patina. The buttplate has a mottled gray patina and the hammer and lever retain half of the original case colors. The wood is very fine with a number of minor pressure dents and scratches overall. Mechanically excellent. | ||
