GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. WINCHESTER 1873 252302B 32-20 Cal. 32 WCF (32-20). Standard grade rifle with 24-1/4" oct to rnd bbl, full mag, half nickel front sight, fine V-notch rear sight and Lyman tang sight with Duplex aperture. Mounted with uncheckered, nicely figured American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate without trap. Receiver is small bore, 3rd type with stepped receiver ring, integral dust cover rail with 3rd type dust cover. Accompanied by Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in Cal. 32 with 1/2 oct bbl and plain trigger, received in warehouse Nov 1, 1887 and shipped Nov 3, 1887 with two other arms to order # 742. These small bore rifles of that era were usually considered to be boy's or ladies' small game rifles and are most often found with little or no orig finish. Seldom do we see one in this condition with the added attraction of a half octagon barrel and a full magazine combination. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about 92-93% orig blue showing sharp edge and muzzle end wear with thinning and turning brown over the chamber area and portions of the round area. Mag tube retains about 90% orig blue, thin on the bottom. Receiver and sideplates retain about 90% thinning orig blue. Dust cover is a blue-brown patina. Lever and hammer retain strong case colors, turning silver on outer faces of lever. Buttplate is a brown patina. Forearm has a small crack by the left bbl channel, otherwise wood is sound with a chemical streak down the comb of stock and down the bottom from lower tang with light nicks and scratches. Buttstock and forearm retain most finish. Dust cover, probably an old replacement does not catch the bolt on opening, otherwise mechanics are crisp. Strong bright bore with light pitting. 51742-2 JRL (4,500-6,500)