Grade 3 Winchester 1873 24in .357 Magnum Lever Action Rifle, 2014
SOLD FOR: $1,190.00
WOA#: WY240608SM003
Make: Winchester, made in Japan by Miroku,
Model: 1873 (M73 SPTR CH GR3 OCT, S, 357/38)
Serial Number: 00053ZW73K
Year of Manufacture: 2014 (ZW date code)
Caliber: .357 Magnum/.38 Special
Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine
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 is a U-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (Marble Sight included).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth hand-selected American walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel shotgun-style buttplate. The plate is case-hardened.The stocks have no marks. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 3/8? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has no notable wear or damage with excellent color. Overall, the stocks are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Hardened
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its metal finish. There are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly and very smoothly. The lever safety is operational and there is a safety notch on the hammer. The lever lock at the rear of the bottom tang is present. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes in a serial matching white box
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. Here’s where the story gets a little complicated.
Winchester had been owned by Olin Industries since the 1930s, but in 1981 the factory was purchased and the brand name licensed from Olin by the U.S. Repeating Arms Company, formed by employees at the Winchester factory. USRAC went bankrupt in 1989 and was purchased by Fabrique Nationale in Belgium, which also owned Browning. Much of Browning’s production was performed in Japan by Miroku. In 2013, it was announced that “Winchester” 1873s were being reintroduced, made by Miroku and imported by Browning.
This example finished with case hardening and was equipped with hand-selected American walnut stocks. Were this an original 19th/20th Century 1873, it would be quite the special find. The rifle has a 24? octagonal barrel as well as a crescent style buttplate, a truly glorious configuration among the original 1873s.
Finally, this rifle that will shoot as good as it looks, and it looks darned good! This is one of the finer lever guns you’re going to find, don’t miss out. So bid high and bid firm. I highly encourage you to take a look at the condition in our high quality photos. Good luck on your bid. -K.F.
