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Collector Grade Winchester 1873 Musket w/Antique Serial Number
Guns International #: 101399749 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Winchester Rifles - Antique Lever - Winchester Rifles - Model 1873
Seller's Information
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Seller: Brent Wilburn
Company: Antique Arms, Inc.
Member Since: 11/19/15
First Name: Brent
Last Name: Wilburn
State: Georgia
Zip: 30052
Country: United States
Phone: (678) 471-1432
Phone2: (678) 471-1432
Premium Seller
Number of Active Listings: 36
Total Number of Listings: 580
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Money Order, Certified Check
Description:
This is a very nice 3rd Model 1873 Winchester Musket in 44-40. Standard 30" Barrel, military stocks, sling swivels, and military sights. Serial number is in the 481,000 range that shipped in 1894 with several hundred others just like it, most likely to a foreign land. About 10 years ago, I was at the Louisville show and saw this exact Winchester 1873 Musket for sale on a dealer's table for sale. I blinked at the price and before I knew it, it had gotten away. I haven't seen a nicer antique one before or since. Then, about 2 weeks ago, it popped up on a table at the same show, and believe me when I say, I DID NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE!
When I first saw this one years ago, it was so nice that at first I thought it was one of the 1903 vintage Muskets in the 569,000-571,000 serial range that came back from Nicaragua in the 1950's that were sold by a dealer in New York. He had a brochure that listed them for $35.00 for one in fair condition, $45.00 for good, and $60 for very good. Very Good was basically Excellent to Minty and unfired. When I looked a little closer, thinking it had to be one from the 570,000 batch, it was actually from an earlier group made in the 1890's which are usually found in pretty rough shape. It even had the original 5 piece cleaning rods still in the trap of the buttstock. For comparison, in 1986, I bought one out of Gunlist which I still have today. It was just a few hundred numbers from this one (same batch made in 1894) and looked like it served through every swamp and jungle in Central America. This one must have stayed at the Generalisimo's palace because it showed very little wear. Even the buttplate still had its original vivid case colors.
According to the Winchester Book by George Madis, Winchester 1873 muskets were only 5% of production although based on my own two eyes in 37 years of collecting, I think that figure is a little high. After Turkey wiped out a large chunk of the Russian Army at the battle of Plevna in 1877 with Model 1866 Muskets, the world sat up and took notice of what Winchester repeaters with long extended magazines could do. Suddenly, the Prussians were re-designing their Model 1871 Bolt Action with a tubular magazine, etc. etc. As a result, Winchester had several sizable orders of their new improved Central Fire Model 1873 musket that were shipped to foreign militaries from Siam to South America. If you collect, you typically will encounter 1873 muskets in one of three main batches which are around the 370,000 range, the 480,000 range, and the 570,000 range with smaller batches that turn up throughout the Model 1873's 50 year production run, even 1st Models and 2nd Models. Over the years, most of the ones in the 370,000 and 480,000 range have been in pretty rough shape although I've had a couple that had some blue left on them in the 370,000 range and maybe one in the 480,000 range that was also very decent. In contrast, aside from some longterm storage and poor handling where they were banded together when shipped back to the USA in the 50's, the ones in the 570,000 range were mostly unfired and right out of the factory crates. By this point in time, 1903, the smokeless 7mm bolt action Mausers had eclipsed the obsolete toggle link action Winchester Muskets and they sat in their crates largely untouched for 5 decades. As much as I like those late ones (some of the muskets in that batch are the finest 1873's in existence), what made this one special was that it was in the 481,000 and therefore a bonafide Pre-1898 antique. I've been collecting Winchesters since 1984 and I've never seen a nicer Pre-1898 Antique 1873 Musket than this one.
This one is in NRA Antique Excellent Condition with about 94% bright blue with the balance of loss in the form of brown age freckling in the blue. It has very little loss of blue from actual wear and the blue coverage on the frame is really more like 98%. The loading port still shows 95% of its bright electric fire blue. The barrel has 95% of its original blue while the hammer shows 85% strong case colors with about 50-60% remaining on the lever. The buttplate shows 95% original case colors with the 5 piece original cleaning rod set still behind the brass sliding trapdoor in the buttstock. The stock and forend are in Fine Condition with no cracks, chips, or repairs. Overall, the wood has the typical dings and small bruises you find on these muskets from when they were banded together and shipped back to America half a century ago. Even the minty later ones were pulled from their crates and bailed together in the same manner to cut down on shipping costs. The bore is Mint, action is crisp. Even the firing pin and top of the bolt still have most of their original blue remaining. If one were to compare this musket in the 481,000 range to the better part of the 570,000 group, I'd say this one would fit comfortably in the middle, better than some which exhibit areas of flaking, and small areas of pitting, but a little under some of those lucky one that remained dry and unfired. What this one has though that none of those others do is that desirable antique serial number that collectors want but rarely find in high condition.
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Winchester
Model: 1873
Caliber Info: 44-40
Condition: NRA Antique Excellent
Manufacture Date: 1894