Original U.S. Winchester Model 1873 .32-20 Repeating Rifle with Octagonal Barrel Made in 1882 - Serial 110278A

Original Item: Only One Available. "The Gun that Won the West!" This lovely "frontier worn" repeating rifle is in .32-20 Winchester caliber, correctly marked with 32 - CAL. over the chamber and 32 CAL. (obscured) on the brass carrier block. It features a desirable 24 inch octagonal barrel and full-length magazine tube. As with all examples, it is marked MODEL. 1873. on the upper receiver tang. Features a replaced "sporting" style front sight and a "flat-top" rear adjustable sight. The serial number is 110278A, denoting the year of manufacture as 1882.

Also, as it is marked with a serial number over 90,000, this is considered a "Third Model", which featured improvements over the first two iterations of the design. The most noticeable change from the Second to Third models is that the dovetail that the dust cover slide on is machined directly into the receiver, and not attached by screws as it was previously. The Third model is what Winchester made until the end of the production run when the serial numbers exceeded 700,000.

The engraving on the top of the barrel is present and fully legible, though the top line is a bit faint:-

WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT.
KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860.

Condition of the rifle is very good, showing a lovely worn patina on most of the metalwork, indicating long use on the frontier, with multiple cleanings to remove dirt and light oxidation. We do not see any major rust issues, so the gun was well cared for, just used for a very long time. The fore stock is well worn, now quite a bit reduced in size, and there is a crack on the bottom running almost the entire length, which we have left in place to preserve the history. The butt stock also shows a good amount of use, with some past carvings visible, and there is a crack on the right side running back from the receiver tang. Both have a lovely color, only seen on well-aged walnut. The crescent butt plate on this example does not have a storage compartment.

This lever action repeater has a nice action in fully functional condition with an original dust cover. The rifle cycles well and dry fires, with good smooth mechanical operation, though there definitely is slop due to wear. The bore is in good condition, still showing faint rifling, however much of it is worn almost smooth, showing a bright finish. There is also a bit of past oxidation and fouling in areas, now cleaned away.

A lovely "frontier worn" example of an iconic gun with a great look, ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1882
Caliber: .32-20 Winchester
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 24 Inches
Overall Length: 43 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Repeater
Feed System: 15-round tube magazine

The Model 1873 was one of the most successful Winchester rifles of its day, gaining the reputation as "The Gun that Won the West". Still an icon almost a century and a half later, it was manufactured between 1873 and 1919. Originally chambered for the .44-40 cartridge, it was later produced in .38-40 and .32-20, all of which were also popular handgun cartridges of the day, allowing users to conveniently carry just one type of ammunition. The Model 1873 was produced in three variations: a 24" barrel rifle, 20" barrel carbine, and a musket. The easy to transport and handle carbine was the most popular, while the musket accounted for less than 5-10 percent of total production.

Due to feeding problems, the original Model 1873 was never offered in the military standard .45 Colt cartridge, although a number of modern reproductions are chambered for the round. The popularity of the original Model 1873 led Colt to manufacture .44-40 a version of the Single Action Army revolver called the "Frontier Model".

To both celebrate and enhance the Model 1873's prestige, Winchester established a coveted One of One Thousand grade in 1875. Barrels producing unusually small groupings during test-firing were fitted to rifles with set triggers and a special finish. Marked One of One Thousand, they sold for a then princely $100. A popular 1950 Western starring Jimmy Stewart, Winchester '73, was based on the coveted gun. Promotions included a search for One of One Thousand rifles by Universal Studios, with advertisements in sporting magazines and posters in sporting goods stores.

A second grade of Model 1873 barrels producing above average accuracy were fitted to rifles marked One of One Hundred, and sold for $20 over list. Approximately 136 One of One Thousand Model 1873s were sold, and only eight One of One Hundreds. In all, over 720,000 Model 1873s were produced.

The .38-40 Winchester round is actually a .40 caliber cartridge shooting .401 caliber bullets. The cartridge was introduced by Winchester in 1874 and is derived from their .44-40 Winchester. This cartridge was introduced for rifles, but in its reintroduction for Cowboy Action Shooting it has seen some popularity as a pistol cartridge. It is not particularly well suited to hunting larger game, but it was popular when it was introduced, along with the previous .44-40 Winchester, for deer hunting. It can be used successfully on smaller game animals, and for self-defense.

Note: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.