Make: Winchester

Model: 1873, 3rd Model

Serial Number: 266647

Year of Manufacture: 1888

Caliber: .38-40 Winchester

Action Type: Lever Action with Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 28", Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade in a slotted base dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "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 walnut with nosecap, straight grip, straight comb, and crescent steel buttplate with sliding door over a storage compartment, nothing in the compartment. The forend has a few very small losses around the front edge and a larger loss at the top-rear corner on the right. There are tiny losses at the top-front corners of the wrist. There are notable cracks at the toe with a couple of tiny cracks at the corners of the buttplate's tang. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. The LOP measures 12 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a fairly even patina with some light wear and scattered surface erosion. Overall, the stocks are in Good-plus condition as refinished Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is dark with generally well defined rifling. There is moderate-heavy erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 4/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 5% of its metal finish. There is a little finish scattered along the bottom-left barrel flat. The surfaces have gone to a fairly uniform moderate-dark patina. There is some surface erosion along the top of the receiver including the tang with infrequent other scattered erosion. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is a cluster of more notable dings on the rear of the barrel, immediately in front of the receiver. There are tool marks at some screw heads, most notable at the sideplate screw. The dust cover is loose enough on its rail that it can slide up and over the front of the ejection port. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with questionably usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete, there is no visible caliber marking on the lifter. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly, however the dust cover is loose as noted above. 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: A Cody Firearms Records Office search is included confirming original configuration.

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. The .44-40 Win. cartridge, also known as the .44 WCF, was introduced by Winchester in 1873 as Winchester's first metallic centerfire cartridge. Colt produced a single action revolver chambered for this cartridge in 1877. Through law enforcement use and hunting, and made popular through its dual use in rifle and pistol, the .44-40 soon became the most popular cartridge in the United States.

This Model 1873 was made in 1888 during the heyday of the model, a few years before the Model 1892 would supplant it. It has a 28" octagonal barrel chambered for .38-40, a cartridge developed by Winchester from the .44 WCF necked down to about .40 caliber. The barrel length makes this quite an interesting find for collectors, a special order feature 4" longer than the standard rifle barrel. The rifle shows its age but is a neat example of the Model to add to your collection. Please see our photos and good luck!