GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
RARE 1ST MODEL 1873 WINCHESTER CARBINE WITH CASE COLORED RECEIVER. Winchester 1873 3171 44 WCF Cal. 44 WCF. 20" bbl. Blue and case colored finish. Straight grained American walnut stocks. Saddle ring. Bbl shows standard Winchester address that is bordered on top side by "LONDON ARMOURY" and on bottom side by "Ja''s Kerr & Co. 54 King William St.E.C.". Breech end of bbl shows 3 British proof marks on left side. Front sight on bbl band. Rear sight is fold down leaf with "3" & "5" on the longer leaf. Receiver shows British proof at forward left side. Dust cover shows a small oval thumbprint which is correct for this model. Upper tang shows "Model. 1873.". Lower tang shows assembly no. 483 on left side. Receiver side plates both show last 2 digits of SN on the inside. Stock shows assembly no. 483 in the upper tang mortise. Buttplate shows assembly no. 483 at toe on the inside. Compartment in buttstock contains orig 3-pc steel cleaning rod with brass tip. Accompanied by a Cody Museum letter verifying case hardened finish and showing shipment on April 1, 1875 order no. 2826. CONDITION: Fine. Bbl and magazine tube retain 30-40% blue finish overall blending into a smooth plum-brown patina with no roughness whatsoever and only a few slight handling marks. Bbl address and other markings are very sharp and clear. Sights are fine. Bbl bands retain a smooth plum-brown patina with slight high point wear on outer edges. Bore is frosty with some staining and very sharp rifling. Bbl band screws are fine and unmarred. Receiver retains 50-60% of muted case color finish which has silvered out. Case colors on early model 73s were never vibrant to begin with. Side plates retain traces of case color and have turned a very pleasing plum-brown patina. Receiver screws are all fine. Loading gate shows generous traces of blue finish turning a pleasing plum-brown patina. Hammer retains generous traces of case color on either side. Checkering on hammer is very sharp. Lever shows generous traces of case color overall. Lever has some roughness on bottom surface. Trigger is a pleasing plum-brown patina. Engraved SN on lower tang is sharp. Model no. on upper tang is sharp. Buttplate is an even silver-brown patina with traces of case color and slight wear at heel. Buttplate screws are fine. Stocks are fine, full-sized and retain nearly all their orig varnish finish. Buttstock shows numerous handling marks overall with some battering at wrist on both sides possible from a gun rack. Wrist on left side shows saddle ring groove. Forestock is also fine with some handling marks and dents commensurate with age of carbine. Forestock in front of band shows scratches on either side. Forestock also retains nearly all the orig varnish finish. This is an opportunity to obtain a very rare fine condition 1st model Winchester 1873 carbine with an extremely rare case colored receiver. 49766-2 TEP (12,000-15,000)