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SCARCE 1ST MODEL, 2ND TYPE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,250.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 3,500.00 USD
SCARCE 1ST MODEL, 2ND TYPE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.
SN 25486. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Standard grade rifle with 24-1/4" oct bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight and altered, early semi-buckhorn rear sight that has had the upright filed flat. Receiver is first type with mortised dust cover that has impressed thumbprint. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate with trap. Accompanied by a U.S. Cavalry carbine boot with manufacturer's 2-line cartouche on the left side. First Model '73 rifles are fairly scarce and seldom encountered. These were the first truly successful center fire repeating rifles and were quickly adopted by frontiersman, cattlemen & western folks from all walks of life. They usually saw extended hard service on the frontier under extreme conditions usually with little or no maintenance and are rarely found with orig finish. CONDITION: Fair to good. No orig finish remains being an overall silvery brown patina simply from hard use. However, it shows only moderate wear. Loading gate retains dark blue. Wood is sound with numerous nicks, dings & scratches with forearm being a lightly cleaned patina and the buttstock, dark oil stained around the wrist with traces of orig finish and a handworn patina. Mechanics are fine. Strong bore with moderate to heavy pitting. Carbine boot is dry & stiff with a lightly crackled dark oiled finish. Straps are all intact. 4-49594 JR119