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Excellent Winchester Third Model 1873 Lever Action Musket

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,750.00 USD Estimated At:5,500.00 - 7,000.00 USD
Excellent Winchester Third Model 1873 Lever Action Musket
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Estimate: $5500 - 7000
Winchester Third Model 1873 Musket manufactured in 1903. The musket has the distinctive 30 inch barrel with full-length forearm and three barrel bands, block front sight base that serves as a lug for a socket bayonet, military style folding leaf rear sight and carbine buttplate. The middle barrel band and stock are fitted with sling swivels. The frame has the Third Model integral dust cover rail and a dust cover with serrated edges. The buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor. The butt trap contains a four-piece jointed steel cleaning rod. The barrel, magazine, barrel bands and frame have a commercial blue finish. The loading gate and rear sight spring have a fiery niter blue finish. The hammer, loading lever and buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The forearm and stock are straight grain black walnut with a varnish finish. 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." between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. The caliber "44 W.C.F", is roll-stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the frame. "44 Cal." is roll-stamped in script letters on the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. "{MODEl 1873}" is roll-stamped on the upper tang in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number "571170B" is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and the upper tang screw. This musket is one of an order of approximately 700 Model 1873 Muskets shipped to Central America (Nicaragua) in September 1903. In the 1950s a number of these muskets were discovered in the original crates in un-issued condition and were returned to the United States.
BBL: 30 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44-40 WCF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 571170B
Condition: Excellent. The musket appears to be un-used and retains 95% plus of the original finish with only minor storage wear. The barrel, magazine and barrel bands have nearly all of the commercial blue finish. The receiver and side plates are partially covered with a thin coat of hardened packing grease. There are several very small spots of pitting on the sides of the receiver and side plates. The pitting is barely noticeable and does not detract from the appearance of the musket. The hammer, lever and buttplate retain at least 98% of the color casehardened finish and the case colors are vivid. The sides of the lever are slightly discolored from dried packing grease. All of the markings on the barrel and receiver are extremely sharp. The forearm is excellent plus; wear is limited to two minor storage bruises on the right side near the edge of the receiver and a shallow scratch on the left side near the edge of the receiver. The stock is also excellent plus; the only wear is two shallow storage marks on the right side. This is an attractive example of a Winchester Third Model 1873 Musket in excellent condition with only very minor storage wear.