Winchester Deluxe 1873 .32-.20 Lever Action Rifle MFD 1884 Antique
SOLD FOR: $2,726.00
LSB#: WY250310TW019
Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Deluxe
Serial Number:149711A
Year of Manufacture: 1884
Caliber: .32 WCF
Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Markings: The barrel is marked “”Winchester Repeating Arms CO. New Haven Connecticut“, “Kings Improvement Patent October 16, 1860”
and at the rear with .32 WC.
Barrel Length: 24” Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade with a serrated rear face dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight has been broken off so that only the dovetailed base remains.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are lightly figured walnut, straight grip, straight comb, case hardened nopecap which has faded so that traces of the original case hardening remain, and case hardened steel crescent buttplate with no case hardening remaining. The LOP measures about 12 1/2” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The fine line checkering is crisp with sharp peaks. There is little to no handling wear. There are no chips or cracks. Overall the stocks are in Very good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & Color Case
Finish Originality: This is a later model that had a blued receiver and it still has a large amount of finish remaining on the sides of the receiver. Barrel and magazine have both faded to a thin plum color.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp and deep. There is no erosion in the bore. Some very light erosion may be present in the grooves at the muzzle but it is not easy to see. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This gun retains about 30% of its metal finish. The bluing and case color are very strong and deep. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are very clear and prominent. There is some operation wear detectable on this rifle. Overall, this gun rates in about very good condition. Some engraving has been added at both ends of the barrel. Although it’s my opinion that it was not an original feature it has been nicely done.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly and is very tight. We did not fire this gun. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards and as with all 1873’s some lubrication will aid in the function. The spring on the dust cover is weak or missing.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: One of the most successful, and certainly one of the most famous Winchester rifles was the Winchester Model 1873, known as “The Gun that Won the West” for its predominant role in the hands of Western settlers. The Model 1873 had a steel frame that was much stronger than the brass framed Model 1866, allowing Winchester to develop a family of powerful new cartridges, with Colt usually producing Single Action Army revolvers in the same calibers shortly after they were developed. While the original Winchester 1873s were discontinued in the early 1920s, the advent of Cowboy Action Shooting brought a number of reproductions, most produced in Italy by Uberti. This rifle which is chambered for the .32-20 cartridge should be a very good shooter as well as a nice addition to a collection.-EB
