Make: Winchester

Model: 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine

Serial Number: *34458B (first digit illegible)

Year of Manufacture: Circa 1884–1885 (Antique)

Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (.44 WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Full-Length Tubular Magazine

Markings: A faint Winchester barrel address is visible on the top flat forward of the rear sight. The upper tang bears a partial “Model 1873” marking. The lower tang is marked “*34458B”, with the first digit no longer legible. The left side of the receiver retains its original saddle ring mounted on a staple. No caliber markings are visible.

Barrel Length: 20”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade integral to the front barrel band. The rear sight is a three-leaf express-style sight with one fixed and two folding leaves, likely a field-modified replacement for the standard ladder-style carbine rear sight. No ladder or elevator base is present.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The rifle is mounted with its original straight-grip walnut stock and matching forend. The wood shows heavy weathering and deep patina consistent with prolonged field and saddle use. The right side of the buttstock features traditional Native American incised geometric carvings, including a left-facing hooked cross and a cluster of four red-ochre-filled diamonds. Rows of domed brass tacks are embedded along the forend and buttstock. There is a crack at the left cheek of the butt and material loss at the wrist behind the upper tang. A crack is also visible in the forend behind the rear barrel band. Both the front and rear barrel bands are drilled for screws, though none remain installed. Despite its wear, the stock remains solid, and the symbolic adornments are clearly visible.

Type of Finish: Blued (Worn to Patina)

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is dark and oxidized, with no visible rifling remaining. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 3/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle rates Good as Antique. The metal surfaces have turned to a deep brown patina, with scattered areas of oxidation and pitting throughout the barrel, magazine tube, and receiver flats. The side plates show signs of handling and field wear. The tackwork remains firmly in place and undisturbed. The saddle ring is intact. Though cracks are present in the wood and material has been lost at the wrist, the rifle remains structurally stable and visually compelling.

Mechanics: The action functions. The lever cycles with tension, the hammer holds at full cock, and the trigger releases the hammer as intended. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle includes an original auction invoice from Morphy Auctions, who handled the sale at Brian Lebel’s Old West Events Auction on June 22, 2024, where it sold as Lot #1390.

Our Assessment: This Winchester Model 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine is an evocative example of the rifle that truly won the West—personalized and carried beyond the factory by the original users of the land. Chambered in .44-40 and configured in the classic 20” carbine format, this rifle saw frontier life and survival firsthand. What elevates it beyond a typical 1873 is the extensive Native American modification: deeply patinated brass tack decoration, incised and red-filled carvings, and a non-standard rear sight tailored for use in the field. The hooked cross and diamond designs carved into the buttstock reflect pre-20th-century Plains tribal motifs—symbols of protection, balance, and identity.

Its condition tells the rest of the story. The bands are drilled for screws, possibly to affix it to a scabbard or saddle. The stock is cracked, the bore is worn smooth, and material is missing at the wrist. But the saddle ring still swings freely, and the spirit of this rifle remains intact. This wasn’t a wall-hanger—it was used, carried, modified, and possibly honored in ways we’ll never fully understand.

With verified auction provenance from Morphy's handling of Brian Lebel’s Old West Events, this is a museum-worthy example of a rifle that straddles the boundary between Western expansion and Native resilience. For collectors of frontier arms, ethnographic weaponry, or historically adorned Winchesters, this piece represents something rarer than condition: authenticity.