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LOT 3008
Outstanding Antique Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Carbine with Factory Letter - Serial no. 156644A, 44-40 WCF cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. This extraordinary Winchester Model 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine features the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover rail and
dust cover with serrated edges. The barrel has a block mounted front sight located behind the upper barrel band and folding, adjustable leaf, rear sight marked “1873”
at the top of the leaf. A staple mounted saddle ring is located on the left side of the receiver. The buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor, and the butt trap contains a three-piece jointed steel cleaning rod. The barrel, magazine, barrel bands and receiver have the Winchester commercial blue finish. The dust cover and loading gate have a
fire blue finish. The hammer, trigger, lever, lever latch and buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are oil-finished, straight grain, American walnut. The top
of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: “WINCHESTER’S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING’S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860.”The top of the barrel between the rear sight, and the receiver is stamped with the caliber designation:“44 CAL.”“44 CAL”is stamped in script letters on the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped in script on the lower tang between the lever latch and the tang screw. The upper tang is roll-stamped: “-MODEL 1873.-” in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The carbine is accompanied by a factory letter which states the carbine was received in the warehouse on August 9, 1884, and shipped on November 8, 1884.
CONDITION: Excellent plus. This carbine is all
original and retains 97% plus of the original
blue finish overall. The feathered factory polish
marks remain visible on the top of the receiver
on either side of the dust cover rail. Wear is limited
to a few very insignificant scratches and storage marks.
The fire blue finish on the dust cover is thin, and the sides of the dust cover
show a blue gray patina. 95% of the fire blue finish remains on the loading gate. The hammer, trigger lever and buttplate retain 90% plus of the color casehardened finish with some minor wear on contact points. The barrel and receiver markings are extremely sharp. The stock and forearm remain in nearly new condition with raised, feathered grain. Winchester Model 1873 Carbines were working guns and a Model 1873 Carbine manufactured in the 1880s that remains in excellent condition is very scarce. This is an exceptional example of a 1883 production Winchester Model 1873 Carbine that would be difficult to improve upon.
Provenance: The Joe Marlin Hilliard Collection.
Estimate: 30,000 - 45,000
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