Make: Winchester

Model: 1873 Musket

Serial Number: 481050

Year of Manufacture: 1894

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

Action Type: Lever Action with 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.” and at the receiver with “44 CAL”. The lower tang is marked “481050B”. The upper tang is marked “MODEL. 1873.”. The bottom of the carrier is marked “44 CAL.”. 

Barrel Length: 30", Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tapered blade integral to a rectangular base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder-type with “V” notch when folded down and a “V”-notched slider on a ladder marked from “2” to “8” when folded up. There is a small “V” notch in the top of the ladder. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with nosecap, two barrel bands, straight grip, straight comb, carbine-style steel buttplate with sliding door, a sling swivel in the belly and another mounted to the forward barrel band. The stock has a storage compartment behind the sliding door in the buttplate with a five-piece cleaning rod in the compartment. The stocks have some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. The most notable dings are in the left of the buttstock toward the rear. There is a notable scratch on the right-rear of the forend. There are a few tiny losses around the edges of the wrist and butt. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 12 7/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has been polished to white with scattered minor erosion. Overall, the stocks rate in Very Good-plus condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some scattered light erosion and infrequent pitting. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 40% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has mostly gone to a mottled patina with some finish remaining around raised features and scattered light oxidation. The receiver has generally strong finish with some scattered light oxidation or voids where oxidation was cleaned out. The lever has some areas of good case color with most surfaces muted. The hammer has generally good color. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. There are light 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 Very Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety position, lever safety, lever lock on the lower tang, and a dust cover on the receiver that slides on an integral rail typical of the Third Models. 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 five-piece cleaning rod stored in the buttstock, a leather sling, and a Cody Firearms Records Office search. The rod has one steel-tipped rammer piece, one patch-loop piece, and three plain rod pieces. The letter shows that this rifle had its serial number applied August 2, 1894, was received in Winchester’s warehouse April 3, 1895 and shipped as a Musket April 26, 1895 on Order Number 11245. 

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. Colt produced a single action revolver chambered for this cartridge in 1877. Through law enforcement use and hunting, and made popular through its dual use in rifle and pistol, the .44-40 soon became the most popular cartridge in the United States. It led to the M1873 Winchester being called “The Gun That Won The West”.

This Model 1873 Musket was made in 1894, has a 30” round barrel chambered for 44-40 and a carbine-style buttplate with sliding-door compartment holding a five-piece cleaning rod. The rifle is in Very Good overall condition as Antique with about 40% of its original finish remaining, a surprisingly nice bore given its age, and strong mechanics. This rifle is 130 years of age, but is still in good shape. The 1873 muskets are not particularly common, consisting of about 5% of total 1873 production, and one in this condition will take a prized spot in a collection of lever action rifles next to its 1866 and 1876 cousins. Please see our photos and good luck!