INTRIGUING WINCHESTER 1873 FIRST MODEL DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

INTRIGUING WINCHESTER 1873 FIRST MODEL DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN NSN. CaL. 44-40 WCF. 24-1/4″ 1/2 rnd, 1/2 oct bbl, 1/2 mag, dovetailed fine bead front sight, checkered side “V” notch sporting rear. Top flat of bbl is marked “WINCHESTER REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KINGS-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860”. 1st Model receiver, mortised checkered thumb print dust cover. Mounted with deluxe grain walnut, checkered straight grip, steel crescent buttplate with trap door, housing 4-pc steel with brass tip cleaning rod, checkered forend with nosecap. The intriguing part of this gun is the non-serial numbers lower tang that is presumed due to a change out for trigger. There are no assembly numbers on this lower tang, but matching “722” numbers can be found top tang channel of stock, inside toe of buttplate and inside of side plates. Side plate assembly numbers are normally not found except on one of one thousands. Consignor had the Cody Firearms Museum Records office do an extended search for guns meeting this criteria between SN 25001-35000. A total of 182 rifles were found with one or more of the criteria, and 49 with all of them. Criteria being 1/2 oct, case hardened finish, checkered stocks and 1/2 mag. A SN list of these 49 accompany gun. Serial number range for the extended search was narrowed by specific features of the 5/8″ thumb print dust cover, outside trigger pin, loading gate spring screw on outside, and top tang markings. There are photos accompanying gun disassembled showing assembly numbers. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains strong orig blue, thinning & blending with brown patina on round portion with some minor scratches and rub marks, oct portion turning bright on sharp edges, and normal nicks & small scratches. Receiver retains considerable orig case colors, stronger on plateS and rear portion, thinning and blending with silver patina in forward portion. Loading gate show very strong orig nitre blue. Hammer shows nearly all of its orig case colors, lightly silvering on right side. Lever shows strong orig case colors on sides, thinning and blending with silver patina across bottom. Stock is sound with small chip on upper left side at tang, some minor shallow dings at flute of comb, sharp checkering with a line of flattened points on right side, usual nicks & dings, and retains orig finish. Forend is sound with chip at forward left side, sharp checkering with a couple flattened points, normal nicks & scratches, and retains orig finish. Nosecap has dark orig case colors, blending with some silver patina. Mechanics are crisp with a very nice shiny bore. 4-39777 BDT156 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

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
	2018	$19,550.00	INTRIGUING WINCHESTER 1873 FIRST MODEL DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN NSN. CaL. 44-40 WCF. 24-1/4″ 1/2 rnd, 1/2 oct bbl, 1/2 mag, dovetailed fine bead front sight, checkered side “V” notch sporting rear. Top flat of bbl is marked “WINCHESTER REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KINGS-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860”. 1st Model receiver, mortised checkered thumb print dust cover. Mounted with deluxe grain walnut, checkered straight grip, steel crescent buttplate with trap door, housing 4-pc steel with brass tip cleaning rod, checkered forend with nosecap. The intriguing part of this gun is the non-serial numbers lower tang that is presumed due to a change out for trigger. There are no assembly numbers on this lower tang, but matching “722” numbers can be found top tang channel of stock, inside toe of buttplate and inside of side plates. Side plate assembly numbers are normally not found except on one of one thousands. Consignor had the Cody Firearms Museum Records office do an extended search for guns meeting this criteria between SN 25001-35000. A total of 182 rifles were found with one or more of the criteria, and 49 with all of them. Criteria being 1/2 oct, case hardened finish, checkered stocks and 1/2 mag. A SN list of these 49 accompany gun. Serial number range for the extended search was narrowed by specific features of the 5/8″ thumb print dust cover, outside trigger pin, loading gate spring screw on outside, and top tang markings. There are photos accompanying gun disassembled showing assembly numbers. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains strong orig blue, thinning & blending with brown patina on round portion with some minor scratches and rub marks, oct portion turning bright on sharp edges, and normal nicks & small scratches. Receiver retains considerable orig case colors, stronger on plateS and rear portion, thinning and blending with silver patina in forward portion. Loading gate show very strong orig nitre blue. Hammer shows nearly all of its orig case colors, lightly silvering on right side. Lever shows strong orig case colors on sides, thinning and blending with silver patina across bottom. Stock is sound with small chip on upper left side at tang, some minor shallow dings at flute of comb, sharp checkering with a line of flattened points on right side, usual nicks & dings, and retains orig finish. Forend is sound with chip at forward left side, sharp checkering with a couple flattened points, normal nicks & scratches, and retains orig finish. Nosecap has dark orig case colors, blending with some silver patina. Mechanics are crisp with a very nice shiny bore. 4-39777 BDT156 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}