Winchester 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine SRC .44-40 WCF Lever Rifle 1882 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,186.00
LSB#: WY241021AG031
Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine
Serial Number: 96629
Year of Manufacture: 1882
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (44 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 was a two-position sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel, the forward notch has broken nearly all the way off. The rear sight is not original to the gun.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth wood with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel carbine-style buttplate with a sliding brass door over a storage compartment (nothing in the compartment). The stocks show minor wear with only a few scattered minor marks. The LOP measures 12 7/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has mostly worn to white with file marks at the heel and scattered scratches. There is residue on the buttplate from the stock’s finish. The sliding door is very difficult to operate. Overall, the stocks are in Fine condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished, the magazine tube and some screws have been replaced.
Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is heavily worn, barely visible. There is erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 3 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 15% of its metal finish. Strongest finish is on the replacement magazine tube. There is infrequent other finish in protected areas. There is a loss on the front face of the receiver in the forend flange (bottom-right). The bottom tang is bowed outward notably. There are many scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are tool marks around the screw heads. The lever screw is missing. The mainspring strain-screw is missing. The dust cover is missing. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from worn, but legible to missing. Overall, this rifle is in Poor-plus condition.
Mechanics: The dust cover, lever screw and mainspring strain-screw are missing. The action does not function properly, it is likely that replacing the lever screw will not solve the mechanical issues. 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. This example is a saddle ring carbine with a 20″ barrel which looks like it has had a long and useful life. 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. It would also be a good candidate for a restoration. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
