Winchester 1873 3rd Model .38-40 WCF 24″ Oct BBL Lever Action Rifle Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,575.00
LSB#: LSB251109RC007
Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Rifle Third Model Rifle
Serial Number: 454184B
Year of Manufacture: 1893 / Antique
Caliber: .38-40 Winchester (.38 Winchester Center Fire)
Action Type: Lever Action, set trigger with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER–REPEATING–ARMS–NEW HAVEN–CONN U.S.A. / KINGS–IMPROVEMENT –PATENTED–MARCH 29, 1860 – OCTOBER 16, 1860”. The top of the barrel near the receiver is marked “.38 WCF”. The bottom of the brass lifter is marked “.38 Cal.” The Serial number “454184B” is stamped on the bottom tang and “—MODEL 1873—” is stamped on the top tang.
Barrel Length: 24″ Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a full 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 refinished crescent steel buttplate with a sliding door storage compartment for the cleaning rod. (nothing in the compartment). There is one small crack on the left side of the forearm. The stocks have several scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches and loss of finish throughout. There are more dings and scratches on the buttstock near the buttplate but there are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 12 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition as an antique.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original, Buttplate re-blued
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright. The rifling is well defined with some wear and minor erosion and fouling present in the lands. There is scattered pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7.5/10 for a black powder 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 only retains about 5% of its metal finish, mostly in protected areas. The balance has now turned to a mottled patina throughout. There are scratches on the magazine tube, possibly from polishing. There are scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches throughout. There is a replacement screw on the dust cover. The markings are clear and sharp. Overall, this rifle is in about Good to Very Good condition as C&R.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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 occupies a central place in the material culture of the American West, representing the point at which lever action rifle design fully matured into a practical, reliable, and widely adopted civilian arm. Built with a steel frame rather than the earlier brass construction of the Model 1866, the 1873 allowed Winchester to chamber true centerfire cartridges such as the .38-40 Winchester Center Fire. This combination of durability and power made the rifle a natural choice for everyday frontier use, from hunting and ranch work to personal defense, firmly establishing its reputation during the last decades of the 19th century.
This rifle was manufactured in 1893 and is a Third Model example, featuring the later production characteristics that distinguish the final iteration of the design. The 24 inch octagonal barrel represents a slightly handier configuration than the longer rifle barrels while still providing excellent balance and sight radius. Features such as the receiver-mounted dust cover on an integral guide rail and the lever lock on the lower tang reflect Winchester’s fully refined design by this period. Chambered in .38-40 WCF, it aligns with the era’s common practice of matching rifle and revolver calibers, enhancing its historical correctness and appeal.
Condition throughout reflects authentic age and field use consistent with a working antique. The metal surfaces retain minimal original finish and have transitioned to a stable patina, while the bore remains serviceable with visible rifling despite expected black powder wear. The stocks show scattered handling marks and a small crack in the forearm, yet remain structurally sound and well fitted. With clear markings, correct Third Model features, and honest wear, this Winchester Model 1873 stands as a representative late-production example that captures the utilitarian character and enduring legacy of “The Gun That Won the West,” Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck with your bids!
BF
