Make: Winchester

Model: 1873 Rifle, 1st Model

Serial Number: 696

Year of Manufacture: 1874

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

Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 24″ nominal, 24 1/4" measured, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel, the bead is missing. The rear sight is a two-position folding sight, presenting either a square notch or a taller leaf with a "V"-notch aperture and a square notch at the top. The sights are not original to the rifle. 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 steel forend cap, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate with a sliding door over a storage compartment (nothing in the compartment). Each side of the buttstock is stamped "W. C. CO." (Western Costume Co.). The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There are a few more notable gouges. There are cracks and losses at edges. The forend is broken along the bottom. There are two small holes in the belly. The wood is generally shy to the metal. The LOP measures 12 5/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has generally strong finish over light-moderate erosion with wear at the heel and toe. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition as refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Refinished, likely while in use by Western Costume Co.

Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is well defined. There is erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates 4+/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its current metal finish. There is even light erosion under the finish with the balance mostly in scattered light oxidation. There is a patch of wear on the right sideplate. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with tool marks at some screw heads and at the rear sight dovetail. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings are generally clear, some are worn, but legible. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: 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: 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.

This is a very early example, serial 656, and has likely had a very interesting life. The receiver and stocks bear the marking of Western Costume Co., a costume and prop rental company founded in 1912. Like the rifle, Western Costume was among the first of its kind, pivoting to rentals rather than sales after producer William Fox tried to return his purchases when he was done filming. It's hard to say what productions this rifle may have been in, Western Costume items were featured in Stagecoach, The Lone Ranger, How The West Was Won, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Little House on the Prairie, Maverick and True Grit. This rifle would be a nice addition to any collection, especially with its Hollywood history. Please see our photos and good luck!