Make: Winchester
Model: 1873
Serial Number: 27364
Year of Manufacture: 1877
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester
Action Type: Lever Action with Full-Length Tubular Magazine and Set-Trigger (see Mechanics)
Barrel Length: 26", Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman steel blade dovetailed and screw-set to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "U"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The sights are not original to the gun. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight, none present.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate with a sliding door, there is no storage compartment under the door. The stocks have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The LOP measures 12 7/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with scattered light nicks and scratches. Overall, the stocks are in Fine-plus condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original to the parts, the magazine tube is not original to the gun, some screws have been replaced.
Bore Condition: The bore is dark with well defined rifling. There is scattered light-moderate erosion and pitting in the bore with more notable erosion and pitting toward the muzzle-end. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 4+/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 10% of its metal finish. Strongest finish is on the replacement magazine tube with a little blue remaining on the bolt, loading gate, and trigger. Other surfaces have mostly worn or been cleaned to white with some areas going to a light patina. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with most notable scratching on and around the forend cap. There is infrequent minor surface erosion. There are tool marks at some screws. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good condition as Antique and not all parts-original.
Mechanics: The trigger cannot be set. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a Winchester Factory Records letter indicating that this serial number was produced as a Rifle, Octagon barrel, 26", set trigger, received in warehouse November 24, and shipped December 11, 1877 on order number 10815.
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.
This is a quite rare example from 1877, known to collectors as the "Open Top". The dust cover for the Model 1873 went through numerous changes, most notably how it was secured to the receiver. First models had covers which slid in a mortise integral to the receiver around the ejection port, 2nd Models had a rail screwed to the top of the receiver, and 3rd had a rail integral to the receiver. From serial 27200 to 17999, some 800 rifles were produced which had no provision for a dust cover, at all. It is believed this is related to a patent held by S.G. Bayes for the dust cover, causing Winchester to produce the Model 1873, and introduce the Model 1876, without any dust cover until the patent suit was settled. This makes the Open Top one of the most rare variants of the Model, a great addition to a Winchester or lever action rifle collection, especially if you want a good example of each version of the Model 1873. Please see our photos and good luck!
