GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
FINE HIGH CONDITION WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE WITH FACTORY WORKSHEET.WINCHESTER187371958944 WCFMODERN; C&RCal. 44 WCF (44-40). Standard grade rifle with 24-1/4" oct bbl, full magazine, blued standard front sight with screw and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Receiver is 3rd type and unusually has the small bore "step" at the top front of the receiver ring. This is probably a parts clean up rifle assembled out of remaining, unused parts. Although the Winchester records at the Cody Firearms Museum indicate that the SN was applied in 1917, it appears that this rifle was actually assembled in 1923 when the final clean up of 1873 parts remaining at the factory were assembled into arms. That year there were 18,260 rifles & carbines assembled. Bbl has the late, small letter, 2-line address & patent dates on top left flat with caliber marking on top left flat at the chamber area. Bbl & receiver are marked with the "WP" proof mark. Mounted with nicely figured, uncheckered, slab sawed American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate with trap. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum worksheet which has only the following information: Shipped Sept 25, 1925 to order number 148-18, charged to T.N. Boyd & Son. Also accompanied by 2 boxes of caliber 44 ammunition: 1). Early 2-pc box with green & black label and buff colored paper band that has the line drawing of a cartridge on one end and "WINCHESTER .44 CALIBER, C.F. MODEL 1873" on the other. One side of the band also has the line drawing of a Model 1873 carbine. 2). Full box of Remington/UMC 44-40 smokeless ammo in a rnd corner box with brown & black label having a cartridge on top. Ends of the paper band are marked ".44 WINCHESTER / SOFT POINT / SMOKELESS" and one side of the band pictures a Remington Model 14-1/2 pump action rifle. Box is open and filled with mixed head stamp ammunition. CONDITION: Rifle is extremely fine. Overall retains 98-99% crisp orig blue on bbl & magazine tube with fine spots of pin-prick rust. Receiver & side plates retain about 97-98% crisp orig blue with tiny spots of flaked blue that is turned to patina. Lever, hammer & trigger retain most of their orig blue with some light surface rust & flaking. Buttplate retains 93-95% orig blue, turning a little plum, showing wear on heel & toe. Wood is sound with a few small nicks in the forearm finish and overall retains virtually all of its orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Appears to be new & unfired retaining virtually all of the orig finish on the bolt face. Box 1 ammunition is sealed & wrapped in plastic with a couple of minor chips in the label and some light soil. There is also a small ding in the bottom. Ammunition Box 2 has top label intact with the band showing minor losses, overall is a dark brown patina with light soil. Ammunition is moderately oxidized. 53012-1 JRL (6,000-9,000)