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Exceptional Winchester Second Model 1873 Sporting Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:0.00 USD Estimated At:13,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD
Exceptional Winchester Second Model 1873 Sporting Rifle
Winchester Second Model 1873 Sporting Rifle with round barrel and full-length magazine manufactured in 1879. The barrel, magazine, forearm cap, and receiver are blued. The loading gate has a fiery, niter blue finish. The hammer, loading lever and crescent buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The stock and forearm are straight-grain black walnut with a varnish finish. The dust cover guide is secured with two screws and the dust cover has the serrated finger grip found on late production Second Model guns. The knurling on the hammer has distinct borders. The bottom of the cartridge elevator and barrel, correctly, lack caliber markings. The barrel is fitted with a nickel-silver, fixed blade, front sight and a sporting style rear sight. A folding "Combination Tang Peep Sight" with "Pat. Jan. 29/79" markings on the post and "Pat. May 6/84" markings on the base is fitted on the receiver tang. The buttplate has a sliding brass trap; the trap contains a jointed, four-piece, steel cleaning rod with brass tip. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S- IMPROVEMENT- PATENTED - MARCH 29.1866.OCTOBER 16. 1860.". The serial number, "60967" is located on the lower receiver tang behind the loading lever latch. The upper receiver tang markings are covered by the combination sight.
BBL: 24 In
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44-40 WCF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 60697
Condition: Excellent. The rifle retains more than 97% of the original blue finish. Wear is limited to some very minor storage scratches and edge wear on the receiver and side plates. The loading gate retains nearly all of the niter blue finish. The hammer, loading lever and buttplate have nearly all of the original casehardened finish with vivid case colors. The barrel markings are crisp. The bore is bright. The stock and forearm are in excellent condition with nearly all of the original varnish finish and shows the desirable raised grain appearance that should be found on an "untouched" stock. This is an exceptional example of a Winchester Second Model 1873 Rifle in highly desirable condition that would be nearly impossible to upgrade.