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Excellent Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action 44-40 Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,750.00 USD Estimated At:7,500.00 - 12,000.00 USD
Excellent Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action 44-40 Rifle
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This is an excellent example of a Winchester Model 1873 rifle that was manufactured in 1879. The rifle has a blued barrel, magazine, forearm cap and receiver. The hammer, loading lever and crescent buttplate are casehardened. The straight grain black walnut stock and forearm have a low-luster varnish finish. The round barrel is fitted with a dovetail mounted, standard model front sight with nickel-silver blade and a sporting style rear sight with screw-adjustable sighting notch. The receiver has the Second Model, screw-attached, center guide and late Second Model dust cover with serrated edges. The receiver tang screws are close to the rear edge of the side plate and the trigger is retained by an exposed pin. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped for a tang-mounted rear sight. The hammer is the second pattern with coarse checkering and distinct borders. The buttplate has a sliding brass trap door. 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, 1860. OCTOBER 16. 1860." ahead of the rear sight. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "MODEL 1873" in fancy letters. The serial number, "56183" is stamped in script letters on the lower tang behind the loading lever latch.
BBL: 24 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 WCF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 56138
Condition: Excellent. The rifle retains 97% of the bright original blue and casehardened finish. Finish wear on the barrel and magazine tube is limited to some very minor handling marks; the finish on the top of the barrel and right front side of the magazine is thinning slightly and shows traces of plum brown patina. There is a very shallow dent in right side of the magazine about 7 1/2-inches back from the muzzle. The receiver and side/plates have some very minor handling marks but retain nearly all of the original blue finish. There are a few light scratches and minor handling marks on the dust cover. Nearly all of the fiery niter blue finish on the loading gate remains intact. The receiver screws show most of the original blue finish. The hammer, loading lever and buttplate have nearly all of the original vivid casehardened finish intact. The barrel and receiver markings are very crisp. The stock and forearm are both in excellent condition with very minor handling and storage marks. The varnish finish shows minimal handling wear. This is an excellent example of a Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle chambered in the desirable 44-40 cartridge; these rifles are very difficult to find in this exceptional condition.