FRONTIER USED 1873 .44-40 20" OCTAGON SHORT RIFLE, #544XXX, SHIPPED 1900.

Description:
FRONTIER USED 1873 .44-40 20" OCTAGON SHORT RIFLE, #544XXX, SHIPPED 1900. This one came out of Arizona recently and looks like it went through some hard usage during the Mexican Revolution (1910 - 1920). These short rifles were very popular on both sides of the border in the Southwest. Easily identified as a true short rifle and not a cut-down by the one inch shorter length of the forend- 8 3/8" compared to the standard 9 3/8". The overall metal condition on this one is a dark brown patina with some patches of rust pitting. Barrrel markings are all visible. It has a carbine ladder rear sight sith slide intact and small blade/bead front sight. The muzzle end of the barrel shows heavy wear on the sharp octagon edges which are now rounded at the end of the barrel- takes a lot of in and out scabbard use to produce this! Where the serial number is located on the bottom tang there is considerable pitting with only a few numbers readily visible. A previous owner used magnification and various lighting/tilting to come up with the rest of the numbers so he could get a call in sheet from the Cody Museum which verifies the caliber, oct. barrel length and a shipping date of March 1900. The forend shows heavy handling  overall and chipping along the right top portion. The butt stock may be an old replacement as the butt plate has no provision for a cleaning rod trap door- only the .32-20 had a solid butt plate. There is a "P. H." lightly carved in the left side and a silver (nickel silver?) small inlay in the right side of the stock. The tang screw is a replacement and lower tang wood screw is missing. Dust cover is intact, brass lifter is mellow and uncleaned/unpolished. Bore shows rifling all the way through but is dark and pitted. Loads of history in this '73! 

Curio/Relic: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .44-40 Winchester
Manufacturer: WINCHESTER
Model: 1873 SHORT RIFLE
Barrel Length: 20" OCT.
Condition: FAIR/GOOD

Price: $1,795.00