{"product_id":"original-u-s-winchester-model-1873-44-40-repeating-rifle-made-in-1894-with-excellent-24-octagonal-barrel-serial-473548b","title":"Original U.S. Winchester Model 1873 .44-40 Repeating Rifle Made in 1894 with Excellent 24\" Octagonal Barrel - Serial 473548B","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. \"The Gun that Won the West!\" This lovely 1873 Winchester repeating rifle is in .44-40 caliber, correctly marked with \u003cstrong\u003e44 W.C.F.\u003c\/strong\u003e over the chamber and \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e44 CAL.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e on the brass carrier block. It features a desirable 24\" octagonal barrel and full-length magazine tube. As with all examples, it is marked \u003cstrong\u003eMODEL. 1873.\u003c\/strong\u003e on the upper receiver tang. Features the classic front sight with a nickel blade and iconic \"buckhorn\" rear adjustable sight. The serial number is\u003cstrong\u003e \u003cem\u003e473548\u003c\/em\u003eB\u003c\/strong\u003e, denoting the year of manufacture as \u003cstrong\u003e1894\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso, as it is marked with a serial number over 90,000, this is considered a \"Third Model\", which featured improvements over the first two iterations of the design. The most noticeable change from the Second to Third models is that the dovetail that the dust cover slide on is machined directly into the receiver, and not attached by screws as it was previously. The Third model is what Winchester made until the end of the production run when the serial numbers exceeded 700,000.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe engraving on the top of the barrel is still fully legible:-\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e— KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860. —\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe overall metal finish is very good, still retaining some of the original bluing on the sides and bottom of the receiver, as well as on the protected areas on the top of the magazine tube and bottom of the barrel. The balance shows a lovely worn plum patina, with some areas showing a bit of past pepper, but no major oxidation. We did notice what look like vice marks on the barrel, so it may possibly have been adjusted or replaced during service. The stocks are in lovely condition, showing a lovely red brown color. There are the expected dings and dents from long service, but no cracks, major damage, or repairs. We did note that the right bottom wrist looks to have been personalized, with what looks to be \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e133717 \/ TOR BRUNBERG TWIN\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e scratched into the stock. The butt stock has a lovely crescent butt plate with a working storage compartment (empty).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis lever action repeater is offered with the action in fully functional tight condition, with a working original dust cover. It cycles well, and we did not notice any sticking or major slop in the action. The bore is in excellent condition, showing a bright finish with crisp lands and grooves. There is a bit of past oxidation and fouling in the grooves, now cleaned away, and this is well above what we usually see on Winchesters in the popular .44-40 chambering. We would rate the bore at 9 out of 10.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lovely honest used example of an iconic frontier repeating rifle with a great bore. These are becoming increasingly hard to find on the market in nice condition. Fully cleaned and ready for display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1894\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .44-40 Winchester\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 24 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 43 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Lever Action Repeater\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 12-round tube magazine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDue 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\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe .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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote: 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44863178932293,"sku":"ONJR26MABS020","price":4395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/5CA9E323-6632-4BCD-88D2-713C2E118931.jpg?v=1775841880","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-winchester-model-1873-44-40-repeating-rifle-made-in-1894-with-excellent-24-octagonal-barrel-serial-473548b","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}