Winchester 1873 3rd Model .44 WCF Lever Action Rifle 1892 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,851.00
LSB#: LSB260421TK012
Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Rifle Third Model
Serial Number: 415456B
Year of Manufacture: 1892/ Antique
Caliber: .44 Winchester Center Fire
Action Type: Lever Action with Tubular Magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. / -KING’S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16 1860.-”. The lower tang is marked “415456B”. The top tang is marked “-MODEL. 1873.-“. The bottom of the lifter is marked “.44 CAL”.
Barrel Length: 24” Octagonal Barrel
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a silver blade dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is a spring leaf V notch with elevator dovetailed into the barrel. The upper tang is drilled and tapped for a peep sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and crescent buttplate. The LOP is 13″ from trigger to buttplate. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There are no chips or cracks. Overall this stock is in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Case Color, Blued.
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling is faint. There is moderate erosion and pitting throughout. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 5/10.
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 retains virtually none of its finish. The metal has worn to a silver patina with corrosion staining. There are nicks and scratches throughout. There is handling and operational wear. The screw heads are tooled but serviceable. The markings are legible. Overall this rifle is in Good condition for antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. There is a lever lock on the lower tang. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: This Winchester Model 1873 Third Model Rifle is an appealing antique lever-action rifle manufactured in 1892 and chambered in .44 W.C.F., the classic cartridge most closely associated with the Model 1873. Its 24″ octagon barrel, full-length tubular magazine, capped forend, straight-grip walnut stock, crescent buttplate, silver blade front sight, and elevator-adjustable V-notch rear sight give it the quintessential late-19th century Winchester sporting rifle profile. The upper tang is drilled and tapped for a peep sight, adding period-style sighting potential, while the legible barrel address, “Model 1873” tang marking, serial number, and “.44 CAL” lifter marking help preserve its historical identity.
Condition is Good for an antique, with the rifle retaining virtually none of its original blue or case-color finish. The metal has aged to a silver patina with corrosion staining, nicks, scratches, handling wear, and operational wear throughout, while the screw heads are tooled but serviceable and the markings remain legible. The smooth walnut stocks show scratches and compression dents but no chips or cracks, leaving the wood solid and presentable. The bore is gray with faint rifling and moderate erosion and pitting, rating 5/10 in this writer’s opinion, which is not unusual for a black powder-era rifle of this age. Mechanically, the action functions correctly and the lower tang lever lock is present, though the rifle has not been test fired. Overall, this is an honest and historically desirable Winchester 1873 rifle in the iconic .44 W.C.F. chambering, best suited as a representative antique collector piece with strong Old West character rather than a high-condition shooter. Please see our photos and good luck on your bids! MF