April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
This deluxe checkered, pistol gripped, case colored receiver, deluxe rifle is in very fine condition overall. With a half round-half octagon barrel, this Third Model 1873 has a piano varnish finished stock with highly figured center cut crotch walnut. The assembly number on interior of lower tang matches the stock and buttplate. Features traditional two line Winchester barrel address, sporting blade front sight, and semi-buckhorn elevator adjustable rear sight. Factory research confirms all of the above with the exception that this rifle has a full magazine and research lists it as half magazine. This rifle was original shipped August 5th, 1882 and was reshipped on March 2nd, 1887 as work order 15483, which probably accounts for the change in magazine. CONDITION: The barrel and magazine retain over 80% of their respected faded blue finishes. The receiver retains approximately 30% faded case colors with balance having turned silver. The deluxe stocks retain most all of their varnished finishes with typical wear loss at forearm bottom and wrist from handling. A small chip of wood is missing on the forearm front left side and appears to be a very old and period chip. The bore is very fine with sharp rifling with very slight darkness in the grooves. The mechanics operate properly and smoothly. Special order barrel configurations are a great rarity in the Winchester collecting field. This rifle being a full deluxe with special order triple X wood (as indicated upon the tang), half octagon-half round barrel, and checkered pistol grip stocks add up to make this a superb deluxe .44 rifle.