Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Rifle
Serial Number: 325883B
Year of Manufacture: 1889
Caliber: .22 Short
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 Lyman blade with a silver-colored bead dovetailed to the front of the barrel, likely an aftermarket replacement. The rear sight is a "V"-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a peep sight, none present.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent-style buttplate. The stocks have several scattered nicks, dings, scrapes and scratches. There is some weathering at the toe. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 12 3/4? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly gone to a moderate patina with scattered erosion in the crescent. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition as Antique
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 4/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 25% of its metal finish. Finish remains mostly in protected areas and around raised features. Most surfaces have gone to an even patina with edges worn to white. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with a cluster of nicks on the top of the receiver between the hammer and dust cover. There is infrequent minor surface erosion. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, the caliber marking on the barrel is shallow. 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: Included is a Cody Firearms Records Office search indicating that this rifle's serial number was applied December 28, 1889, produced as a .22 rifle, received in warehouse February 10 and shipped February 12, 1890 on order 9214.
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 example is chambered for .22 Short, using an improvement on the conversions pioneered by Klein and Carr in 1883. Rather than using the King's patent loading gate, this 1873 has a tube magazine which would be removed from the front to load, familiar to most users of tube-fed rimfire rifles today, and unlike the Klein and Carr guns, the barrel is threaded directly to the receiver rather than using a taper-pin.
The rifle is in nice condition for its age, showing erosion in the bore consistent with the ammunition of its era, but retaining original finish and strong mechanics. This will make a nice addition to a Winchester collection missing the rimfire Model 1873. Please see our photos and good luck!
