Antique Winchester Model 1873 .44 Cal. Round Barrel Lever Action Rifle 1893

SOLD FOR: $2,651.00

LSB#: LSB260412PC019

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model:  1873

Serial Number: 448973B

Year of Manufacture: 1893 (Letter from Cody Firearms Records Office)

Caliber: .44 WCF

Action Type: Lever Action, fed by tubular magazine

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER’S REPEATING ARMS NEW HAVEN, CT” / “KING’S-IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29, 1866, OCTOBER 16, 1860” / “WCF”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “44 CAL.”. The top tang is marked “MODEL. 1873”. The bottom tang is marked with the serial number.

Barrel Length: 20″, Round 

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade atop the barrel. The rear sight is a flat-top sporting leaf sight with elevation adjustment that is dovetailed to the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The refinished stocks are a two-piece smooth walnut with a straight grip, straight comb, with a metal crescent buttplate, which includes the trapdoor that provides access to a cleaning rod tunnel. There are scattered handling marks, scratches, and compression dents along the furniture. There are no cracks in the stocks. There is a chip out of the front stock left side rear that appears to have a filler applied. The LOP measures 12 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stocks rate in about Very Good overall condition for their age.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is defined. There is heavy fouling in the bore, as well as some erosion pitting. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. Almost all the blue has turned to patina. There are scratches, dings, corrosion freckling, and minor pitting throughout the metal surfaces. There is fouling in the chamber block area, and breech block. The screw heads are tooled, but have strong and serviceable slots. The pins are slightly marred. The markings are legible. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good-Very Good condition for the age.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This rifle has a lever lock and a half-cock safety, and they work as intended. We did not fire this rifle, but we did perform a mechanic’s check. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Letter from the Cody Firearms Records Office. (not a Factory letter)

Our Assessment:  This antique Winchester Model 1873 is a classic lever-action rifle manufactured in 1893 and chambered in .44 WCF, also widely known as .44-40 Winchester. The Model 1873 is one of Winchester’s most famous designs and became strongly associated with the American frontier, offering reliable lever-action repeat fire at a time when single-shot arms were still common. The .44 WCF cartridge was introduced with the Model 1873 and became especially popular because it was later chambered in revolvers as well, giving shooters the convenience of a shared rifle-and-handgun cartridge. This example has a 20″ round barrel, tubular magazine, saddle ring, sporting rear sight, lever lock, half-cock safety, and a crescent buttplate with trapdoor for the cleaning rod tunnel. The included Cody Firearms Records Office letter adds useful historical documentation to the rifle.

This rifle rates in about Good-Very Good condition for its age, retaining approximately 80% of its metal finish, though nearly all of the original blue has aged to patina. The metal surfaces show scratches, dings, corrosion freckling, minor pitting, and fouling in the chamber block and breech block areas, while the markings remain legible. The refinished walnut stocks rate Very Good for their age, with scattered handling marks, scratches, compression dents, and a filled chip at the left rear of the forend, but no cracks. The bore is semi-bright with defined rifling, heavy fouling, and erosion pitting, rating 6/10 in this writer’s opinion. Mechanically, the action functions correctly, and the lever lock and half-cock safety work as intended. As an antique Winchester 1873 in the iconic .44 WCF chambering, with Cody documentation and honest age-related character, this rifle should appeal to Winchester collectors, Old West arms enthusiasts, and bidders looking for a documented frontier-era lever gun. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY