Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1873, 3rd Model

Serial Number: 224405B

Year of Manufacture: 1887

Caliber: .44-40 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

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

Markings: The left shoulder 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 "44 W.C.F.". The bottom tang is marked "224405B". The top tang is marked "MODEL. 1873". The bottom of the lifter is marked "44 CAL.". The chamber ring and the top-rear of the barrel are each marked with an ovalled "WP" Winchester proof (see Our Assessment). 

Barrel Length: 24” Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble No. 2 beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel; the bead has worn or broken off. The rear sight is a "V"-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled and tapped for a tang sight. The base and arm of a tang sight are installed, but the sight appears to be broken and/or missing parts.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate with a sliding door over a storage compartment (nothing in the compartment). The stocks have some scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There is a crack at the right-rear of the top tang. There is a more notable ding on the right of the buttstock near the toe. The LOP measures 12 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has scattered erosion under its generally strong finish. The fit at the heel likely indicates the buttplate is a replacement. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good Condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original to the parts, the barrel is not original to the frame. The Winchester ovalled “WP” proof mark on both the chamber ring indicates the rifle was sent back to Winchester sometime after 1905.

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright. The rifling is sharp where not interrupted by erosion. There is some scattered light erosion and minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 40% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is wear along the magazine tube with worn areas going to a light patina and with some spots of minor erosion. The barrel has generally strong finish with some scattered nicks, scratches, minor oxidation, and spots of minor erosion. The majority of the receiver has worn to white or gone to a light patina with some stronger finish around the sideplates and on the bottom tang around the trigger. The receiver has scattered nicks, scratches, and minor erosion. The lifter is cracked and bent outward at the bottom-rear edge. 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 and not parts-original. 

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

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. 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 example was made in 1887 and is in Very Good Condition as not parts-original. It retains 40% of its blued finish, strong mechanics, and a semi-bright bore with sharp rifling where not interrupted by erosion. The Winchester ovalled “WP” proof mark on both the chamber ring and top rear of the barrel indicates the rifle was sent back to Winchester sometime after 1905, likely when the replacement barrel was installed, and the entire gun was proofed. The stepped chamber ring on the receiver would typically indicate a .38 or .32 WCF chambering, indicating the installed .44 WCF barrel is a replacement. This is an interesting and sweet example of the classic Winchester ’73 Lever Action Rifle.