Winchester 1873 1/2 Octagon Half Magazine .44-40 WCF Lever Rifle, 1903 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,425.00
WOA#: WY240526BJ127
Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Rifle
Serial Number: 571562B
Year of Manufacture: 1903
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (44 Winchester Center Fire)
Action Type: Lever Action with Half-Length Tubular Magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER’S REPEATING ARMS NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. / KING’S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860.” in front of the rear sight and “44 W.C.F.” at the rear. The lower tang is marked “571562B”. The upper tang is marked “MODEL. 1873.”. The bottom of the lifter is marked “44 CAL.”.
Barrel Length: 24″ nominal, 24 1/4″ Measured, Half Round, Half Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a Marble’s folding “U”-notch sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled and tapped for a tang sight (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate with a sliding brass door covering a storage compartment in the butt (there is nothing in the storage compartment). The forend has a long crack at the left-front near the top and appears to be crimped about 2/3 of the way forward where there is a distinct and notable compression. There are scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. The LOP measures 12 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with some scattered minor surface oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in Good-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 6 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 10% of its metal finish. Exposed surfaces have mostly worn to white or gone to a light patina. There is some finish left in protected areas or around raised features. . There is some scattered light surface oxidation and minor erosion. There are light nicks, scuffs and scratches with more notable tool marks on each side of the barrel toward the rear. The action shows operational wear. There are tool marks around most screw heads. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is a lever safety and a lever lock on the lower tang, and a dust cover rail integral to 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: 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.
This is a fairly late Model 1873 Rifle, made in 1903 with a 24” octagonal barrel chambered for .44-40, the classic cartridge of the 1873. The rifle is in Good condition with about 10% of its original blue finish remaining, some erosion and pitting in the bore, and strong mechanics. It is particularly interesting to collectors for its half-octagon barrel and half-length “button” magazine. This will be a nice addition to a Winchester collection as an example of one of the later 1873s, but could also be restored and taken back out in the field. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
