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LOT 20
Rare Documented Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873
Lever Action Short Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 223094,
38 WCF cal., 20 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. Offered here is a rare 20 inch barrel Model 1873 short rifle in deluxe
configuration. Winchester expert and author George Madis noted that these
short rifles “were most popular in the Southwest along the Mexican border and have usually seen
long and hard use. They are often called ‘Border Model’ by collectors” (“The Winchester Book,” page 162).
Per Madis one of each 450 Model 1873 rifles had special shorter barrel (page 212). Known simply as “The
Gun that Won the West,” the Winchester Model 1873 rifle stands as an icon of American firepower on the
open frontier that still resonates with modern collectors. The Model 1873 was a “working gun” that saw hard
use, and those in high condition are highly sought after. Finding a deluxe Model 1873 in any condition is
becoming increasingly difficult. For the typical Winchester customer special features such as deluxe wood
were generally considered too costly and unnecessary for those looking for a reliable “working gun.” Per
Madis one of each 600 Model 1873s had special wood and one of each 700 guns had checkering. This
combination of short rifle and deluxe wood make this Model 1873 a Winchester rarity missing from even
the most advanced public or private collections.
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