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Winchester Model 1873 Rifle w/Fancy Wood
Guns International #: 101584985 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:
Sale Pending. Winchester 1873 3rd Model Rifle in Caliber 38-40 with beautifully figured walnut stocks. Standard Sporting Rifle Configuration with 24" Octagon Barrel, Full Magazine, Crescent Buttplate, Standard Trigger and Factory Winchester sights. The finish was originally blued and has been worn to a light grey to brown patina over the past 130 years. The original American Black Walnut stock and forend have some nice burl figure mainly on the right side and to a lesser degree on the left profile. See photos. I've had hundreds of Model 1873's over the years but only a few standard grade guns with this level of walnut. The last one I had like this was also a 38-40 3rd Model with an octagon barrel that came out of a barn in Arkansas about 20 years ago. It had a great dark patina and sold it to a guy who thinking he was doing it a favor, buffed the Hell out of the metal and sanded the wood. Broke my heart to see how it ended up! Fortunately, this one has not been ruined and it's got a good look to it. It is a bit of mystery how a standard rifle gets such pretty wood like this as it has no markings inside the lower tang in the form of stamped X's indicating special order wood. For what it's worth, I'll give you my theory on this. Typically, the best figured wood was likely kept in the Winchester Custom shop reserved for deluxe and special order guns. Winchester graded their fancy wood 1X, 2X, 3X, or 4X. Most Deluxes have 2X or 3X. 4X was usually too unstable..particularly in the wrist areas of the stock so it was rarely used. When the blanks were cut, sometimes the burl figure wasn't prominent or symmetrical enough from side to side to qualify as deluxe wood that could fetch a heftier price. That's probably the case on this gun. This wood is every bit of 1X on the right side but not quite enough on the left to where Winchester could charge extra. However, this grade of wood would usually end up on a special order gun such as a 1873 with a Case Color Hardened Receiver because it was stocked by the Custom shop and a lot more of this fancy walnut on hand that didn't make the grade. My guess is that some of this wood occasionally ended up on standard rifles when wood was in short supply in the factory OR the custom shop was doing a little Spring cleaning and needed extra shelf space. At any rate, this is not normal for a standard Winchester but you can also tell, it's not a random occurence because Both the Stock and Forend have burl so they were clearly matched as a pair. I'm sure the original owner of this rifle must have been ecstatic to get such a pretty looking 73' for the regular price. Condition-Wise, it's in NRA Antique Good Condition with the metal worn to grey. Good edges, good screws, nice markings on the barrel and upper tang. Brass loading block shows so marks and dings but "38 CAL" in script is still mostly legible. Serial number is in the 298,000 range which dates its production to 1889...one of the more prolific production years for the Model 1873. The action is in nice shape...lever stays up, firing pin indexes properly. The bore is Good+ with good looking lands and grooves. It shows used but looks like it was taken care of as there is no major pitting, rings, or bulges. The wood is Good+ as well with decent wood to metal fit, no cracks, no chips, or repairs of any kind. Just an honest 1873 that was used to put meat on some hunter's table for many years. Antique, Pre-1898. No FFL required. Buyer must be of legal age and a law-abiding Citizen. Sorry, no sales to DC, NYC, Chicago. Sales to NJ Residents will require an FFL Transfer. $45.00 Shipping via USPS Priority Mail in Lower US 48. SALE PENDING!
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .38-40 Winchester
Manufacturer: Winchester
Model: 1873
Manufacture Date: 1889