{"product_id":"original-u-s-winchester-model-1873-44-40-rifle-made-in-1884-with-24-octagon-barrel-and-shortened-magazine-tube-serial-166366a","title":"Original U.S. Winchester Model 1873 .44-40 Rifle Made in 1884 with 24\" Octagon Barrel and Shortened Magazine Tube - Serial 166366A","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. \"The Gun that Won the West!\" This lovely \"frontier used\" Winchester repeating rifle is in .44-40 caliber, marked .44 CAL. on the breech end of the barrel and brass carrier block. It features a desirable 24\" octagon barrel, and a shortened \"half-length\" magazine tube, popular among hunters. It also looks to have been fitted with a custom walnut buttstock, with a black hard rubber butt pad. As with all examples, it is marked \u003cstrong\u003eMODEL. 1873.\u003c\/strong\u003e on the upper receiver tang. Features a replacement silver front blade sight and and popular \"Flat-Top\" rear adjustable sight. The serial number on the lower receiver tang is \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e166366\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA\u003c\/strong\u003e, denoting the year of manufacture as \u003cstrong\u003e1884\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 patent markings on the top of the barrel are present and fully legible:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN CT.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition of the rifle is quite good, especially considering the amount of use on the frontier it must have seen. The metalwork is overall worn to a nice plum brown patina, with some of the more protected areas still retaining the original bluing. There are some dents and dings on the barrel, but no evidence of major past peppering or other oxidation. The stocks are in beautiful condition, with the forestock showing only light wear with no damage, and the replaced butt stock in excellent condition, with just some light wear and a great color. As it has a flat rubber butt plate, there is no storage compartment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis lever action repeater has a nice tight action in fully functional condition with an original dust cover. The rifle cycles well and dry fires, with great mechanical operation, free from sticking or other issues. We checked the bore, and it shows shows a bright finish with clear lands and grooves, showing only light wear and past fouling. Definitely far above after, and we would rate it a solid 8-9 out of 10.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA great example of an iconic frontier gun with some great period alterations, ready to 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: 1884\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .44-40 Winchester\u003cbr\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 26 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 43 3\/4 Inches\u003cbr\u003eAction type: Lever Action Repeater\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 5-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":45193259024453,"sku":"ONJR26JURA113","price":1995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR26JURA113.jpg?v=1782157717","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-winchester-model-1873-44-40-rifle-made-in-1884-with-24-octagon-barrel-and-shortened-magazine-tube-serial-166366a","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}