Make: Winchester

Model: 1873 

Serial Number: 3822

Year of Manufacture: 1875

Caliber: .44-40

Action Type: Lever Action with Full-Length Magazine

Barrel Length: 24", Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a berman silver blade in a slotted base dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "V"-notch 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 two-piece smooth walnut with 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 sme scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The LOP measures 12 7/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has generally strong case color, slightly muted with spots of minor oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in Fine condition as Antique

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some light erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 8 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The finish is generally strong. The most notable wear is along the right of the barrel over the forend and patches of wear on the top and right of the barrel around notable surface erosion. There is some other scattered mminor wear. There is some faint surface oxidation. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are tool marks around some screw heads. The lever and hammer have generally good case color, slightly muted. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings are clear, the British proof marks are struck through the finish. Overall, this rifle is in Fine condition as Antique.

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: This rifle comes with a Winchester Factory Records letter indicating that it was produced as a Rifle with a round barrel, received in warehouse April 26, 1875 and shipped April 27, on order 3123.

Our Assessment: One of the most successful, and certainly one of the most famous Winchester rifles was the Winchester Model 1873, known as “The Gun that Won the West” for its predominant role in the hands of Western settlers. The Model 1873 had a steel frame that was much stronger than the brass framed Model 1866, allowing Winchester to develop a family of powerful new cartridges, with Colt usually producing Single Action Army revolvers in the same calibers shortly after they were developed. The .44-40 Win. cartridge, also known as the .44 WCF, was introduced by Winchester in 1873 as Winchester’s first metallic centerfire cartridge with a number of WCF cartridges to follow. Colt produced single action revolvers chambered for the Winchester cartridges as well, allowing users to have a rifle and handgun which shared the same ammunition.

This is an early example, serial 3822, made in April of 1875. The rifle appears to have had a gentle life, retaining the great majority of its original finish, strong mechanics, and a better bore than its age of 150 years would suggest. It has British proof marks indicating that it likely went to England sometime early in its life, perhaps that was where it was originally shipped from Winchester. The rifle's early production and high condition will make it a wonderful addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!