1324

Documented Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Third Model Lever Action Rifle With Desirable 7 Leaf

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:0.00 USD Estimated At:13,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD
Documented Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Third Model Lever Action Rifle With Desirable 7 Leaf
Manufactured in 1897, this Third Model has the distinctive integral dust cover rail machined to the top of the receiver and has the standard two line address reading "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS.NEW HAVEN.CT. / KING'S-IMPROVEMENT- PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." The left side at the breech is marked "44 W.C.F.". The serial number appears on the lower tang and model designation is on the upper tang. The brass elevator is marked "44 CAL". The rifle features the following special order parts; folding Beech globe front sight, seven leaf folding express rear sight and single adjustable set trigger. The rifle is fitted with a plain forearm with a steel end cap and straight grip stock with a steel crescent buttplate with buttstock compartment. Sling eyes have been added to the stock and end cap. The barrel, magazine and receiver are finished blue while the lever, hammer and buttplate are casehardened. The rifle is accompanied by a Cody Museum document dated 1/9/07 listing this as a rifle in 44 caliber, octagon barrel, set trigger and Beech and seven leaf express sights. Remarks state "screw eyes". Many of these scarce seven leaf sight guns were used in Africa for large game hunting. Seldom seen in the U.S.
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 WCF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 507473B
Condition: Very fine. The retains over 80% of the original thinning blue finish high edge wear on the barrel and receiver with the dust cover a smooth gray patina and areas of smooth gray patina on the receiver. The hammer shows some strong vivid original case colors on the sides. The lever and buttplate have a smooth mottled gray patina. A couple of the receiver screws show some minor marring. The wood is excellent retaining almost all of the original varnish and showing only a few overall scattered minor dings and dents. All of the markings are clear. The action is smooth. A very nice Model 1873 with very scarce special order features.