Make: Winchester

Model: 1873

Serial Number: 327419B. 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: 1890

Caliber: .44-40 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 blade has had a notch cut at the top-rear corner. The rear sight is a flat-top "U"-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The notch was fine-adjustable for elevation, but the cut to flat-top configuration is across the adjustment screw-hole. 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. The forend is broken across the bottom-right and has been repaired. There is a patch-repair at the heel. The LOP measures 12 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has mostly worn to white with scattered oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in Good Plus condition as refinished and repaired Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original, some screws have been replaced.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling is generally well defined. There is light-moderate erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates 4 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 5% of its metal finish. There is some finish remaining in protected areas and around raised features. Most surfaces have worn or been cleaned to white. There is scattered discoloration from oxidation and spots of surface erosion. There are several scattered 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, but legible. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition as Antique (see Mechanics).

Mechanics: The lever safety is stuck inside the top tang. The hammer has only one notch, it appears to be between the normal safety notch and full-cock, causing the hammer to drag on the bolt when closing. Otherwise, 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, 44 caliber, octagonal barrel, plain trigger, received in warehouse February 12, 1890 and shipped March 15, 1890 on order number 10242.

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 .44-40 WCF round was Winchester’s first metallic centerfire cartridge, and was the premier Old West frontier caliber. 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 .44-40 WCF and was made in 1890. This was the heyday of the '73, just two years before the 1892 would be introduced and mostly supplant its predecessor. The rifle shows wear consistent with its age and has a couple of mechanical issues with its lever-safety and the hammer's sear-notches. This rifle would be a neat 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.