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LOT 3016
Documented One of One Thousand Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial
no. 11413, 44 WCF cal., 24 3/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, deluxe walnut stock. The included
factory letter lists this rifle as a “1 of 1000” with an octagon barrel, set trigger, XXX checkered stock, sporting
leaf sight, and casehardened finish and indicates it was received in the warehouse on November 1, 1875, and
shipped the same day in order 4517. A repair and return date of December 8, 1900, in order 82556 is also listed.
The rifle is listed in the charts of One of One Thousand Model 1873s drawn from the factory ledgers shown in
Gordon’s “Winchester’s New Model of 1873: A Tribute, Volume II” on page 375 and on page 24 of “The Story of the
Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles” by Lewis. When the rifle was returned to Winchester it was apparently
rebarreled and now has a heavier octagon barrel without the “One of One Thousand” inscription at the breech.
It would be interesting to know why the rifle was rebarreled. Perhaps the owner shot it so much that he wore
out the rifling. Since being returned from the factory, it evidently saw little to no use given the high condition.
The barrel has a dovetailed blade front sight, the standard two-line address and patent marking, a dovetailed
sporting rear sight, and “44 W.C.F.” at the breech. The “First Model” frame has the “thumb print” dust cover riding
in guide grooves in the frame and is equipped with a tang peep sight with “3” marked on the underside and has
“MODEL. 1873.” marked under the peep sight, “44 CAL.” on the elevator, a single set trigger, and the script serial
number on the lower tang. The highly figured XXX walnut forearm and straight wrist stock are checkered.