Make: Winchester

Model: 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine, Second Model

Serial Number: 35867

Year of Manufacture: 1878 / Antique

Caliber: .44-40 WCF

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Full Length Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 19"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a shallow blade integral to the barrel band. The rear sight is a L-type flip sight which presents a fixed V-notch and another leaf with a cutout v-notch in the center and another at the top marked for 300 Meters and 500 Meters.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel carbine buttplate with storage compartment door. There is no storage compartment in the buttstock behind the door. The buttstock is brass tack decorated. There are scratches, nicks, scuffs, compressions, and scrapes throughout the stocks. There is a chip on the right side of the forend at the front along with some losses. There are two small cracks in the bottom of the forend at the front. The buttplate is very proud to the buttstock. There is a loss at the rear of the upper tang on the wrist along with some small cracks around the wrist at the receiver and lower tang. The wrist has been wrapped rawhide. The LOP measures 12 1/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has taken a general dark patina and erosion throughout. The stocks have been heavily sanded and refinished. Overall, the stocks are in Fair to Good condition as customized Antique.

Type of Finish: Case, Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is dull with defined rifling where not interrupted by erosion. There is light to mild erosion throughout with some more notable pitting toward the muzzle end. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about none of its finish. Most of the finish has taken to a deep dark mottled patina. There is scattered erosion throughout. There are some heavy scratches and nicks. The screw heads are tool marked with serviceable slots. The markings are generally clear. The saddle ring loop is a little loose. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fair condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions properly. Sometimes the lever gets hung up when trying to close the action but releases and functions properly when played with a little. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: This Winchester Model 1873 Second Model Saddle Ring Carbine, manufactured in 1878, reflects the hard service life of the “Gun That Won the West” during the height of the frontier era. Chambered in .44-40 W.C.F. and configured as a 19 inch carbine, this rifle embodies the utilitarian form carried on horseback and used across the American West.

Per consignor, this carbine was obtained by the Garcia family at the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation and was later displayed at the Stovall Museum Collection in Anaheim, California, adding a compelling layer of Southwestern provenance. Overall, this is an evocative frontier-used Winchester that prioritizes history and narrative over condition, offering a tangible connection to late 19th century life in the American Southwest.