GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 SMALL BORE LEVER ACTION RIFLE. WINCHESTER 1873 563494B 22LR MODERN; C&R Cal 22 long. Standard grade rifle with 24-3/8" oct bbl, full magazine with orig 2nd type inside magazine, half nickel front sight with screw and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Receiver is 3rd type with integral dust cover rail & 3rd type dust cover. Receiver is small bore type with stepped top front receiver ring. Mounted with very nicely figured, uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate without trap. Top flat of bbl has standard Winchester & King address & patent dates with caliber marking over the chamber area. Bottom of carrier has the caliber marking. There was a total 720,610 Model 1873 rifles and carbines in 5 different calibers which includes 19,552 rifles (.027%) produced in 22 rimfire, both 22 short and long, with short being the predominant quantity. These rifles were only produced during the period 1884 to 1904 and were the first repeating 22 rifle made in the United States. They were offered in both 24" and 26" bbls with very few of the 26" models produced. This rifle was manufactured in 1902 near the end of production. These small bore rifles were generally considered to have been garden guns or for use by ladies and young boys. They usually saw extreme hard service with little maintenance and are rarely found today with high orig finish or bright bores. The corrosive ammo of those days and lack of small bore cleaning equipment generally resulted in badly eroded bores. CONDITION: Very fine plus. Bbl & magazine tube retain 96-98% strong orig blue with fine sharp edge wear and a small cleaned area on top flat below the bbl address. Receiver retains about 88-90% strong orig blue with candy striping and some light cleaning scratches, primarily on the right side. Left side plate retains about 85% orig blue and the right plate side about 60% thin orig blue. Buttplate is mostly a mottled silver brown patina. Hammer retains about 80% bright case colors and the lever strong case colors on the right side with faded case colors on left side, turned silver on outer faces. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and retains virtually all of its orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Inside magazine is extremely fine. 51378-5 JRL (10,000-15,000)