GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
FINE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.WINCHESTER187320292444-40Cal 44 WCF (44-40). Standard grade 3rd model rifle with 24-1/4" rnd bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate with trap. Receiver is 3rd type with integral dust cover rail and 3rd type dust cover. This rifle was produced about 1886 at a time when the west was still wild and carrying a gun was a daily way of life. These standard grade rifles were the working man's tool and generally saw very hard service in saddle scabbards or wagon boxes and usually with limited or no maintenance. Finding one today with high orig finish is a great rarity. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Bbl retains 96-97% crisp orig blue with some slight thinning toward the muzzle and a couple small spots of surface etching. Magazine tube retains about 98% crisp orig blue. Receiver, side plates & dust cover retain about 98% glossy orig blue with faint sharp edge wear and some minor candy stripping with a couple of small scattered spots on each side. Left sideplate has a series of extremely fine scratches. Lever, hammer & buttplate retain virtually all of their orig case colors, strong & bright on the hammer and sides of lever, moderately faded on outer faces of lever. Buttplate case colors are strong on the tang, faded on the face. Wood is sound with a few light handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains virtually all of its orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, may have been fired but if so very little. 51687-5 JRL (10,000-15,000)