3030

Documented Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Rare Casehardened Receiver and Factory Lett

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:4,250.00 USD Estimated At:8,500.00 - 12,000.00 USD
Documented Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Rare Casehardened Receiver and Factory Lett
Winchester Third Model 1873 Sporting Rifle with Cody Firearms Museum letter. The letter describes this rifle as "casehardened" with a round barrel and plain trigger and states that it was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on November 22, 1882. The rifle barrel, magazine, dust cover and loading gate are blued. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, loading lever and crescent buttplate have a casehardened finish. The walnut stock and forearm have a varnish finish. The rifle has a round barrel and full length magazine. The barrel is fitted with a dovetailed, fixed, front sight with nickel-silver blade and a sporting style rear sight. The third style receiver has an integral dust cover rail and dust cover with seriated edges. The crescent buttplate has a sliding brass trap. 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 29.1865. OCTOBER 16.1860.". The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "- MODEL 1873-" with foliate lettering. The serial number, "103453A" is stamped on the lower tang behind the loading lever latch. There are no caliber markings on the barrel or cartridge elevator. Winchester Model 1873 Rifles with casehardened receivers are rare and extremely desirable.
BBL: 24 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 WCF
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 103453A


Very fine. The rifle shows only storage wear and retains nearly 90% of the original blue and 60% original casehardened finish. The barrel and receiver have scattered, minor, patches of surface rust. The top and right side of the receiver have vivid case colors. The left side plate and bottom of the receiver have a brown patina with muted case colors. The case colors on the loading lever, hammer and lower tang are strong. There are bright case colors on the buttplate heel; the balance of the buttplate casehardening has a muted gray patina. Most of the original blue finish is present on the dust cover and loading gate. The stock and forearm are both in excellent condition with most of the original finish and only scattered light storage wear. This is a very fine example of a completely original Model 1873 Winchester Lever Action Rifle with the rarely encountered casehardened receiver that shows only very limited handling wear.