
Factory Engraved Winchester 1873 20″ .44-40 WCF Lever Rifle, 1885 Antique
SOLD FOR: $3,900.00
WOA#: WY240526BJ199
Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Carbine
Serial Number: 174080A
Year of Manufacture: 1885
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (44 Winchester Center Fire)
Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Markings: The barrel marking is almost completely worn away. The lower tang is marked “174080A”. The bottom of the follower is marked “44 CAL”. The upper tang is marked “Model. 1873”. There is factory engraving on the receiver and sideplates.
Barrel Length: 20″, Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned to a slotted base fixed to the barrel behind the front band. The rear sight has a folding “V”-notch marked “50” and another tiny notch, it appears to have been damaged or altered. The rear sight is dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth XX walnut with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel carbine-style buttplate with sliding-door storage compartment (there is a four-piece cleaning rod in the compartment). The stocks have some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The forend has a slight gap to the receiver and band. There are a few minor losses around the edges. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly gone to a moderate patina with some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. Overall, the stocks are in Good-Very Good condition as refinished Antique.
Type of Finish: No finish remains.
Finish Originality: There is no indication of a new finish being applied.
Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is heavily worn toward the muzzle-end, more well defined in front of the chamber. There is erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates a 3 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 0% of its metal finish. The metal surfaces have worn or been polished to white and there is scattered light erosion. There is infrequent light pitting, mostly toward the muzzle-end. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are tool marks around most screw heads, most notable at the stock mounting-screw in the top tang. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from worn, but legible to worn and incomplete. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is a dust cover on a rail on the receiver, typical of the Third Models. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a Cody Firearms Records Office search indicating that the rifle was produced as a Carbine, receiver, band and buttplate gilt, balance nickel, XX stock, and engraved, received in warehouse March 30, 1885 and shipped the same day on order 19269.
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. The .44-40 Win. cartridge was one of the most popular cartridges of the era, able to take game as large as deer.
This example is a saddle ring carbine that was factory engraved with deluxe stocks. The rifle looks like it has had a long and useful life, having lost all of its original gilt and nickel finish. This would make a neat addition to a Winchester or early cartridge rifle collection, and will display well with its “been there, done that” appearance. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
