Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1873, 3rd Model

Serial Number: 440957B

Year of Manufacture: 1892

Caliber: .32-20 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Full-Length Tubular Magazine

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. / -KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860.-" and at the receiver with "32 W.C.F.". The bottom tang is marked "440957B". The top tang is marked "MODEL. 1873.". The bottom of the lifter is marked "32 CAL.". 

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 capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There are a few more notable dings, most notable on the right of the forend at the top edge under the rear sight. There are some open grain-lines, most notable at the left-rear of the buttstock. The LOP measures 12 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has worn to white with some scattered light oxidation and minor erosion. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition as Refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 3 or 4 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 5% of its metal finish. There is infrequent remaining finish, mostly on the bottom tang where protected by the lever. Most surfaces have worn to white or gone to a light patina. There are scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches with some spots of minor erosion. There are tool marks around some screw heads. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good Condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. There is a lever lock on the lower tang, a lever safety, and a dust cover on the receiver that slides on an integral rail, typical of the Third Models. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a Winchester factory letter from the Cody Firearms Museum confirming this was produced as a “Rifle, 32 caliber, Barrel Shape: Octagon, Plain trigger, Received in warehouse on December 9, 1892, Shipped from warehouse on December 12, 1892, order number 11522”.

Our Assessment: The famous Winchester Model 1873 lever action repeating rifle had its beginnings in the Volcanic Firearms Company and the later designs by Benjamin Tyler Henry. The Model 1873 boasted 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 round (Winchester’s first metallic centerfire 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. It will forever be known as the “The Gun that Won the West” for its predominant role in the hands of Western settlers.

This Antique Winchester Model 1873 Rifle was made in 1892 and is in Very Good Condition. It features a 24” octagonal barrel, 5% of its original blued finish, refinished two-piece smooth walnut stocks with a notable ding on the top edge of the right forend and some open grain-lines at the left-rear of the buttstock, clear markings, solid mechanics, and a dark bore with worn but visible rifling, scattered erosion, and scattered pitting, and comes with a Winchester factory letter from the Cody Firearms Museum confirming this was produced as a “Rifle, 32 caliber, Barrel Shape: Octagon, Plain trigger, Received in warehouse on December 9, 1892, Shipped from warehouse on December 12, 1892, order number 11522”. A departure from the earlier centerfire cartridges, .32-20 WCF was notably smaller, using less lead and therefore destroying less meat, a valuable quality indeed when hunting for sustenance. This Model 1873 was certainly “rode hard and put away wet”, and with its “been there, done that” appearance, it would make a great addition to an Old West or entry level Winchester collection.