{"product_id":"original-u-s-winchester-model-1873-44-40-rifle-with-factory-replacement-round-barrel-made-in-1883","title":"Original U.S. Winchester Model 1873 .44-40 Rifle with Factory Replacement Round Barrel - Made in 1883","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. \"The Gun that Won the West!\" This very fine rifle is in .44-40 caliber (marked \u003cstrong\u003e.44 W.C.F. \u003c\/strong\u003eabove the chamber) with an original Factory Replacement 24\" round barrel. \u003cspan\u003eFeatures the classic front sight and a \"flat-top\" rear sight, and has a full length magazine tube. \u003c\/span\u003eThe serial number is \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e119697A\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e denoting the year of manufacture as 1883. The engraving on top of the barrel is clear:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe barrel is also marked \u003cstrong\u003eMADE IN U.S.A.\u003c\/strong\u003e on the side under the rear sight, and has the \u003cstrong\u003eW over P\u003c\/strong\u003e in an oval Winchester Proof mark used after 1905, as well as the \"Oval P\" proof mark. Most likely this Winchester was sent back the the factory in the early-mid 20th century, had a new barrel fitted, and at the same time had the blued finish applied, making this a very attractive rifle with a nice matching finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStocks are in very good condition, with a great finish and the deep reddish brown color of aged oiled walnut. There are just a few scratches and dents on the wood, but nothing major. Stocks have beautiful grain, and the rear stock even has some nice curl along the top.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOffered with a crisp tight action in fully functional condition with the original tight fitting dust cover. Finish is a nice dark blue, with a bit of peppering in areas, and is very nice. The factory replacement barrel is virtually unused, with a beautiful mirror-like bore that has crisp lands and grooves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a great example of a factory re-barreled Winchester 1873 repeating rifle, with a 24 inch round barrel. These are becoming increasingly hard to find on the market in nice condition. Fully cleaned and ready for display!\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\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1883 - rebarreled early-mid 20th century\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: .44-40 Winchester\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBarrel Length: 24 Inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 43  Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction type: Lever Action Repeater\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: 15-round tube magazine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNote: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are no able to ship to the United Kingdom. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":19075579314245,"sku":"ON7397","price":2495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ON7397__01.jpg?v=1598660866","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-winchester-model-1873-44-40-rifle-with-factory-replacement-round-barrel-made-in-1883","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}