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Documented Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:0.00 USD Estimated At:11,000.00 - 16,000.00 USD
Documented Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle
This is a very fine Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle that was manufactured in 1888. The receiver has the distinctive stepped front found on smaller caliber M1873 rifles and the integral dust cover rib and dust cover with serrated edges that are characteristic of Third Model 1873 Rifles. The rifle has the very desirable casehardened receiver with casehardened forearm cap, hammer, loading lever and crescent buttplate. The rifle has a half-round/half-octagon barrel with blue finish. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grain, walnut with finely cut, "Style H" checkering and a varnish finish. The bottom of the pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The barrel is fitted with a fixed, nickel-silver, front sight and a sporting style rear sight. A folding graduated peep sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The stock has a cleaning rod trap with sliding brass cover in the buttplate. The trap contains a four-piece, jointed, steel cleaning rod with brass tip. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A./-KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29 1866. OCTOBER 16, 1860.-", ahead of the front sight and "38 WCF" behind it. "38 CAL" is inscribed on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The serial number, "232435" is stamped across the lower receiver tang behind the loading lever latch. The accompanying Winchester letter verifies the rifle configuration, caliber, 1/2 octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, 1/2 magazine, casehardened, that it was received in the warehouse on March 22, 1887 and shipped from the warehouse the next day to order number 16587.
BBL: 24 inch
Stock: deluxe walnut checkered
Gauge: 38 WCF
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 232435
Condition: Very fine. The rifle retains 80% plus of the original blue and 40% casehardened finish. The blue on the barrel has some minor edge wear with some thinning near the muzzle. The loading gate retains most of niter blue finish while the finish on dust cover has faded to a blue gray patina. The rifle's casehardened finish has strong case colors on the receiver sides, side plates and protected areas of the tang, hammer and loading lever. The buttplate and contact areas on the receiver and loading lever have faded to an attractive, silver-gray, patina. The stock and forearm are in excellent condition with crisp checkering and minimal handling marks. There is some minor finish wear on the rear of the forearm behind the checkered panel. The barrel, cartridge elevator and tang markings are crisp.This is a very fine example of a Winchester Model 1873 Deluxe Lever Action Rifle.