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Documented Very Fine Winchester Third Model 1873 Deluxe Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,750.00 USD Estimated At:5,500.00 - 8,500.00 USD
Documented Very Fine Winchester Third Model 1873 Deluxe Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter
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This is a very fine example of a Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 lever action Rifle that was manufactured in 1883. The rifle is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum factory letter that states it was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on September 25, 1883. The letter describes the rifle as: Casehardened, 38 caliber, with octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered stock with pistol grip and sporting leaf sights. The rifle has a casehardened receiver, hammer, lever, forearm cap and crescent buttplate. The full octagon barrel and full length magazine have a blue finish. The barrel is fitted with a dove-tail mounted, Lyman "Hunting" front sight with ivory bead and a folding adjustable leaf rear sight calibrated to 800 yards and marked "1873". The receiver has the Third Model integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped for a tang-mounted rear sight. The second style hammer has course checkering with distinct borders. The buttplate has a sliding brass trap. The stock and forearm are highly figured, "fancy grain" walnut with "Style H" checkered panels and a high polish "piano finish". The stock pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER"S-REPEATING ARMS.NEW HAVEN .CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped with the third style marking: "{ MODEL. 1873.}" in fancy letters with foliate designs at either end. "38 CAL" is engraved on the bottom of the brass cartridge carrier. The script style serial number, "132593" is stamped on the lower receiver tang behind the loading lever latch reading from the left side of the tang to the right.
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: walnut checkered
Gauge: 38-40 WCF
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 132593
Condition: Very fine. The barrel retains 75% of the original blue finish with very minor wear on the edges and some thinning on the top flat between the rear sight and the receiver. The blue finish on the magazine shows minor handling wear and has faded to a plum-color patina. The casehardened finish on the receiver, side plates, dust cover, hammer and lever retain 70% of the muted case colors with some silvering on the edges and contact points on the receiver and lever. The case colors on the forearm cap have a dark patina and the casehardened finish on the buttplate has a silver patina. The loading gate retains 60% of the fiery niter blue finish. The markings on the barrel and receiver are crisp. The professionally refinished stock and forearm are both in very fine condition. This is an attractive example of a Winchester model 1873 Deluxe lever action Rifle.