GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
SCARCE SPECIAL ORDER INSCRIBED WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.WINCHESTER187325590138 WCF (38-40)Cal. 38 WCF (38-40). Standard grade rifle with 24-1/4" oct to rnd bbl, button magazine, half nickel front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Carrier is engraved with the initials "J.S.". Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate that has a trap. Receiver is third type with integral dust cover rail and third type dust cover. Receiver is also small bore type with stepped receiver ring as found only on those ''73 rifles in calibers 38, 32 and 22. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in caliber 38 with half oct bbl, half magazine and plain trigger, received in warehouse January 23, 1888 and shipped April 11, 1888 to order number 6715. This rifle was produced at a time when the west was still wild and the daily use of a firearm was commonplace. Firearms of that era usually saw very hard service, often with little maintenance and are rarely found today with high orig finish. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about 90% strong orig blue with a small area of flaking just in front of the forearm and scattered spots of surface discoloration, otherwise shows only very fine sharp edge wear. Receiver and side plates retain about 90-92% orig blue with sharp edge wear and some light cleaning on the sides, turning plum over the top and bottom. Hammer retains bright case colors on the sides, moderately faded on the edges. Lever retains faded case colors on sides, turned silver and dark on outer faces. Buttplate is a purpley/brown patina. Wood is sound with a couple of gouges on the buttstock and light nicks & scratches elsewhere, and overall retains about 93-95% orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp. Very bright shiny bore. Shows very little use, just poor storage. 49432-6 JR (4,000-6,000)