Winchester Model 1873 44-40 WCF 28″ Lever Action Rifle 1881 Antique
SOLD FOR: $2,025.00
LSB#: LSB260225RB011
Make: Winchester
Model: 1873
Serial Number: 80562
Year of Manufacture: 1881 Antique
Caliber: 44-40 WCF
Action Type: Lever Action Rifle w/ Full Length Mag Tube
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “Winchester Repeating Arms New Haven CT, Kings Improvement, Patented March 23, 1855, October 16, 1860”. The top of the rear sight is marked “King Pat. 1922302”. The top of the tang is marked “Model 1873”. The lower tang is marked with the serial number.
Barrel Length: 28″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is an adjustable spring leaf semi buckhorn with elevator. The upper tang is drilled and tapped for a peep sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is two piece smooth walnut, capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, with crescent steel trapdoor buttplate. The LOP is 12 3/4″ from trigger to buttplate. The stock has been refinished. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. The wrist has been sanded undersized to leave the tang proud. The buttplate is proud of the stock. There is a small repaired crack on the right side of the forend. Overall this stock is in Good condition for a refinish.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is distinct. There is erosion and pitting throughout. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 6/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its current metal finish. There is pitting scattered throughout, some that has been blued over and some more recent. There are scratches throughout. There are plugged holes for a saddle ring. The screw heads are tooled but serviceable. The markings range softened to scrubbed. Overall this rifle is in Fair to Good condition for a refinish.
Mechanics: This rifle is in functional condition. The carrier is a little sticky. The hammer holds half and full cock. As with all used firearms this rifle may require a full cleaning to meet your standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1873 stands as one of the most iconic rifles of the American frontier, earning its enduring nickname as “The Gun That Won the West.” Introduced in 1873 and building on earlier toggle-link designs, the Model 1873 became widely adopted by settlers, lawmen, and frontiersmen for its rapid-fire capability and reliable operation. Chambered in .44-40 WCF, one of the first successful centerfire cartridges designed for both rifle and revolver use, it offered practical ballistic performance and logistical convenience during a period when versatility in the field was highly valued.
This 1881 production rifle reflects a long service life with a number of period and later alterations. The 28″ barrel and full-length magazine give it the profile of a sporting rifle, though the presence of plugged saddle ring holes suggests a receiver originally configured as a carbine. The rifle has been refinished, with approximately 85% of its current metal finish remaining over areas of visible pitting and wear. The walnut stocks have also been refinished and show sanding, repairs, and dimensional changes at the wrist and buttplate fit, along with scattered handling marks consistent with use and refurbishment. The bore remains functional with distinct rifling, though it shows notable wear and pitting throughout, aligning with its age and use.
Altogether, this rifle represents a well-traveled example of a Model 1873 that has seen both working use and later efforts to maintain or restore its usability. The combination of rifle-length barrel and carbine-origin receiver suggests a period alteration or assembly, a not uncommon occurrence for rifles that remained in service well beyond their original configuration. While it no longer presents as a fully original specimen, it retains the mechanical character and historical presence of the Model 1873 platform, offering a tangible connection to the firearms carried across the American West in the late 19th century. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck with your bids! MF