GUN FALL 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/4/2016
RARE AND DESIRABLE WINCHESTER THIRD MODEL 1873 RIFLE WITH EXTRA HEAVY OCTAGON "BUFFALO" BARREL AND SET TRIGGER. WINCHESTER 1873 335791B 44 WCF Cal. 44 WCF. 26" heavy oct bbl. Full magazine. Blade front-sight marble's rear-sight. Blue finish. Single set trigger. Straight grain American walnut stocks with crescent buttplate. Bbl measures 1" across the flats at muzzle, while standard oct bbl measures 23/32 of an inch. Edges of bbl flats at breech-end reach nearly to the forward edge of receiver. Sides of forestock and end-cap are very thin compared to standard. Magazine hanger does not fill the bbl mortise. Bbl is rolled with 2-line Winchester address in front of rear-sight with cal mark at breech-end. Receiver upper tang is marked Model 1873 with finials. Lower tang shows SN stamped behind lever latch. No assembly nos. were observed. Elevator is marked 44 CAL. Accompanying this rifle is a Cody Firearms Museum Letter dated March 16, 2008, confirming cal, 26" bbl "extra heavy", and set trigger. Showing shipment on April 10, 1890. Order number 10211. CONDITION: Very good. Bbl shows traces of blue finish overall, that has drifted to a somewhat rough plumb-brown patina, and some pitting on right side in front of forend and at muzzle. Magazine tube is also a plumb-brown patina with some blue showing in protected areas. Bore is frosty with visible rifling. Receiver is a plumb-brown patina with some blue showing in protected areas around the rear sideplates and on trigger guard around lever. Dust cover is a deep plumb-brown patina with some scratches around screw. Tang markings are clear and sharp. Elevator is a deep mustard-brown patina with clear cal mark and a couple small dents and scratches. Hammer shows traces of case color on both sides with sharp checkering. Lever is a dark brown patina with a trace of case color at hinge. Set trigger works. Stocks are very good, full-size, and show a dark brown oil finish overall, with only a few handling marks and scratches. Buttplate is a silver brown patina. Forend is cracked on upper left side which is common with heavy bbl rifles, as the wood is so thin. Forend cap is a gray-brown patina with slight cases of blue and some pitting. 50506-24 TEP (5,000-8,000)