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Outstanding Rare Deluxe Special Order Winchester 1873 Lever Action Rifle In Rare 22 Short with a Fac

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:7,000.00 USD Estimated At:14,000.00 - 22,500.00 USD
Outstanding Rare Deluxe Special Order Winchester 1873 Lever Action Rifle In Rare 22 Short with a Fac
This Winchester Model 1873 .22 rimfire rifle was manufactured in 1887 and subsequently returned to factory to barrel and mount scope. It has the distinctive .22 rimfire receiver with no loading gate and front-loading magazine tube. The overall condition of this rifle is just fantastic, probably the best 22LR 1873 rifle we have ever offered for sale. This is certainly a special order rifle in that it has the rare half-round, half -octagon barrel, with a Winchester special order globe front sight, with the factory mounted A5 scope (the proof is stamped forward of the rear scope block), and the sporting type adjustable rear sight. The barrel, magazine, forearm cap and receiver have the Winchester rust blue finish with the hammer, loading lever, and crescent steel buttplate have a casehardened finish. The buttplate does not have a trap. The walnut stock and forearm have a varnished finish. The receiver has an integral dust cover rib and dust cover with seriated edges. The top octagon barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A./-KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866.OCTOBER 16.1860-". The top of the barrel is fitted with a set of original Winchester A5 scope blocks with the rear base directly in front of the receiver ring with the Winchester circled "WP" proof "in front of the rear base", with the front base mounted 7.2 inches center to center. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "{MODEL 1873}" with foliate lettering. The bottom of the brass cartridge elevator is engraved: "22 CAL/SHORT" in two lines. The serial number, "24303B" is stamped on the lower receiver tang behind the loading lever latch. The M1873 .22 Rimfire Rifle was the first repeating rifle manufactured in America chambered for the .22 caliber cartridge. Winchester manufactured 19,552 of these rifles between 1884 and 1904. Surviving examples in exceptional condition such as this rifle are extremely scarce.
BBL: 24 inch half octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 22 short
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 243038B


Excellent with 98% original blue finish overall, thinning and showing some light edge and high spot wear overall with more thinning on the sides and underside of the magazine tube. The stock and forend are also both in excellent condition with most of the original varnished finish with some minor handling marks on the left, side of the forend from light use. The Winchester A5 scope also retains 99% of the original blue finish with just a couple of minor scratches from sliding in the mounts. The optics are clear, with exception of the cross-hair a little wavy (which was a common problem with these older rifles). This rifle would certainly be worth doing further research on. Certainly would be a center piece of any advanced Winchester collection.