GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXTREMELY RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 TRAPPER CARBINE ONE OF ONLY FOUR KNOWN TO COLLECTORS IN THIS CALIBER. WINCHESTER 1873 TRAPPER CARBINE 604237B 44 WCF MODERN; C&R Cal. 44 WCF. 14" bbl. Blue finish. Saddle ring. Straight grained American walnut stocks with carbine butt. Bbl has standard carbine front sight with ladder type rear sight that is marked "1873" on top. Standard Winchester 2-line bbl address that is behind the front sight and in front of bbl band which is correct for this model. "WP" proof in a circle at breech end on top of bbl. "44 W.C.F" stamped on left side of bbl at breech. Receiver is of the "stepped" type usually found on smaller caliber carbines but on Trapper models during this period of production is absolutely correct. Forward ring of receiver shows "WP" proof in circle. Receiver has sliding dust cover with smooth top and serrations on either side at rear. Cartridge elevator is stamped "44 CAL." Upper tang is stamped "MODEL 1873" over "WINCHESTER" over "TRADEMARK. REG. IN U.S. PAT. OFF." Lower tang is marked with SN at the rear end. Buttplate is unmarked. Compartment in buttplate contains 3 50 peso Mexican bank notes from the period of the Mexican Revolution. Accompanying this carbine is a letter from the Cody Firearms Museum confirming the caliber and bbl length and type of this carbine. Letter shows that it was received in warehouse on March 1, 1906. The shipping date and order no. was blank on record. Also included is a letter from the BATFE exempting this firearm from the provision of the National Firearms Act which makes bbl with a length of less than 16" against the law to possess. Letter is signed by Earl Griffith, Chief, Firearms Technology Branch. CONDITION: Very good for this model of carbine. Bbl and magazine tube both retain an even plum-brown finish overall. Magazine tube has a small dent on left side. Bbl address is very sharp and clear. Winchester proof mark and caliber mark are also sharp and clear. Sights are very good with clear markings. Rear sight is slightly pitted. Bore is somewhat dark with strong rifling and a powder stain about an inch and a half in muzzle. Receiver is a gray-brown patina overall with some roughness on either side of the mortise and some denting on right side in front of loading gate and beside side plate. Left side of receiver shows a saddle ring shadow. Screws are good. Side plate screw is a replacement. Dust cover is a plum-brown patina with some speckling and high point wear. Dust cover rail has some small dents and receiver is also dented behind rail in front of hammer. Dust cover may be a replacement but is definitely of Winchester manufacturing. Loading gate is somewhat pitted. Hammer is an even brown patina overall with some erosion on either side and very sharp checkering. Lever is a plum-brown patina overall with some dents on bottom outside below trigger. Tang screw is a replacement and is slightly marred. Elevator has a sharp caliber mark and has been lightly cleaned. Stocks are very good and full-sized with numerous mars and dents overall especially toward heel of buttstock. Stock has a couple of small cracks behind rear tang. Buttstock has a couple of burn marks behind the lower tang. Forestock is battered with a couple of small cracks in front of band. Bbl bands are both an even plum-brown patina. This is an extremely rare model 73 44 cal. Trapper carbine with a 14" bbl. In Jim Gordon''s book, "Winchester Model 1873, A Tribute", Jim was only able to locate 3 carbines in this bbl length and caliber in his survey of hundreds of model 73 Winchester carbines. Mr. Gordon was not able to obtain a picture of any of those guns for his book on the subject. A unique opportunity to obtain a extremely rare Winchester Trapper carbine. 49766-3 TEP (12,000-15,000)