Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout us
Log InCreate Account
Rock Island Auction CompanyRock Island Auction Company
Contact us
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
Locations
Bedford, TX
3600 Harwood RoadBedford, Texas 76021, USA
Rock Island, IL
7819 42nd Street WestRock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
Hours
Monday - Friday8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Navigation
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout usAccount
More Info
Terms & ConditionsPrivacy PolicyJob postings & CareersOrder a catalogContact
Social media
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
Disconnected
Unable to connect to live update server, attempting reconnection. If this persists, please try refreshing your browser.
Disconnected state indicated by at top of page. If you cannot see this icon, you are connected.
Rock Island Auction Company
Hello.
Please Log In, or .

Home
Auctions
Consignment
Latest
FAQ
About us

  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 17

Lot 17:Rare, Documented, Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 .22

September 7th, 2018|Rock Island, IL
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 17

Lot 17:Rare, Documented, Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 .22

September 7th, 2018|Rock Island, IL
Estimated Price$16,000 - $25,000
Log In to use Wishlists
Share

Rare, Documented, Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 .22 Rimfire Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter

The letter describes "Model 1873, serial number 248858" as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 22, Barrel Type: Octagon, Trigger: Plain, Checkered stock, Pistol grip" and "Casehardened". The letter further states that this rifle was shipped from Winchester on January 13, 1888. The rifle has a full octagon barrel fitted with a Winchester globe front sight and a factory blank in the rear sight dovetail. A folding graduated peep sight with 50 minute graduations is mounted on the receiver tang. The full length magazine has the early style magazine tube with separate stop ring. The Third style receiver has a integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The receiver has the rounded front found on .22 caliber Model 1873 rifles. The rifle has the very desirable color casehardened receiver with casehardened forearm cap, hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate. The barrel, receiver and dust cover have a blue finish. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grade walnut with fine checkered panels and a high polish piano finish. The buttplate has an ebony insert. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A./-KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860-" ahead of the rear sight blank. The caliber: "22 SHORT" is roll stamped on the top barrel flat just ahead of the receiver. "22 CAL./SHORT" is roll-stamped in script in two lines across the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped in small script letters across the lower tang between the lever latch and rear tang screw. Deluxe, special order Model 1873 .22 Rimfire Rifles are rare.

Rating definitionVery good plus. The blue on the barrel and magazine has aged to a plum-blue patina. The barrel has 25% blue with scattered patches of shallow pitting and the magazine has similar spots of age discoloration. The barrel markings are crisp. Most of the blue is present on the dust cover. The case colors of the forearm cap have aged to smooth, dark patina, The case colors on the receiver, hammer and lever have aged to a silver-gray patina with scattered spots of age discoloration. The buttplate has a mottled dark patina with several spots of light pitting. The deluxe, fancy grade, walnut stock and forearm are all in fine condition. The piano finish on the buttplate has dulled from handling but the stock retains nearly 90% of the high polish finish with some wear on the wrist. The checkered panels are sharp. Wear on the stock and forearm is limited to a few light handling and storage marks. This is a solid representative example of a seldom encountered rare, deluxe, special order Winchester Model 1873 .22 Rimfire Rifle.
Details
ManufacturerWinchester
Model1873
TypeRifle
Serial number
ClassAntique
Barrel24 inch octagon
Finishblue/casehardened
Stockwalnut checkered
Item LocationRock Island, IL
Views3521
Catalog page23
Find MoreRelated Items
Lot 1Antique Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle
View Lot
Lot 7Winchester First Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle
View Lot
Lot 633Antique Colt Single Action Army Converted to .22 Rimfire
View Lot
Lot 598Colt Model 1849 Cartridge Conversion Revolver in .22 RF
View Lot
Show More