Winchester 1873 3rd Model Rifle .32-20 WCF Lever Action 1891 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,225.00
LSB#: LSB250930TS015
Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Rifle Third Model round barrel rifle
Serial Number: 381286B
Year of Manufacture: 1891/ Antique
Caliber: .32-20 Winchester /.32-20 WCF
Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER–REPEATING–ARMS–NEW HAVEN–CT / KINGS–IMPROVEMENT –PATENTED–MARCH 29, 1866 – OCTOBER 16, 1860”.The bottom of the brass follower is marked “.32 Cal.” The top of the barrel near the receiver is stamped “.32 Cal.” The Serial number “381286B” is stamped on the bottom tang and “—MODEL 1873—” is stamped on the top tang.
Barrel Length: 24”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a buckhorn “V-notch” on an elevator dovetailed to the rear of the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, and Crescent buttplate. The stocks have been refinished. There are scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches throughout. Some of the wood has been sanded to leave the metal proud. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition as a refinished antique.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with distinct rifling. There is some pitting and erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6/10 for a black-black powder era Antique.
Most antique firearms have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the use of black powder. When fired, black powder reacts corrosively. NRA Antique Firearm Conditions Standards are quite lenient for bores. In some cases, the NRA standards disregarded the bore’s condition for collectors’ firearms.
Overall Condition: This rifle has been refinished. Much of the stamping has been blurred. There is pitting that has been blued over. There is noticeable rounding of the edges. Overall, this rifle is in about Fair condition as a refinished antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly including the half-cock safety notch. We have not fired this rifle. There is a lever lock on the lower tang, and a dust cover on the receiver that slides on a guide rail integral to the receiver typical of the Third Models. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1873 is one of the most iconic firearms of the nineteenth century, earning its reputation as “The Gun That Won the West” through widespread civilian, frontier, and commercial use. Introduced in 1873 and produced in vast numbers, the Third Model represents the final and most refined iteration of the design, incorporating incremental mechanical improvements while retaining the unmistakable lines that made the rifle a cultural symbol of the American frontier. By 1891, when this example was manufactured, the Model 1873 was firmly entrenched as a staple of ranches, farms, and towns across the expanding West.
Chambered in .32-20 Winchester Center Fire, the rifle reflects one of the most popular small caliber cartridges of the black powder era. Introduced in the early 1880s, the .32-20 offered mild recoil, respectable accuracy, and versatility for small game and pest control, while remaining economical to shoot. The 24 inch round barrel and full length tubular magazine provide the classic handling characteristics associated with the Model 1873 rifle, while the beaded blade front sight and buckhorn rear sight represent the standard factory sporting configuration of the period.
This example has been refinished, with bluing applied over visible pitting and softened edges, and portions of the original barrel and tang markings showing noticeable blurring as a result. The walnut stocks have also been refinished and sanded, leaving some metal proud, with scattered nicks, dings, and handling marks consistent with use and later restoration. The bore is gray with distinct rifling, showing pitting and erosion typical of black powder era firearms, and rates 6 out of 10 for an antique. Mechanically, the action functions correctly, retaining the half cock safety notch, lower tang lever lock, and Third Model sliding dust cover. Overall, this rifle presents as a serviceable and representative example of a refinished Winchester 1873, offering tangible connection to the formative years of American lever action history. Please see our high resolution photos and good luck on your bid! MF
