Make: Winchester Repeating Arms Co.

Model: 1873, 3rd Model

Serial Number: 304322

Year of Manufacture: 1889

Caliber: .38-40 WCF (Winchester Center Fire)

Action Type: Lever Action with Full-Length Tubular Magazine

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. / -KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860.-" and at the receiver with "38 W.C.F.". The bottom tang is marked "304322B". The top tang is marked "MODEL. 1873". The bottom of the lifter is marked "38 CAL.". 

Barrel Length: 24”, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble 34W white beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a Marble's "V"-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation and can be reversed to present a "U"-notch. 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 stocks have some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are a couple of more notable dings in the left of the buttstock behind the wrist and a hole in the belly behind the bottom tang. There is a crack in the left-front of the forend and a loss along the top edge at the right-front. There is a short crack in the left-front of the wrist and another at the rear of the bottom tang across the hole. The LOP measures 12 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has scattered erosion under its generally strong finish. Overall, the stocks are in Good-Very Good condition as refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is light gray. The rifling is well defined. There is minor erosion scattered through the bore and some minor pitting. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 15% of its metal finish. Finish remains in protected areas such as the bottom shoulders of the barrel, the top of the magazine, around the edges of the sideplate, and on the bottom tang where protected by the lever. Most surfaces have worn to white or gone to a light patina. There are some light nicks, scratches, and spots of surface oxidation. There is some residue from the stocks' new finish around the edges of the wood. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, the lifter's caliber marking is worn. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good 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: 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.

This is an 1889 vintage rifle chambered for the .38 WCF cartridge. This was based on the earlier .44 WCF, but necked down to about .40 caliber, using slightly lighter bullets at slightly higher velocity. The rifle has a decent bore, strong mechanics, and shows wear consistent with its age. It deserves a spot in a collection of lever action rifles next to its 1866 and 1876 cousins and may still prove to be a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!