Winchester 1873 3rd Model SRC .44-40 WCF Lever Rifle & Letter, 1899 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,101.01
WOA#: WY240109GH001
Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Rifle Second Model Saddle Ring Carbine
Serial Number: 529800
Year of Manufacture: March 10 1899 (Serial Number Applied, Factory Letter) C&R
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (.44 Winchester Center Fire)
Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Barrel Length: 20”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade behind the barrel band. The rear sight is a fixed “V”-notch dovetailed to the rear of the barrel.
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 stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There are losses in the wrist and a few chips. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has a mottled patina with light wear and some minor erosion at the heel and toe. The left side of the receiver has a saddle ring. Overall, the stocks are in Good-Plus condition as C&R.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: The dustplate finish does not match with the condition of the rifle and appears as not original to the rifle or scrubbed and taken to a patina. The rest of the rifle appears Original.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling shows some wear, but is generally well defined, sharp in some areas. There is some scattered erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 5 out of 10.
Most antique firearms have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the use of black powder. When fired, black powder reacts corrosively. NRA Antique Firearm Conditions Standards are quite lenient for bores. In some cases, the NRA standards disregarded the bore’s condition for collectors’ firearms.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 5% of its metal finish. Remaining finish is mostly around the edges of the sideplates, around the top of the trigger, and around the saddle ring. Other surfaces have mostly gone to a light patina or have worn to white. The dust cover was refinished a long time ago and has taken a deep patina. There are some shallow scrapes on the barrel exterior. There are scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches with tool marks around some screw heads. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition as C&R.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. There is a lever lock on the lower tang, and a dust cover on the receiver that slides on a guide rail integral to the receiver typical of the Third Models. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with its Winchester Records letter which indicates that it was originally produced as a Carbine with a 20″ barrel, received in warehouse April 07, 1899 and shipped April 10, 1899 on order 26111.
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 fantastic example, serial 529800, and is a saddle ring carbine 3rd model. The rifle appears to have had a very useful life, with wear consistent with its age of nearly 125 years. 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! – L.S.
