September 10-12, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/10/2024
According to the factory letter, this rifle was received in the warehouse on September 6, 1884, and shipped two days later with one other arm. Listed as Rifle M/73, octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered stock, pistol grip, case hardened. Caliber is not listed but is a 44. It is now equipped with a rare Winchester 1873 No 62B tang sight, a Winchester semi-buckhorn rear sight, and a German silver tip front sight. Buttplate is case color curved steel with trap and contains a four piece cleaning rod. Magazine tube is full length. Matching assembly number 5407 stamped inside the stock upper tang channel, on the inside of the butt plate, and inside the lower left tang along with XXX, designating the highly figured and finished walnut stocks. CONDITION: Excellent. There are still some bright flashes of color visible on receiver, but they have mostly patterned out; buttplate commensurate. The hammer still has some generous color intact, with flashes on lever, nose cap, and loaded with bright color on lower tang area. The barrel and tube retain at least 90% thinning blue with sharp edges and bold two line Winchester barrel legend with "44 Cal" stamped at breech. The loading gate retains nearly all of the bright nitre blue finish. The stock features the piano finish, sharp checkering, very non offensive minor impressions, and the grip has the ebony inset. The forearm is in as fine condition as the stock, and both are proud to metal. The dust cover still retains generous but thinning blue. The action is smooth. The bore is strong and mirror bright. A stunning Winchester.