GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
SCARCE SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.WINCHESTER18733052744Cal 44 WCF (44-40). Special order standard grade rifle with 24-1/4" oct to rnd bbl, button magazine, globe front sight and short semi-buckhorn rear sight with checkered edges. Receiver is second type with attached dust cover rail and second type dust cover with impressed thumbprint. Receiver has single set trigger. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut that has a straight stock & crescent buttplate. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number "153" with matching assembly number in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. This rifle was produced about 1879 and was likely someone's prized hunting rifle and home defense firearm. Most firearms of that era saw continuous hard service under very adverse conditions, usually with little or no maintenance and are rarely found today with high orig finish. CONDITION: Good, all matching. Bbl retains blue in sheltered areas being mostly a thin blue brown patina with the rnd section having been cleaned showing surface discoloration and scattered rust. Receiver and side plates retain 50-60% thin orig blue, having been cleaned with a coarse material leaving scratch marks in the finish. Lever & hammer retain faded case colors with the lever having light surface rust on the outer faces. Wood is sound with a gouge in the comb and a few scattered light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig oil finish. Set trigger needs adjusting, otherwise mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of pitting. Tang sight plug screws are missing. 51165-2 JRL (3,500-5,500)