Lot 13:Very Fine Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle

September 7th, 2018|Rock Island, IL

Lot 13:Very Fine Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle

September 7th, 2018|Rock Island, IL

Price Realized:

Estimated Price$4,500 - $6,500

Very Fine Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle

Winchester Model 1873 Sporting Rifle manufactured c.1889. This rifle has the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover guide and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The receiver has the stepped front utilized on .22, .32 and .38 caliber arms. The rifle has a full octagon barrel and full length magazine. The magazine has the late screw-fastened cap. The barrel has "Winchester Express" front sight with colored bead and a buckhorn, sporting style, rear sight with serrated edges and screw-adjustable center piece. A Lyman folding combination sight with coarsely knurled post is mounted on the receiver tang. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A./-KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860-" in two lines ahead of the rear sight. "32 W.C.F." is stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver. "32 CAL" is stamped in script across the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped in script on the lower tang between the lever latch and rear tang screw. The barrel and magazine have a blue finish. The magazine band, forearm cap, receiver, sideplates and dust cover are the Winchester high polish blue. The loading gate has a fire blue finish. The hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with a varnish finish.

ConditionVery fine. 90% of the original blue is present on the barrel and magazine. The Winchester legend and caliber markings are very sharp. The magazine band and forearm cap retain almost all of the high polish blue finish. The receiver has 80% plus of the bright original blue finish with wear along the top between the hammer and the ejection port and high point wear on the edges. The side plates have light edge wear with some dulling to the finish on the upper edges. There are several scratches on the sides of the receiver and side plates. The dust cover has 90% plus of the original high polish blue finish. The loading gate retains 85% of the fire blue finish. 85% of the muted case colors are present on the hammer, trigger and lever. The crescent buttplate retains 90% of the faded case colors. The stock and forearm are also in very fine overall condition and retain 95% of the original varnish finish with a few very insignificant handling marks. This is an exceptional example of a Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle.

Details

ManufacturerWinchester

Model1873

TypeRifle

Serial number

ClassAntique

Caliber / Gauge32 WCF

Barrel24 inch octagon

Finishblue

Stockvarnished walnut

Item LocationRock Island, IL