3124

Fine Winchester .22 Long Third Model 1873 Sporting Rifle with Scarce Round Barrel

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:0.00 USD Estimated At:6,500.00 - 9,500.00 USD
Fine Winchester .22 Long Third Model 1873 Sporting Rifle with Scarce Round Barrel
This is an example of a very fine Winchester .22 caliber Model 1873 Rifle that was manufactured in 1889. The rifle has the distinctive .22 caliber receiver with no loading gate and stepped top. The magazine has the early style, heavy steel, cartridge stop rings The rifle has a round barrel with fixed blade, nickel-silver front sight and sporting style rear sight. A Marble folding combination rear sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The third style receiver has an integral dust cover rail and dust cover with seriated edges. The rifle has a blue finish with casehardened hammer, loading lever and crescent steel buttplate. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut with a low-luster 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." ahead of the rear sight. The caliber: "22 LONG" is stamped on the top of the barrel is front of the receiver. The bottom of the cartridge elevator is engraved: "22 CAL/LONG". The serial number, "290621B" is located on the lower receiver tang behind the lever latch. Most .22 caliber Model 1873 Rifles were manufactured with octagon barrels; .22 caliber rifles with round barrels are very scarce.
BBL: 24 inch round
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 22 long
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 290621
Condition: Very fine. The barrel, magazine and forearm cap have 80% plus of the original blue finish. The finish is thin on the left side of the magazine and the blue has a slight plum patina. There are some minor scratches or wrench marks on the left side of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. The receiver retains most of the bright blue finish with some handling wear on the top and upper left side. The side plates have some edge wear but retain 90% or more of the original finish. Nearly all of the casehardened finish is present on the hammer and loading lever. The case colors on the buttplate have faded to a silver-gray patina. The stock and forearm are in very fine condition with most of the original varnish finish and some scattered, minor, handling marks. The bore has strong rifling. All of the markings are crisp. This is a very fine example of a Winchester Third Model 1873 Rifle in caliber .22 Long with a scarce round barrel.