Make: Winchester Repeating Arms Co.

Model: 1873, 3rd Model

Serial Number: 316720

Year of Manufacture: 1889

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

Action Type: Lever Action with Full-Length Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 20”, 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 an M1873 folding ladder-style sight presenting a "V"-notch when down and with a "V"-notch slider on a ladder arm graduated from 2-8 in hundreds of yards. 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 door over a storage compartment (nothing in the compartment). The forend is the shorter 8 1/2" length used on rifles with shorter than standard barrels. The stocks have scattered weathering and open grain lines. There are cracks around the edges of the wrist. There are losses along the top edges of the forend, most notable on the left. There are losses around the top of the wrist that have been sanded, a fill in the right of the wrist at the top-front, fills on the right of the buttstock over the bottom tang and a fill in the belly. There is a repaired chip-loss at the toe. There are notable dings on the right of the comb. The LOP measures 12 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a moderate-dark patina with scattered. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition as refinished and repaired Antique.

Type of Finish: No finish remains.

Finish Originality: Some areas show signs of aggressive cleaning, but we see no evidence that a new finish was applied.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling is well defined. There is erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 5 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains none of its metal finish. The surfaces have worn or been cleaned to white with some areas going to a light patina. There is scattered surface erosion and some pitting. There are several nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is a bulge in the bottom of the lifter from the lifter arm. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this rifle is in Good-plus 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 an integral rail, typical of the Third Models. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a vintage leather scabbard and a Cody Firearms Records Office records check indicating that this rifle's serial was applied November 4, 1889, was received in warehouse in its current configuration November 23, 1889 and shipped the same day on order 5852.

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.

This is an 1889 vintage rifle in an interesting configuration. The standard rifle had a 24" barrel, but shorter barrels could be special ordered. This example was produced with a 20" octagonal barrel and exhibits the shorter forend found on these "short rifles". The rifle shows its age, but its scarce configuration will be attractive to Winchester fans. It deserves a spot in a collection of lever action rifles next to its 1866 and 1876 cousins. Please see our photos and good luck!