3002

Outstanding Desirable Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action 44-40 Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
Outstanding Desirable Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action 44-40 Rifle
Buyer's Premium is 19.5% by credit card, reduced to 17% if payment is made by cash, check or wire transfer. Contact Rock Island Auction Company to complete your registration with the auction house.
This very fine Winchester Model 1873 Rifle was manufactured in 1890. The rifle receiver is fitted with the integral dust cover rail, dust cover with serrated edges and concealed trigger pin. The rifle has a blued full octagon barrel, full-length magazine, forearm cap and receiver. The hammer, loading lever and crescent buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut with a varnish finish. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail mounted "Rocky Mountain" front sight with nickel-silver blade and a sporting style rear sight with serrated edges and a screw-adjustable sighting notch insert. A Lyman folding combination rear sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The buttplate has a sliding brass trap. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A./-KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866 OCTOBER 16. 1860.-" in two lines ahead of the rear sight and "44 W.C.F." between the rear sight and the receiver. "44 CAL" is stamped in script letters on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The serial number, "374877B" is stamped in script letters on the lower tang between the loading lever and the rear tang screw. The model designation on the upper tang is covered by the tang sight.
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44-40 WCF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 374877B
Condition: Very fine. The rifle retains 85% of the original blue and casehardened finish. The barrel has some light edge wear; the blue finish is thinning and shows some plum brown patina on the upper surfaces between the front and rear sights. The blue finish on the receiver shows some wear on contact points. The side plates have some light edge wear and several hair-line scratches. The hammer and sides of the lever retain most of the color casehardened finish. The case colors on contact points on the lever and crescent buttplate have faded to a silver-gray patina. The markings are crisp. The bore is bright. The stock and forearm are both in very fine condition with light-moderate handling wear. The stock retains most of the original varnish finish; the finish on the forearm shows some contact wear. This is a very fine, completely original example of a .44-40 Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle.