Original Item: Only One Available. Known throughout history as "The Gun That Won the West," the Winchester Model 1873 became one of the most successful and influential repeating rifles ever produced. Favored by settlers, ranchers, lawmen, hunters, and frontiersmen alike, the Model 1873 earned its legendary reputation through reliability, rapid firepower, and the practical advantage of sharing ammunition with popular Winchester and Colt revolvers chambered in the same cartridges.

This excellent honest example is chambered in the classic .44-40 Winchester (.44 W.C.F.), the cartridge most closely associated with the Model 1873 and the American frontier. It retains the highly desirable 24-inch octagonal barrel with its original full-length magazine tube, one of the most sought-after configurations among collectors today.

The rifle is correctly marked 44 CAL. both at the chamber and on the brass carrier block. As with all examples, the upper tang is marked:

MODEL. 1873.

The serial number, 187628B, dates manufacture to 1885.

As the serial number falls above 90,000, this rifle is classified as a Third Model Winchester 1873. Introduced after a series of refinements to the earlier First and Second Models, the Third Model incorporated several manufacturing improvements while retaining the classic appearance of its predecessors. The most recognizable improvement is the integral receiver dovetail for the dust cover, machined directly into the receiver rather than attached with screws as found on earlier rifles. Winchester continued producing this successful configuration until production concluded with serial numbers exceeding 700,000.

The rifle retains its desirable original sporting configuration with the classic German silver blade front sight and the iconic adjustable buckhorn rear sight.

The barrel address remains present and legible despite honest wear:

WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN CT.
KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860.

The barrel displays an attractive aged patina with scattered areas of stabilized peppering and light oxidation consistent with a rifle that saw genuine frontier use while avoiding abuse. The original blue has naturally faded to an attractive plum-brown color that collectors often appreciate on honest Winchester rifles.

The receiver exhibits a similar matured appearance with scattered light peppering, while the loading gate and lower tang retain pleasing traces of their original finish. The bottom of the receiver has worn nearly bright from decades of careful handling and cleaning, adding to the rifle's authentic character.

The walnut stocks are particularly attractive, displaying the rich reddish-brown color that develops in well-preserved aged American walnut. Expected handling marks, dents, scratches, and minor staining around the metal fittings are present, reflecting long but careful service. Importantly, we found no evidence of structural cracks, repairs, or significant damage, making this an especially honest and desirable set of original furniture.

The crescent steel butt plate retains its original trapdoor storage compartment, which remains fully functional and empty.

Mechanically, the rifle remains in excellent condition. The action is tight and functions smoothly throughout its cycle, with very little play and no noticeable sticking. It also retains its original dust cover, which operates correctly.

One of the strongest features of this rifle is undoubtedly its bore.

The bore remains in excellent condition, exhibiting a bright finish with crisp, well-defined lands and grooves. There is minor evidence of previous fouling and light oxidation near the chamber that has long since been cleaned away, but overall this is an exceptional bore for a Winchester chambered in .44-40, a cartridge whose black powder use often resulted in significantly heavier wear.

We would confidently rate the bore 9 out of 10, making it well above average compared to most surviving examples encountered today.

Finding an honest, unaltered Winchester Model 1873 with its desirable octagonal barrel, original configuration, tight action, and such an outstanding bore is becoming increasingly difficult in today's market. This rifle exhibits exactly the kind of honest age and character that advanced Winchester collectors seek while retaining exceptional mechanical condition.

A wonderful example of one of America's most iconic frontier rifles, ready for further research and display.

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1885
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (.44 W.C.F.)
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 24 Inches
Overall Length: 43 Inches
Action: Lever Action Repeater
Feed System: 12-Round Tubular Magazine

History of the Winchester Model 1873
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.

Note: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are no able to ship these to the United Kingdom.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services.