1009

Excellent Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Musket

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
Excellent Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Musket
Winchester Model 1873, Third Model, Musket manufactured in 1903. The musket appears to be one of the September 1903 order for 700 Model 1873 Muskets for Nicaragua; a number of these muskets were found in the 1950s in un-fired condition. The musket has a blued barrel, magazine, barrel bands and receiver. The hammer, loading lever and carbine buttplate have a casehardened finish. The walnut stock and full-length forearm have an oil finish. The barrel is fitted with a military style folding leaf rear sight graduated to 800 yards. Sling swivels are fitted to the stock and the middle barrel band. The musket was fitted for a socket bayonet. The musket is a Third Model with integral dust cover rib and dust cover with a serrated rear edge. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the legend: "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The caliber: "44 W.C.F." is stamped between the rear sight and the receiver. The bottom of the cartridge elevator is marked "44 CAL". The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "MODEL. 1873." in fancy script with a decorative foliate design at either end. The serial number, "570363B" is located on the lower receiver tang behind the loading lever latch.
BBL: 30 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44-40 WCF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 570363B


Excellent. This musket appears to be in un-issued condition and shows only wear associated with 50 years of storage. The blue finish on the barrel and receiver is bright and free from handling marks. There are some scattered pitting on the top of the barrel and on the receiver and dust cover. The pitting is scattered over many areas and does not detract from the overall bright appearance of the musket. The rear sight spring and the loading gate retain nearly all of the fiery, niter blue, finish. With 98% of the blue remaining overall and the vivid casehardened finish is also present on the hammer, trigger, loading lever and buttplate with vivid case colors. The oil-finished stock and forearm remain in excellent condition; wear is limited to numerous old storage-related bruises and scratches. This is an excellent example of a scarce, un-issued, Winchester Model 1873, Third Model, Musket with only minor storage wear.