Make: Winchester

Model: 1873

Serial Number: 298667B. The “B” suffix in the serial number denotes a design/production change by Winchester during the manufacturing process of the Model 1873.

Year of Manufacture: 1889

Caliber: .38-40 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Full Length Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 24" Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a German silver blade in a slotted base dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "V"-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a steel forend cap, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate with sliding door over a storage compartment (there is nothing in the compartment). The stocks have scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches with a few more notable dings. There are a few thin cracks around the front edges of the wrist. The LOP measures 12 5/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has gone to a moderate dark patina with some surface erosion. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates 3 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 2% of its metal finish. There is a little finish in protected areas, mostly on the internal parts of the hammer and on the loading gate. Other surfaces have gone to a fairly even light patina with areas worn to white. There are some scattered spots of erosion. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs, and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this rifle is in Good to Very Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is a dust cover mounted on a rail integral to the top of the receiver, typical of the 3rd Models. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a Winchester factory records letter indicating its production as a Rifle, 38 caliber, octagonal barrel, plain trigger, received in warehouse January 7, 1889 and shipped August 14, 1889 with sixty-four other arms on order number 376.

Our Assessment: The famous Winchester lever action repeating rifle, known as "the gun that won the West", had its beginnings in the Volcanic Firearms Company and the later designs by Benjamin Tyler Henry.The Model 1873 had a steel frame that was much stronger than the brass framed Model 1866, allowing Winchester to move away from .44 rimfire and develop the powerful new .44-40 WCF cartridge, as well as a family of other new potent rounds, with Colt usually producing Single Action Army revolvers in the same calibers shortly after they were developed. The Model 1873 has an almost mythical status among firearms collectors, Old West enthusiasts, and fans of the Western film genre, even inspiring the 1950 movie "Winchester '73" starring Jimmy Stewart.

This example is chambered for .38-40 WCF and was made in 1889. This was the heyday of the '73, just three years before the 1892 would be introduced and mostly supplant its predecessor. The rifle shows honest wear consistent with its age, and would be a fine addition to any collection, especially one missing the “gun that won the West”. It deserves a spot next to all of its Winchester lever action cousins.