Original U.S. Winchester Model 1873 .44-40 Saddle Ring Carbine Serial Number 521969B with 18" Barrel - Made in 1898

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a great patinated vintage cowboy Winchester Model 1873 carbine in the most popular caliber of .44/40, as used in both carbines and six guns revolvers of the era. Offered in very nice aged condition and correct in all respects, serial number is worn but still legible as 521969B, which indicates that it was manufactured in 1898. The carbine has definitely seen long use on the frontier, which has worn down a good amount of the metalwork. There are only traces of the "MODEL 1873" marking on the upper receiver tang, and the caliber markings on the barrel and carrier block are completely gone. However, we have measured the barrel and chamber, and even test fit a round, and this is definitely in the desirable .44/40 chambering.

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 carbine does look to have had some modifications during its service life, mainly that the barrel and magazine were shortened by 2 inches to 18 inches in length, probably due to damage to the muzzle end. Interestingly, the fore stock was also shortened by a similar amount, and we can still see on the top of the barrel that the barrel band used to be about 2 inches farther forward. The original rear sight was replaced with a "flat-top" type, which is missing the adjustment wedge. This Carbine has a curved brass butt plate with a storage compartment (empty), and the side mounted saddle ring.

Due to the wear to the exterior, the original patent and address marking on the top of the barrel is mostly worn away, with only NEW HAVEN, CT. still legible. The carbine is in nice well-used and matured condition showing use and really presents nicely, definitely looking like it saw long use on the frontier. The metalwork shows an overall oxidized patina and matte texture due to decades of oxidation and subsequent cleaning. There are some old peppering and pitting scars, as well as a "ring" worm around the saddle ring from it moving around. Masses of character here!

The stocks are in very good shape, with the lovely red-brown color of aged oiled walnut. The fore stock is in really lovely shape, showing very little wear, though as mentioned previously it has been shortened by 2 inches. The butt stock is in lovely condition, showing little wear of any kind. given the condition of the metalwork, we feel that the stocks were almost certainly replaced at some point during the period.

This lever action repeater still cycles, however the action is definitely well worn, so the lever will not stay in place in either the open or closed position unless held there or secured under the latch on the trigger guard tang. It does dry fire, but we have no idea if it is still able to feed due to the wear on various components. We checked the bore, and it is in good condition, with a mostly dark finish showing clear lands and grooves. There are some areas of past oxidation, now cleaned away, and overall it looks to have seen a good amount of use, and was not properly cleaned afterwards.

A very nice "frontier worn" Winchester Model 1873 carbine, ready to research and display! This is a gun that will look fantastic on the wall with its great aged patina!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1898
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 18 Inches
Overall Length: 37 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Repeater
Feed System: 7-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.