Winchester 2nd Model 1873 .44-40 WCF 24″ Lever Action Rifle, 1876 Antique
SOLD FOR: $3,565.00
LSB#: LSB251001TL004
Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Rifle 2nd Model with Thumbprint dust cover
Serial Number: 17990
Year of Manufacture: 1876 / Antique (Per Winchester factory letter, this rifle was received in the warehouse in July of 1876. It was refitted with the 24” round barrel and not shipped until October 1878.)
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (.44 Winchester Center Fire)
Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER–REPEATING–ARMS–NEW HAVEN–CT/ KINGS–IMPROVEMENT –PATENTED–MARCH 29, 1860 – OCTOBER 16, 1860”. There do not appear to be any WP proof marks showing on the barrel or receiver and no caliber markings on the brass lifter. The Serial number “17990” is stamped on the bottom tang and “—MODEL 1873—” is stamped on the top tang.
Barrel Length: 24” Round barrel
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a German Silver blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V” notch buckhorn sight on an elevator ramp, dovetailed to the rear of the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a straight grip, straight comb, and crescent buttplate with a sliding door storage compartment for the cleaning rod. The cleaning rod IS present in the compartment, which is a rarity. The stocks have significant scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches throughout, some are deeper than others. There is a small chip in the left side forearm. There are many deep compression marks on the buttstock. The LOP measures 12 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has a mottled patina with no remaining finish. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition as an antique.
Type of Finish: Blued, Case colored
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with significant erosion showing throughout. The rifling shows wear with erosion present in the lands. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 5 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 0% of its metal finish. Any remaining finish has turned to a brown patina on the barrel, magazine, dust cover and receiver. There are some shallow scratches on the receiver side plates and barrel exterior. There are scattered nicks, dings, scratches and some minor pitting on the side plates. The screw heads show use but are still sharp. The markings are barely legible. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. There is a lever lock on the lower tang, a functioning half-cock safety notch and a dust cover on the receiver that slides on a guide rail integral to the receiver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle includes the accompanying Cody Firearms Museum Winchester factory letter.
Our Assessment: Winchester’s Model 1873 remains one of the most recognizable rifles of the American West, and this 1876-produced 2nd Model—complete with its early thumbprint dust cover—sits squarely in the era of frontier expansion, buffalo hunting, and westward settlement. The factory letter adds particularly compelling provenance: this rifle entered Winchester’s warehouse in July 1876 and was not shipped until October 1878 after being factory-refitted with its 24-inch round barrel. Such multi-year warehouse delays and refits were not uncommon in the 1870s as Winchester adjusted inventory to meet evolving customer demand, and they lend additional historical interest to the firearm’s documented timeline.
Chambered in .44-40 Winchester, the first centerfire cartridge offered by Winchester and the defining chambering of the Model 1873, this rifle exemplifies the combination that helped transform the repeating rifle market. The corrosion typical of black powder use is evident here, and while this example’s bore shows significant erosion, this remains well within expectations for a rifle of its age and service life. Equally evocative is the rifle’s patina: virtually all original finish has mellowed to brown or plum tones, creating the uniform weathered appearance that collectors associate with authentic, working 19th-century Winchesters.
The walnut stocks show the deep wear patterns of a rifle that clearly lived a long and functional life, and the presence of the original cleaning rod in the buttplate compartment—a feature often missing on rifles of this age—adds a rare and desirable detail. The mechanics remain correct, including the early dust-cover rail and lever lock. Taken together, this rifle embodies the rugged historical character of the Model 1873’s early years. With its documented shipment history, rare surviving components, and unmistakable antique presence, this 2nd Model offers collectors a tangible connection to the period when the Model 1873 earned its enduring title as “The Gun That Won the West.” Please see our photos and good luck on your bid!! – BF/MA
