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 14

Lot 14:Outstanding Documented Winchester Model 1873 Musket

September 6th, 2019|Rock Island, IL
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 14

Lot 14:Outstanding Documented Winchester Model 1873 Musket

September 6th, 2019|Rock Island, IL
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Estimated Price$6,000 - $10,000
Log In to use Wishlists
Share

Outstanding Near Mint Documented Winchester Model 1873 Musket

Winchester Model 1873 Musket with Winchester Museum record card. The museum card describes this Winchester Model 1873 as "musket, caliber 44" and states that it was shipped from Winchester on September 18, 1903. The musket has the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover guide rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The 30-inch round barrel has the distinctive full-length forearm secured by three bands. The barrel has a steel block front sight that serves as a lug for a socket bayonet and military style folding leaf rear sight. Factory sling swivels are mounted on the middle barrel band and stock. The carbine style buttplate has a sliding brass trap-door and the butt trap contains a five-piece, jointed, steel cleaning rod. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." in two lines between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. The caliber designation: "44 W.C.F." is roll-stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver. "44 CAL" is stamped in script letters and numerals across the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped; "- MODEL. 1873. - " in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number is roll-stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and lower tang screw. The barrel, magazine, barrel bands, sling swivels receiver and dust cover have a blue finish. The loading port cover is fire blue. The hammer, trigger, lever and carbine buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are oil-finished, straight grain, American walnut. This musket was probably part of the group of 700 Model 1873 Muskets in the 569,000-571,000 serial number range sold by Winchester to Nicaragua in 1903; a large number of these muskets were found in new or near new condition in Central America in and returned to the United States in the 1950s.

ConditionExcellent plus. This scarce musket is all original and remains in near new condition with only traces of storage wear. The barrel, receiver, loading gate and other components retain 98% of the blue finish. Wear is limited to several light scratches on the sides of the barrel bands and two 1/8-inch spots of pitting on the underside of the barrel at the muzzle and on the top of the receiver at the forward edge of the ejection port. The loading gate retains close to 100% of the fire blue finish. The hammer, lever and trigger have virtually all of the muted case colors intact. The buttplate retains 95% of the casehardened finish with some silvering on the heel and toe. The stock and forearm remain in excellent plus condition with all of the original finish and un-handled raised grain. Wear is limited to a few scattered and very insignificant storage marks. This extraordinary Winchester Model 1873 Musket would complement the most advanced collection of Winchester firearms.
Details
ManufacturerWinchester
Model1873
TypeMusket
Serial number
ClassCurio & Relic Long Gun
Caliber / Gauge44 WCF
Barrel30 inch round
Finishblue
Stockwalnut

Item LocationRock Island, IL
Views4974
Catalog page14
Find MoreRelated Items
Lot 17Antique Winchester First Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle
View Lot
Lot 3017Antique Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle in .44-40 W.C.F
View Lot
Lot 37Maine State Prison Marked Antique Winchester Model 1873 Rifle
View Lot
Lot 255Antique Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle
View Lot
Show More