Winchester 1873 3rd Model .38-40 WCF 26″ Lever Action Rifle 1889 Antique

SOLD FOR: $1,775.00

LSB#: LSB251109RC008

Make: Winchester

Model: 1873 Rifle Third Model Rifle

Serial Number: 293434B

Year of Manufacture: 1889 / Antique 

Caliber: .38-40 Winchester (.38 Winchester Center Fire)

Action Type: Lever Action, set trigger with Full Length Tubular Magazine

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER–REPEATING–ARMS–NEW HAVEN–CONN U.S.A. / KINGS–IMPROVEMENT –PATENTED–MARCH 29, 1860 – OCTOBER 16, 1860”.The top of the barrel near the receiver is marked “.38 WCF”.  The Serial number “293434B” is stamped on the bottom tang and “—MODEL 1873—” is stamped on the top tang.  

Barrel Length: 26″ Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a full buckhorn V-notch on an elevator, dovetailed to the rear of the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, and crescent  steel buttplate with a sliding door storage compartment for the cleaning rod. (nothing in the compartment). The stocks have several scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches and loss of finish throughout. There are a few longer scratches on the buttstock but there are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate.  Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition as an antique.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Old refinish   

Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling shows significant wear with erosion present in the lands, but is generally well defined, sharp in some areas. There is scattered erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6 out of 10 for a black powder Antique.

Most antique firearms have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the use of black powder. When fired, black powder reacts corrosively. NRA Antique Firearm Conditions Standards are quite lenient for bores. In some cases, the NRA standards disregarded the bore’s condition for collectors’ firearms.

Overall Condition: This rifle only retains about 5% of its metal finish. There are signs of an old blued refinishing on the barrel and receiver that has now turned to a brown patina throughout. The set trigger screw is adjusted too far out and is not currently operational.  We did not adjust the screw.  Remaining finish is mostly around the edges of the sideplates, screw holes and protected areas. There are some shallow scratches in the bottom of the brass lifter.  There is some oxidation on the bolt. The lever safety has been removed and there is a replacement screw in the bottom tang. There are scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches.  with tool marks around some screw heads. The markings are clear but fading.  Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition as C&R.

Mechanics: The half-cock safety notch does not hold and the hammer rebounds when dropped. The lever and trigger function properly, with the exception of the set trigger. We have not fired this rifle. There is a lever lock on the lower tang, and a dust cover on the receiver that slides on a guide rail integral to the receiver typical of the Third Models. 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. Introduced as a steel-framed successor to the brass-framed Model 1866, the 1873 allowed Winchester to chamber more powerful centerfire cartridges, most notably the .38-40 Winchester Center Fire. This advancement placed the rifle squarely at the intersection of reliability, firepower, and practicality, making it a favored companion of settlers, ranchers, and frontiersmen. By the late 1880s, the Third Model configuration reflected a mature and well-refined design, incorporating features such as the dust cover and receiver-mounted guide rail that defined later production.

This example was manufactured in 1889 and represents a Third Model rifle in .38-40 WCF with a 26-inch octagonal barrel, a classic and desirable configuration from the late production period. By this stage, the Model 1873 design had fully matured, incorporating the receiver dust cover riding on an integral guide rail and the lever safety on the lower tang, features that distinguish the Third Model from earlier variants. The long barrel and full buckhorn rear sight reflect the rifle’s intended versatility for both hunting and general use, while the chambering mirrors the popular practice of pairing rifles and revolvers in the same cartridge during the era.

Condition reflects honest age and use consistent with a working antique. The rifle shows evidence of an old refinish that has since mellowed to a uniform brown patina, and the bore displays typical black powder wear while retaining visible rifling. The stocks remain structurally sound with scattered handling marks and the action functions with noted exceptions including the non functional set trigger and the half cock safety issue described. Taken as a whole, this rifle presents as an authentic late-19th-century Winchester with strong frontier character, valued for its configuration, mechanical integrity, and tangible connection to the period when the Model 1873 truly earned its legendary status. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck with your bids!

BF