GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
WINCHESTER 1873 LEVER ACTION MUSKET. WINCHESTER 1873 MUSKET 571448 44 WCF (44-40) MODERN; C&R Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Third Model Musket with 30" rnd bbl, full magazine, square base front sight/bayonet lug and 900 yard musket ladder rear sight. Receiver is third type with integral dust cover rail and third type dust cover. Mounted with uncheckered, nicely figured, straight grain American walnut with full length forearm, three bands and straight stock that has carbine/musket buttplate with trap. Accompanied by an orig triangular socket bayonet without scabbard. The third model was the highest production of the Model 1873. Total production for the 1873 was about 720,610 rifles, carbines and muskets in 4 different calibers. According to The Winchester Book, Madis, only about 5% of that total (about 36,000) were muskets. Winchester was unable to generate any U.S. Military contracts for the '73 musket so most of the production was sold to fill foreign military orders. Sometime in the second half of the 20th century a large cache of these muskets was discovered in Nicaragua and returned to the U.S. still in their original crates. Given the limited production, muskets should be considered quite rare as most of the foreign orders have never returned to the U.S. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Overall retains about 98% crisp, orig factory blue with a small scrape on the right sideplate and 3 or 4 fine scratches on left sideplate. Lever and hammer retain brilliant case colors, lightly faded on lever finger loop. Buttplate also retains brilliant case colors, a little thin on the heel. Wood has 3 or 4 bruises on the buttstock, otherwise is completely sound and retains about all of its orig factory oil finish. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant shiny bore. Appears to be new and unfired. Bayonet is fine with some light surface discoloration. 49432-20 JR (5,500-7,500)