Make: Winchester

Model: 1873 Saddle-Ring Carbine

Serial Number: 210999

Year of Manufacture: 1886

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

Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 20″, Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade integral to a base fixed to the front of the barrel behind the front band. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight, presenting a “V”-notch when folded down with a "V"-notched slider on the ladder graduated from 2-9 in hundreds of yards. The slider is loose on the ladder. 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 banded forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel carbine-style buttplate with sliding-door storage compartment (nothing in the compartment). There is a single brass tack at the right-rear of the buttstock. There are scattered nicks, dings, scrapes and scratches. The forend has a repaired break along the bottom and a crack at the bottom-front. The stock has cracks and losses around the edges of the wrist and butt. The LOP measures 12 7/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has scattered erosion. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition as refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: No finish remains.

Finish Originality: The finish appears to have been intentionally removed. There is no evidence of a new finish being applied. The red plastic magazine follower is a replacement.

Bore Condition: The bore is dark gray. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is light-moderate erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 4/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 0% of its metal finish. The surfaces have mostly been polished to white. There is scattered oxidation and surface erosion. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is notable wear on the magazine cap. There are tool marks at some screw heads. The action shows operational wear. 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 about Good condition as Antique (see Mechanics).

Mechanics: The lever must be squeezed a little bit to engage the lever-safety. The action otherwise 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 was one of the most popular cartridges of the era, able to take game as large as deer.

This example is a saddle ring carbine and looks like it has had a long and useful life. Made in 1886, the rifle still has fairly strong mechanics, though the lever must be squeezed to engage the lever-safety. This would make a neat addition to a Winchester or early cartridge rifle collection, and will display well with its “been there, done that” appearance. Please see our photos and good luck!