Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1873 Deluxe, 2nd Model

Serial Number: 85039

Year of Manufacture: 1882

Caliber: .44-40 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, CT. / KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860.". The bottom tang is marked "85039". The top tang is marked "MODEL. 1873". The left of the bottom tang, under the stock, is marked "XX" and with assembly number "4178". The assembly number is also stamped in the top tang inlet of the wrist and inside the buttplate at the toe.

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 top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are “deluxe” two-piece checkered fancy walnut with a capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate with a sliding door over a storage compartment (there is a brass and canvas bore pull-through in the compartment). The stocks have even light handling wear with some scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There is some finish loss in the grip areas and in the buttstock behind the wrist, most notable on the right below the comb. The checkering shows some handling wear, but is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 12 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has mostly muted or gone to a light patina with scattered light oxidation and minor erosion. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good to Fine Condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original

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 6+ out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is wear along the bottom of the magazine tube with worn areas going to a light patina. The barrel has generally strong finish with some scattered light nicks, small scratches, and spots of minor oxidation. The majority of the receiver's case color has muted, but there is decent figuring with some stronger color around the sideplates and on the bottom tang where protected by the lever. The receiver has some light nicks and minor oxidation. There is some good fire-blue on the loading gate with wear in the groove. There is some good blue on the dust cover. The lifter has gone to a mustard patina with the crystalline appearance of old brass. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine 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 a screw secured rail, typical of the Second 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 brass and canvas bore pull-through, and a Cody Firearms Records Office letter indicating this was manufactured as a “Type: Rifle, Barrel Type: Octagon, Trigger: Plain, Checkered Stock, Casehardened, Received in warehouse on October 17, 1882, Shipped from warehouse on October 17, 1882, Order number 125”.

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 Antique Deluxe Winchester Model 1873 (2nd Model) Rifle was made in 1882 and is in Fine Condition. It features a 24” octagonal barrel, 65% of its original blued and case-hardened finish, with generally strong blue on the barrel, good fire-blue on the loading gate, and some good blue on the 2nd model dust cover, and with the majority of the receiver's case color having muted, though there’s decent figuring with some stronger case color around the sideplates and on the bottom tang where protected by the lever, gorgeous “deluxe” two-piece checkered fancy walnut stocks, clear markings, excellent mechanics, and a semi-bright bore with sharp rifling where not interrupted by erosion, and comes with a Cody Firearms Records Office letter indicating this was manufactured as a “Type: Rifle, Barrel Type: Octagon, Trigger: Plain, Checkered Stock, Casehardened, Received in warehouse on October 17, 1882, Shipped from warehouse on October 17, 1882, Order number 125”. This is a beautiful example of a Deluxe 2nd Model Winchester ’73 Rifle, with checkered fancy walnut stocks and a case-hardened receiver, and will take a prized place in even advanced collections.