Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1873

Serial Number: 339943B

Year of Manufacture: 1890

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, CONN. U.S.A. / -KING’S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860.-” in front of the rear sight and “44 W.C.F.” at the rear. The lower tang is marked “339943B”. The upper tang is marked “MODEL. 1873”. The bottom of the lifter is marked “44 CAL.”.

Barrel Length: 24″ Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade 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 with a sliding brass door covering a storage compartment (there is a 4 section steel rod inside). The stocks have some scattered minor marks. There are compressions, nicks, and minor scuffs, primarily found on the left side of the forend. 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 minor wear, most notable on the door over the storage compartment. Overall, the stocks are in Excellent Condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued, with a Case-hardened hammer, trigger, lever, and buttplate.

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is dark gray and the rifling is generally well defined. There is scattered erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its Original metal finish. The finish is generally strong throughout. There are a few marks including a scratch on the right side of the receiver and a small dent on the right side of the barrel about 2/3rds toward the muzzle. There are a few minor nicks along the edges of the barrel’s octagon. There are a few other scattered light marks. There is some muting on the bottom of the lever with some minor freckles, but otherwise the case coloring is strong and vibrant throughout. The screw heads are sharp to slightly tool marked. The markings are generally clear, the caliber marking on the lifter has soft edges. Overall, this rifle is in about Excellent Condition as Original Antique.

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

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None 

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 including the .38-40. 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. The 1873 has a mythic status among both firearms enthusiasts and fans of the Old West in general, even inspiring the 1950 movie “Winchester ’73” starring Jimmy Stewart.

The .44-40 Win. cartridge, also known as the .44 WCF, was introduced by Winchester in 1873 as the original chambering for this model. It was very popular in its day and still has a devoted following today among fans of the American West as well as Cowboy Action Shooting competitors.

This Model 1873 Rifle was made in 1890 and has thrived over the last several generations in excellent vibrant shape. This rifle is original and looks absolutely fantastic for its age. It has a great bore given its age and likely use in black powder. It also has quite strong mechanics. This would be a nice rifle to add to a Winchester collection missing the classic Model 1873.