Winchester 1873 1st Model SRC Saddle Ring Carbine .44-40 Lever Rifle, 1876
SOLD FOR: $3,425.00
WOA#: WY240326CM082
Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Rifle First Model Saddle Ring Carbine
Serial Number: 18582
Year of Manufacture: 1876
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (.44 Winchester Center Fire)
Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “WINCHESTER’S REPEATING ARMS NEW HAVEN, CT. / KING’S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860.”. The bottom tang is marked “18582”. The top tang is marked “MODEL. 1873”.
Barrel Length: 20”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade integral to a rectangular base fixed to the barrel behind the front barrel band. The rear sight is a “V”-notch dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The rear sight was a folding sight, but has been modified to be fixed. The rear sight is not original to the gun. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, and crescent buttplate with a sliding door in front of a storage compartment in the butt (nothing in the compartment). The buttstocks have repaired breaks in the wrist and from the rear of the top tang back to the buttplate on each side of the comb. There are some scattered nicks and scratches. The LOP measures 12 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate mounting screws do not appear to be correct and the plate has play to the wood. The plate is worn to white with scattered discoloration from oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition as refinished and repaired Antique.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: The surfaces show treatment with cold blue.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling shows some wear, but is generally well defined. There is scattered erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 4 or 5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 5% of its metal finish. Most surfaces have worn to white. There is some weak cold blue. There are infrequent spots of stronger finish in the receiver, most notable around the saddle ring. There is scattered minor surface oxidation. There is some surface erosion, most and most notable on the magazine tube. The lever lock is missing from the bottom tang. There are some light nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with questionably usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. There is a dust cover on the receiver that slides inside of a rail integral to the receiver, typical of the First Models. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: One of the most successful, and certainly one of the most famous Winchester rifles was the Winchester Model 1873, known as “The Gun that Won the West” for its predominant role in the hands of Western settlers. The Model 1873 had a steel frame that was much stronger than the brass framed Model 1866, allowing Winchester to develop a family of powerful new cartridges, with Colt usually producing Single Action Army revolvers in the same calibers shortly after they were developed. The .44-40 Win. cartridge, also known as the .44 WCF, was introduced by Winchester in 1873 as Winchester’s first metallic centerfire cartridge with a number of WCF cartridges to follow. Colt produced single action revolvers chambered for the Winchester cartridges as well, allowing users to have a rifle and handgun which shared the same ammunition.
This is a fairly early example, serial 18582, and is a saddle ring carbine. The rifle appears to have had a very useful life, with wear consistent with its age of nearly 150 years. The stocks have some repaired damage and the buttplate needs to be properly installed. This is an honest gun in a desirable configuration and deserves a spot in a collection of lever action rifles next to its 1866, 1876, 1886, 1892 and 1894 cousins. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
