UNFINISHED PROJECT WINCHESTER THIRD MODEL 1873 TAKE DOWN RIFLE

Description:
Rare take-down frame with 24 inch octagon barrel marked 22 CAL. Full length tube magazine. Brass cartridge carrier/lifter is marked 22 CAL. SHORT. Original Sporting sights. Plain walnut  forearm with matching straight  grip buttstock fit with a crescent rifle buttplate. This is an unfinished project in need of more work. The bore has been reamed out to about .30 caliber. Don’t know what the plan was for sure, but the firing pin was modified to centerfire and it looks like they were going for .32 caliber. The chamber will accept a .32 Short Colt cartridge but a .32 Long Colt bottoms before fully inserted as does a 32-20. The cartridge Carrier/lifter will also accept the 32 Short or Long Colt but not a 32-20. The magazine no longer has the removable inner magazine tube for the 22 caliber rimfire cartridges. Perhaps they were planning to put a cap on the outer tube and put a loading gate in the right side cover? The barrel and magazine are mostly a deep brown patina mottled with gray specks and the receiver being more of a Gray patina mottled with brown specks. The action is stiff. The stocks are solid and full fitting to the receiver showing wear with handling marks. Manufactured in 1884. If you’re in need of a challenge, this could be the project you’re looking for.

Leroy Merz Antique Firearms specializes in antique and vintage Winchesters and other fine American firearms. Since 1965 Mr. Merz has taken part in the world of firearms and has been a contributor to many well known reference books. We have hundreds of additional guns in every price range at our home online. Search for Merz Antiques in google.
 

 

Antique: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .32 RF

Price: $1,950.00