RARE EARLIEST KNOWN WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

RARE EARLIEST KNOWN WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 13. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). First model ’73 of the very first run with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine, half-nickel front sight & reverse mounted, orig, short, semi-buckhorn rear sight with checkered edges. Receiver has the mortised dust cover with raised checkered thumb print. It has case colored lever & hammer and set trigger. Bolt is the early type with a removable bushing & trigger is also early type without safety block. Top tang is, like all early 1st models, unmarked but has the rare feature of two holes for a tang sight, most of the early 73’s were not so equipped. Mounted with nicely figured, uncheckered American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate with trap. Assembly number “10” was observed on left side of lower tang under the wood inside top tang channel of buttstock & inside toe of buttplate. Serial number on bottom tang is hand engraved & is accompanied with “Model 1873” also hand engraved. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter fully identifying this rifle as found with set trigger, blued finish, “long stock” & 4″ target. Received in warehouse Feb. 27, 1874 and shipped March 9, 1874 to order #1092. The entry “long stock” would seem to imply that this stock is longer than standard. It is 13-1/4″ from trigger to center of buttplate which is longer than the later production rifles but the same length as the Model 1866, which this rifle succeeded. The notation, 4″ target, is presumed to mean that it was targeted and held a 4″ grouping, probably at 100 yards. This rifle is alleged to have turned up in Europe in recent years and was imported into the United States. There are a number of other 2-digit 73’s known but none compare in condition to this one. CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Bbl retains 70-75% orig blue, strong in sheltered areas, turning plum with a thin cleaned area about mid-point and some light discoloration & fine pitting. Magazine tube retains about 85% strong orig blue with a cleaned area about mid-point on right side with two spots of moderate pitting. Forend cap retains about 75% strong orig blue. Receiver retains about 85-88% strong orig blue, clean & dark on left side, somewhat thinned on right side with some fine surface pitting. Top of receiver retains about 92-93% strong orig blue and bottom equally strong, thin in front rebated area. Hammer retains 95-96% strong orig case colors, slightly faded. Lever retains 65-70% case colors, moderately faded, turning gray on outer edges. Wood is sound with a few minor small gouges & bruises with light handling & storage marks and retains a hand worn patina. Buttplate retains 75-80% moderately faded case colors. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with scattered light pitting. 4-35359 JR485 (140,000-170,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008

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
	2147	$149,500.00	RARE EARLIEST KNOWN WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 13. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). First model ’73 of the very first run with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine, half-nickel front sight & reverse mounted, orig, short, semi-buckhorn rear sight with checkered edges. Receiver has the mortised dust cover with raised checkered thumb print. It has case colored lever & hammer and set trigger. Bolt is the early type with a removable bushing & trigger is also early type without safety block. Top tang is, like all early 1st models, unmarked but has the rare feature of two holes for a tang sight, most of the early 73’s were not so equipped. Mounted with nicely figured, uncheckered American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate with trap. Assembly number “10” was observed on left side of lower tang under the wood inside top tang channel of buttstock & inside toe of buttplate. Serial number on bottom tang is hand engraved & is accompanied with “Model 1873” also hand engraved. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter fully identifying this rifle as found with set trigger, blued finish, “long stock” & 4″ target. Received in warehouse Feb. 27, 1874 and shipped March 9, 1874 to order #1092. The entry “long stock” would seem to imply that this stock is longer than standard. It is 13-1/4″ from trigger to center of buttplate which is longer than the later production rifles but the same length as the Model 1866, which this rifle succeeded. The notation, 4″ target, is presumed to mean that it was targeted and held a 4″ grouping, probably at 100 yards. This rifle is alleged to have turned up in Europe in recent years and was imported into the United States. There are a number of other 2-digit 73’s known but none compare in condition to this one. CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Bbl retains 70-75% orig blue, strong in sheltered areas, turning plum with a thin cleaned area about mid-point and some light discoloration & fine pitting. Magazine tube retains about 85% strong orig blue with a cleaned area about mid-point on right side with two spots of moderate pitting. Forend cap retains about 75% strong orig blue. Receiver retains about 85-88% strong orig blue, clean & dark on left side, somewhat thinned on right side with some fine surface pitting. Top of receiver retains about 92-93% strong orig blue and bottom equally strong, thin in front rebated area. Hammer retains 95-96% strong orig case colors, slightly faded. Lever retains 65-70% case colors, moderately faded, turning gray on outer edges. Wood is sound with a few minor small gouges & bruises with light handling & storage marks and retains a hand worn patina. Buttplate retains 75-80% moderately faded case colors. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with scattered light pitting. 4-35359 JR485 (140,000-170,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008 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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