Winchester 1873 3rd Model Carbine SRC .38-40 WCF Lever Rifle 1889 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,501.01
LSB#: WY240826SR003
Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine
Serial Number: 289367
Year of Manufacture: 1889
Caliber: .38-40 Winchester (38 Winchester Center Fire)
Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Barrel Length: 20″, Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the barrel behind the front barrel band. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight which presents a “V”-notch when down and has a “V”-notch slider on the ladder. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel carbine-style buttplate. The sides of the buttstock have been deeply carved with “WM” on the right and “LAMP” on the left, there are three notches on the comb that appear intentionally applied. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There are a few small losses and thin cracks around the edges of the wrist. The wood has darkened with age and handling, more notable in the forend. The LOP measures 12 5/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a moderate patina with scattered nicks and light erosion. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: No finish remains.
Finish Originality: The dust cover has been polished and cold blued. Other surfaces show signs of cleaning or polishing, but no sign of a new finish being applied.
Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 4 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 0% of its metal finish. Most surfaces have gone to a fairly uniform moderate patina. Some areas of the barrel show signs of cleaning with a little polishing at the rear of the barrel where it meets the receiver. The dust cover appears to have been polished and cold-blued in the past, most of the cold blue has muted or worn. There is wear on the left of the receiver from the saddle ring. There is scattered light surface erosion. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. There are tool marks around most screw heads. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings are mostly worn, but legible. There is no visible caliber marking on the lifter. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition as Antique (see Mechanics)
Mechanics: The lever-lock is worn and does not properly keep the lever in the closed position. When closed, the lever has notable play. The bolt does not consistently push the hammer all the way back to full-cock. The lifter timing is off; when open, the lifter will fall before the bolt comes forward. The extractor is weak and may not properly extract cases. 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. The .44-40 Win. cartridge was one of the most popular cartridges of the era, able to take game as large as deer. The .38-40 was based on the same case necked down to about .40 caliber, using less lead with slightly softer recoil.
This example is a .38-40 WCF saddle ring carbine with 20″ barrel which looks like it has had a long and useful life. It would be a worthwhile restoration project and will display well as-is with its “been there, done that” appearance. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
