RARE VERY EARLY WINCHESTER 1873 FIRST MODEL LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

RARE VERY EARLY WINCHESTER 1873 FIRST MODEL LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 731. Cal. 44 WCF. 24-1/4″ rnd bbl, full mag, dovetail 1/2 nickel front sight, checkered side “V” notch sporting rear in reverse position. Top of bbl is marked “WINCHESTER-REPEATING-ARMS.NEW HAVEN. CT./KINGS-IMPROVEMENTS-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1986. OCTOBER 16.1860”. Early first model receiver with mortised raised checkered thumb print dust cover. Mounted with straight grain walnut, straight grip, crescent steel buttplate with trap door, housing 4-piece steel and brass cleaning rod, standard forend with nosecap. Accompanying is a Cody Firearms Museum Winchester letter identifying as rifle, 24″ rnd bbl, received in warehouse April 4, 1874, shipped from warehouse April 10, 1874 on Order No. 1246. CONDITION: Fine. Bbl and mag tube retain orig blue, strong in protected areas, mixing with brown patina, normal nicks & scratches and light dings and some spots of shallow faint surface oxidation. Receiver retains 85-90% orig blue, strong in rear portion, flaking and thinning in forward portion and blending with brown patina. Orig polish marks can be seen under the blue. The rare raised thumb print dust cover retains strong orig blue. Loading gate has good orig nitre blue. Hammer shows very good orig case colors, silvering on right side. Lever shows fading orig case colors on side, blending with silver patina across bottom. Stock is sound with some minor nicks & dents, small 1/2 moon dent at toe, and retains a professional factory quality restored finish. Forend is sound with minor nicks & dings and retains a professional factory quality restored finish. Nosecap retains 80% orig blue blended with silver and brown patina. Mechanics are crisp, shiny bore with a few minor scattered pits. 4-39746 BDT129 (22,500-32,500)

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
	2020	$24,150.00	RARE VERY EARLY WINCHESTER 1873 FIRST MODEL LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 731. Cal. 44 WCF. 24-1/4″ rnd bbl, full mag, dovetail 1/2 nickel front sight, checkered side “V” notch sporting rear in reverse position. Top of bbl is marked “WINCHESTER-REPEATING-ARMS.NEW HAVEN. CT./KINGS-IMPROVEMENTS-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1986. OCTOBER 16.1860”. Early first model receiver with mortised raised checkered thumb print dust cover. Mounted with straight grain walnut, straight grip, crescent steel buttplate with trap door, housing 4-piece steel and brass cleaning rod, standard forend with nosecap. Accompanying is a Cody Firearms Museum Winchester letter identifying as rifle, 24″ rnd bbl, received in warehouse April 4, 1874, shipped from warehouse April 10, 1874 on Order No. 1246. CONDITION: Fine. Bbl and mag tube retain orig blue, strong in protected areas, mixing with brown patina, normal nicks & scratches and light dings and some spots of shallow faint surface oxidation. Receiver retains 85-90% orig blue, strong in rear portion, flaking and thinning in forward portion and blending with brown patina. Orig polish marks can be seen under the blue. The rare raised thumb print dust cover retains strong orig blue. Loading gate has good orig nitre blue. Hammer shows very good orig case colors, silvering on right side. Lever shows fading orig case colors on side, blending with silver patina across bottom. Stock is sound with some minor nicks & dents, small 1/2 moon dent at toe, and retains a professional factory quality restored finish. Forend is sound with minor nicks & dings and retains a professional factory quality restored finish. Nosecap retains 80% orig blue blended with silver and brown patina. Mechanics are crisp, shiny bore with a few minor scattered pits. 4-39746 BDT129 (22,500-32,500) 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.

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