Make: Winchester

Model: 1873

Serial Number: 236873B

Year of Manufacture: 1888

Caliber: .44-40 WCF

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Full Length Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 24" Nominal, 24 1/4” Measured, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a globe-style sight dovetailed to the front of the barrel, a tapered-post insert is installed. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn "V"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. 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 capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel crescent buttplate with a sliding brass door covering a storage compartment in the butt (there is nothing in the storage compartment). There is a loss along the top-left edge of the forend. THe stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There are streaks of discoloration extending back from the tangs from oil/solvent, and some discoloration around the edges of the wrist. The LOP measures 12 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a mottled light patina with scattered wear and surface erosion. Overall, the stocks are in Good-plus condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

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

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 10% of its metal finish. Remaining finish is scattered with most surfaces gone to a mottled patina and edges worn to white. There are scattered spots of oxidation and some light erosion. There are tool marks at most screw-heads and some scattered light nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw-heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in Very Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions properly. 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: 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.

The .44-40 Win. cartridge, also known as the .44 WCF, was introduced by Winchester in 1873 as the original chambering for this model. It was very popular in its day and still has a devoted following today among fans of the American West as well as Cowboy Action Shooting competitors.

This Model 1873 Rifle was made in 1888 and looks like it served generations well and survived through them in fairly good shape. The rifle retains strong mechanics and some of its original finish. It has a decent bore given its age and likely extensive use in black powder. In any case, this would be a nice rifle to add to a Winchester collection missing the classic Model 1873. Please see our photos and good luck!