Original Item: Only One Available. This is a great vintage cowboy saddle ring Winchester Model 1873 carbine in the rare caliber of .32-20, as used in both carbines and six gun revolvers of the era. Most carbines were made in .44-40, with a few in .38-40, however this example is definitely in .32-20, as indicated by the 32 W.C.F. over the chamber and 32 CAL. on the brass carrier block. We even measured the bore and chamber, and it is definitely .32-20. We cannot recall ever having a carbine in this caliber previously.

Offered in very nice aged condition and correct in all respects, serial number 332189B indicates that it was manufactured in 1890. It has an intact MODEL 1873 marking on the upper receiver tang, and the 20" round barrel is fitted with the correct carbine rear adjustable ladder sight, which is intact and fully functional, marked 1873 near the top. This Carbine has a curved "flat" butt plate without a storage compartment, and the side mounted saddle ring.

The engraving on top of the barrel is still fully legible, which is quite rare to see:

The carbine is in nice matured condition showing use and really presents nicely. The metalwork has a nice aged grey patina, and shows use and has old peppering scars in some areas. Masses of character here! The stocks are in very good shape, with the lovely red-brown color of aged oiled walnut. The fore stock is in really lovely shape, showing very little wear, while the butt stock has a great grain and wear from service. While there are the expected dents, dings, and other damage from use, there is no major damage such as cracking or large chunks missing.

This lever action repeater has a crisp tight action in fully functional condition with an original dust cover. The rifle cycles well and dry fires, with good smooth mechanical operation. We did not notice any sticking or other issues that are often seen on these old rifles. It is just a bit stiff, most likely from dried grease and oxidation on the carrier block. The bore is in very good condition, showing clear lands and grooves with a partly bright finish. There is definitely some past wear and fouling in spots, now cleaned away. We would rate it a 6-7 out of 10.

This is a very nice example of a Winchester 1873 Carbine in a rarely seen smaller .32-20 caliber, probably the first that we have seen. Ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1890
Caliber: .32-20 Winchester
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 20 Inches
Overall Length: 38 3/4 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Repeater
Feed System: 9-round tube magazine

The Model 1873 was one of the most successful Winchester rifles of its day, gaining the reputation as "The Gun that Won the West". Still an icon almost a century and a half later, it was manufactured between 1873 and 1919. Originally chambered for the .44-40 cartridge, it was later produced in .38-40 and .32-20, all of which were also popular handgun cartridges of the day, allowing users to conveniently carry just one type of ammunition. The Model 1873 was produced in three variations: a 24" barrel rifle, 20" barrel carbine, and a musket. The easy to transport and handle carbine was the most popular, while the musket accounted for less than 5-10 percent of total production.

Due to feeding problems, the original Model 1873 was never offered in the military standard .45 Colt cartridge, although a number of modern reproductions are chambered for the round. The popularity of the original Model 1873 led Colt to manufacture .44-40 a version of the Single Action Army revolver called the "Frontier Model".

To both celebrate and enhance the Model 1873's prestige, Winchester established a coveted One of One Thousand grade in 1875. Barrels producing unusually small groupings during test-firing were fitted to rifles with set triggers and a special finish. Marked One of One Thousand, they sold for a then princely $100. A popular 1950 Western starring Jimmy Stewart, Winchester '73, was based on the coveted gun. Promotions included a search for One of One Thousand rifles by Universal Studios, with advertisements in sporting magazines and posters in sporting goods stores.

A second grade of Model 1873 barrels producing above average accuracy were fitted to rifles marked One of One Hundred, and sold for $20 over list. Approximately 136 One of One Thousand Model 1873s were sold, and only eight One of One Hundreds. In all, over 720,000 Model 1873s were produced.

The .38-40 Winchester round is actually a .40 caliber cartridge shooting .401 caliber bullets. The cartridge was introduced by Winchester in 1874 and is derived from their .44-40 Winchester. This cartridge was introduced for rifles, but in its reintroduction for Cowboy Action Shooting it has seen some popularity as a pistol cartridge. It is not particularly well suited to hunting larger game, but it was popular when it was introduced, along with the previous .44-40 Winchester, for deer hunting. It can be used successfully on smaller game animals, and for self-defense.

Note: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.