3110

Highly Desirable Factory Engraved and Rare Documented First Model First Variation Winchester Model 1

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:7,000.00 USD Estimated At:14,000.00 - 22,500.00 USD
Highly Desirable Factory Engraved and Rare Documented First Model First Variation Winchester Model 1
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Highly Desirable Factory Engraved and Rare Documented First Model First Variation Winchester Model 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine From The James Gordon Collection

Winchester First Model 1873 Carbine with Winchester Factory Letter (photocopy) that states this carbine was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on March 23, 1874. Early production Model 1873 Carbines are rare. This exact Model 1873 SRC is photographed on the bottom of page 352 of "Winchesters New Model of 1873 A Tribute" Volume II by James D. Gordon. Author James Gordon identified six First Model, First Variation Model 1873 Carbines in his survey of 3,847 Model 1873 Rifles and Carbines. This carbine has the distinctive early features that include the receiver with integral dust cover, raised oval dust cover thumbprint, trigger with integral pin and no block first style non-adjustable leaf rear sight, upper barrel band with integral front sight blade, threaded magazine cap and carbine buttplate with sliding iron trap. The lower tang has the distinctive script two-line model designation and factory engraved serial number marking "MODEL 1873/331" found only on early Model 1873 rifles and carbines. The upper tang is not marked. The barrel is roll-stamped with the Type II marking "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860" ahead of the rear sight. The brass cartridge elevator is not marked. A staple mounted saddle ring is attached to the left side of the receiver.

Manufucture: Winchester
Model: 1873
BBL: 20 Inch
Stock: walnut
Guage: 44 WCF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 331

About good. The carbine is all original. The barrel, magazine, receiver, hammer, lever and buttplate have a dark untouched patina. The surfaces of the barrel and magazine are smooth and free from pitting and the barrel markings are crisp. The edges of the receiver that retain the dust cover are worn. The raised oval thumbprint on the dust cover is worn smooth. The side plate edges are worn and the side plates and sides of the receiver have scattered light pitting and handling marks. The model and serial number markings on the lower tang are light but legible. There is light pitting on the lever and the sides of the hammer. There is some light pitting on the buttplate. The walnut stock and forearm are good-very good and show light-moderate handling wear. Model 1873 Carbines were working guns that typically saw hard service on the frontier. Experts estimate that the survival rate for early production Model 1873 Winchesters is less than 10%. As James Gordon's survey published in "WINCHESTER NEW MODEL of 1873" indicates, the survival rate for First Model, First Variation Winchester 1873 Carbines is lower still. This is a one-time opportunity to add a rare First Model, First Variation, Model 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine to an advanced Winchester collection. This is a "Holy Grail" variation of Winchester Model 1873s, second only to the One of One Thousand!