This is a nice clean looking standard Winchester 1873 rifle built in the mid-1880's. Its in 38 WCF caliber,  24" round barrel, full magazine, and crescent rifle buttplate with sliding trapdoor.  Serial number is in the 200,000 range.  Made in the year 1886.  Overall condition is NRA Antique Very Good condition with no blue remaining.  The metal overall is a smooth grey patina that is turning to a light brown patina. Decent edges with nice markings throughout.  Loading block and barrel are marked "38 CAL" in script....both are nice...I've always liked the earlier 3rd Model 1880's vintage "CAL" markings in script on the barrels...later they change these over to "WCF" which stood for Winchester Center Fire.  Nice barrel address markings with the Henry and King Patent dates.  Upper tang is marked "Model 1873" bracketed with Fleur De Lis designs.  Good screws overall...some are perfect..some show a little screw driver wear but all are serviceable.  Original standard semi-buckhorn rear sight is present with a turn of the century Winchester elevator w/thumbpiece.  Front sight appears looks to be an old Lyman.  Wood is in very good condition with some minor dings and light scratches, but quite pleasing overall. Very nice wood to metal fit that is tight and even throughout.  Action is very good...not like new but well above average for a 1873, it still snaps shut and the firing pin indexes like it should.  Last but not least, the bore is quite nice, Very Good overall with strong rifling, a few light scattered pits, but not dark and still fairly bright...again, this is well above average for a 73.  This rifle looks like it was used and carried quite a bit but equally well-looked after....whoever owned it treated kept this one in good order...the lack of patina with nice wood that hasn't dried out (tight grain) is generally a sign of having spent years in colder climate.  Nice gun that has a really neat look to it.

Item# 0198

SOLD