Guns International #: 101303567

Category - Winchester Rifles - Model 1873 - Winchester Rifles - Antique Lever

Category
Winchester Rifles - Model 1873
Winchester Rifles - Antique Lever

Winchester 1873 First Model Rifle

Description:
Sale Pending! Winchester First Model 1873 Rifle with 24" Octagon Barrel and Special Order Single Set Trigger.  This one is in the 13,000 serial range and was made in 1876 according to the Winchester Book by Madis.  This rifle was used on the American Frontier and came from out West.  In the mid-1870's, as the Model 1873 was the best repeating rifle in the world and was the first to use reloadable center-fire cartridges known as the .44 Winchester Center Fire.  One of the big drawbacks of the .44 rimfire Model 1866 Winchester and Henry Rifle was once the ammunition was expended, your 16 shooter was turned into a 10 pound club, as it couldn't be reloaded.  With the nearest hardware store often hundreds of miles away, this made the muzzle loader a bit more practical.  However, with a small reloader and a mold, a Winchester 1873 could be kept in operation as the central primers in the .44 WCF aka 44-40 could be replaced.  As a result, the 44 WCF became known as the "Frontier Caliber".  Being the only caliber offered in the Model 1873, Winchester never got around to marking their rifles "44 CAL" or "44 WCF" until the mid-1880's after the introduction of .38, .32, and .22 cartridges. 
     Being a 1st Model, this rifle has a number of early features only found in early production 1873's.  For starters,  it has the early style mortised dust cover with side rails and a thumbprint on the top...specifically, the long oval pattern which is correct for a 73' in the 13,000 range.  The cover has seen plenty of use but it is original to this rifle and unlike most (which were usually discarded), it is not a modern replacement.  The side plates have the smaller screw which is only found on 1st and 2nd Models before Winchester went with a larger more durable fastener.  The loading port is secured by a screw on the right side plate with a visible head...ports were later secured by an internal screw inside the actionwith a flat head.  From there, the bolt face has a bushing around the firing pin hole and the firing pin is a little longer than 3rd Models.  Also, the magazine tube plug screws into a threaded tube which is only found on 1st and early 2nd Model 1873's.  First Models don't have trigger blocks which are released when the lever is closed and you will notice that this early lever is rounded behind the trigger instead of square shaped.  The other difference around the lever is the screw in lever catch which is the same as the Model 1866 and Henry Rifle.  The rear sight on 1st, 2nd, and early 3rd Models is a bit shorter than the standard later styel semi-buckhorn and the edges are beveled.  There are a number of variants within the short rear sight...this one has the serated edges although some are checkered.  This rifle has all of the correct features a first model should have and the single set trigger still works which is not a necessity, but certainly a bonus when they do still function after 140 years. 
    Condition-Wise, this rifle is in NRA Antique Good++ to Very Good Condition with the metal having turned a smooth patina with good edges and nice legible barrel address and "MODEL 1873" on the upper tang.  The action cycles smoothly.  The original walnut stock and forend are solid with no chips, cracks, or repairs and have very nice wood to metal fit with no signs of refinishing or enhancement.  The buttplate has the sliding trapdoor for the cleaning rods which are absent.  The bore is fair plus condition with visible rifling and some scattered pitting but no rings, bulges, or damage....I would call it a typical black powder era Frontier Bore.  If you're looking for a nice example of 1st Model 1873 Rifle with an octagon barrel (most of the ones we find are typically round barrels), this is a nice original specimen with all of the correct 1st Model features.  Note:  The Model 1875 reloading tool is not included in the sale but is available separately. 

SOLD

Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Winchester
Model: 1873 First Model
Caliber Info: 44-40
Condition: NRA Antique Very Good
Barrel Type: Octagon
Action: Lever
Triggers: Single Set Trigger
Finish: Blued
Manufacture Date: 1876