Winchester 1873 3rd Model .32 WCF 23″ Lever Action Rifle 1886 Antique

SOLD FOR: $1,302.99

LSB#: LSB260602CL027

Make: Winchester

Model: 1873 Rifle Third Model Rifle

Serial Number: 221608

Year of Manufacture: 1886 / Antique 

Caliber: .32-20 Winchester (.32 WCF)

Action Type: Lever action, centerfire rifle, fed from 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 “.32 CAL”.  The bottom of the brass lifter is marked “.32 Cal.”  The Serial number “221608” is stamped on the bottom tang and “—MODEL 1873—” is stamped on the top tang.  

Barrel Length: 23″ cut down from longer barrel. The magazine tube has also been cut down. 

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a spring leaf V notch with elevator dovetailed to the barrel. The upper tang is drilled and tapped for peep sight. 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is two piece walnut, capped, checkered forend, straight grip, straight comb, and crescent iron buttplate. The LOP is 13″ from trigger to buttplate. The stock has had some finish added at some point. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There is some chipping around the edges and corners. There are no cracks. Overall this stock is in Good condition as refinished. 

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is defined. There is moderate erosion and pitting throughout. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 25% of its current blued finish. Much of the bluing has worn to brown patina. There are scratches and polish marks scattered throughout. There are spots of chemical bluing loss. There are pits and corrosion stains throughout. The dust cover does not operate freely. The screw heads are tooled but serviceable. The markings are faint. Overall this rifle is in Fair condition as refinished. 

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. The tang safety is functional. 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 American lever-action rifles of the 19th century, and this 1886 Third Model example is chambered in .32-20 W.C.F. It features a 23″ barrel and shortened magazine tube, both altered from their original longer configuration, along with a checkered walnut forend, straight-grip stock, crescent iron buttplate, and traditional barrel-mounted sights. Its Third Model configuration and antique manufacture give it strong historical interest despite the later alterations.

The Model 1873 became one of Winchester’s defining firearms and is closely associated with the expansion of repeating rifles across the American West. The Third Model incorporated later production refinements while retaining the toggle-link action and tubular magazine system that made the design famous. The .32-20 W.C.F. chambering gave shooters a lighter-recoiling option suited to small game and general sporting use, broadening the Model 1873’s appeal beyond the larger .44 and .38 caliber variants.

This rifle retains about 25% of its current refinished blue, with much of the metal worn to brown patina and showing scratches, polish marks, chemical blue loss, pitting, and corrosion staining. The refinished walnut stocks remain in Good condition with scattered dents, edge chipping, and no cracks, while the dark bore has defined rifling with moderate erosion and pitting and rates 5/10. The action functions correctly and the tang safety is operational, though the dust cover does not move freely. Overall, this is a Fair-condition refinished Model 1873 with a shortened barrel and magazine tube, but it retains solid mechanical function and strong antique Winchester appeal. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! MF