RARE FIRST MODEL HEAVY BARREL WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

RARE FIRST MODEL HEAVY BARREL WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. CAL: 44 WCF (44-40). Standard grade rifle with extremely rare 26” heavy barrel, which is 1” across the flats at the muzzle. It has uncheckered wood with straight stock and crescent steel buttplate with trap, containing a 4-piece steel and brass wiping rod. The sights have been changed during the period of use to a small silver blade Rocky Mountain front and a Kentucky style rear sight with elevator. The receiver has the impressed checkered oval thumbprint, mortised dust cover and a single set trigger. The brass lifter is hand stamped “J.P. Finley. / Santa. Clara.” Accompanied by (1) A Cody Firearms Museum letter identifying this rifle, as described, as having been shipped on March 16, 1877. (2) A letter dated February 16, 1994 from William H. Nevius identifying a John P. Finley, who is listed in the census of Santa Clara, California of 1880 as a carpenter. (3) A reproduction of the census page. (4) Reproductions of five pages from volumes 1 & 2 of the book “Winchester New Model of 1873” by James D. Gordon, listing the various attributes of this rifle and stating that the Cody Firearms Museum records list only twelve heavy barrel rifles in the 26” length. SN 25895. CONDITION: Good, no orig. finish remains, the barrel and magazine tube retain a light gray-brown patina with scattered fine surface pitting. The receiver, lever and buttplate are a mottled cleaned silver-gray patina with pitting around the sideplates and on the sideplates. The wood is sound with a fine old hand-rubbed patina and light handling and use marks with traces of orig. varnish. One small screw on the lower tang is a replacement. The dust cover does not catch the bolt to open. Very strong, dark bore. 4-44782 JL112 (5,000-8,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2002

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	858	$5,175.00	RARE FIRST MODEL HEAVY BARREL WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. CAL: 44 WCF (44-40). Standard grade rifle with extremely rare 26” heavy barrel, which is 1” across the flats at the muzzle. It has uncheckered wood with straight stock and crescent steel buttplate with trap, containing a 4-piece steel and brass wiping rod. The sights have been changed during the period of use to a small silver blade Rocky Mountain front and a Kentucky style rear sight with elevator. The receiver has the impressed checkered oval thumbprint, mortised dust cover and a single set trigger. The brass lifter is hand stamped “J.P. Finley. / Santa. Clara.” Accompanied by (1) A Cody Firearms Museum letter identifying this rifle, as described, as having been shipped on March 16, 1877. (2) A letter dated February 16, 1994 from William H. Nevius identifying a John P. Finley, who is listed in the census of Santa Clara, California of 1880 as a carpenter. (3) A reproduction of the census page. (4) Reproductions of five pages from volumes 1 & 2 of the book “Winchester New Model of 1873” by James D. Gordon, listing the various attributes of this rifle and stating that the Cody Firearms Museum records list only twelve heavy barrel rifles in the 26” length. SN 25895. CONDITION: Good, no orig. finish remains, the barrel and magazine tube retain a light gray-brown patina with scattered fine surface pitting. The receiver, lever and buttplate are a mottled cleaned silver-gray patina with pitting around the sideplates and on the sideplates. The wood is sound with a fine old hand-rubbed patina and light handling and use marks with traces of orig. varnish. One small screw on the lower tang is a replacement. The dust cover does not catch the bolt to open. Very strong, dark bore. 4-44782 JL112 (5,000-8,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2002 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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