Winchester Model 1873 24″ .38-40 WCF Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1892 Antique

SOLD FOR: $1075

LSB#: 210610DS02

Make: Winchester

Model: 1873

Serial Number: 417239B

Year of Manufacture: 1892

Caliber: .38-40 WCF

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Full 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 “38 W.C.F.” at the rear. The lower tang is marked “417239B”. The upper tang is marked “MODEL. 1873”. The bottom of the lifter is marked “38 CAL.”.

Barrel Length: 24 ¼”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a silver blade set into a dovetail slot. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn leaf sight, missing the elevator and also set into a dovetail.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, and steel crescent buttplate with a sliding brass door covering a storage compartment in the butt (there is nothing in the storage compartment). The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There is some dark discoloration at the edges along the metal. The forearm is cracked at the underside of the tip and there are losses at the edges. The wood is dark with age. The LOP measures 12 3/4? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has thick patina over some fain traces of finish. Overall, the stocks are in about Fair – Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is worn with a ring or two. There is moderate to heavy erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 5% of its metal finish in protected areas only. The surfaces are generally brown and dark with patina and surface erosion. This rifle has that untouched “frontier used” look about it. The dust cover is missing but all other parts are retained. The screw heads are usable though worn. The markings are clean. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fair condition.

Mechanics: The action functions properly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

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 .38-40 Win. cartridge, also known as the .38 WCF, was introduced by Winchester in 1879. It is essentially a slightly necked-down .44-40 with a slightly smaller bullet typically achieving slightly higher velocity.

This Model 1873 Rifle was made in 1892 and looks like it served generations well and survived through them largely untouched…

Please see our photos and good luck!