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RARE SMALL BORE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
RARE SMALL BORE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.
SN 235181. Cal. 22 Short. Standard grid rifle with 24-1/4" rnd bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Inside magazine tube is orig. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut and straight stock with crescent buttplate without trap. The Model 1873 was the first repeating 22 rifle produced in the United States with 19,552 rifles produced 1884-1904 in both standard and deluxe versions with both 24" & 26" bbls. Being chambered in 22 rimfire, it was generally regarded as a boys or ladies rifle and cared for accordingly. They usually saw very hard service from these inexperienced shooters and are rarely found with any orig finish. They are almost never found with a good shootable bore. The cleaning rods & equipment at that time were simply not small enough to clean small caliber bores and so the corrosive ammunition of that era became very destructive to the bores. PROVENANCE: Woody Frey Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all orig. Bbl retains about 98% crisp orig blue with a lightly cleaned area on each side of the muzzle. Magazine tube also retains about 98% crisp orig blue with some light scrapes and a wear spot. Forend cap retains 98-99% glossy orig blue. Receiver retains about 99% glossy orig blue with faint sharp edge wear and slight thinning on the belly. Hammer retains bright case colors and the lever bright case colors on the sides, moderately faded on outer faces. Buttplate is mostly faded to silver. Wood is sound with very few, very scattered, tiny storage and handling nicks, one small bruise near the toe and overall retains about all of its brilliant, orig factory varnish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, may be unfired. Given the overall condition of this rifle, it is believed that it is one of the best! 4-48417 JR194