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Winchester M.1873 Rifle w/7-Leaf Express sight

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,250.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Winchester M.1873 Rifle w/7-Leaf Express sight
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA
Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle, with factory 7-Leaf Express rear sight and Beach front sight, #334170, .44 WCF cal., 24'' octagonal barrel, originally with blue finish, dustcover, straight walnut stock and forend, crescent buttplate and brass trap, and sling swivels mounted to forend cap and buttstock. Top barrel flat is marked ''Winchester's Repeating Arms, New Haven, Conn. U.S.A. / King's Improvement Patented March 29, 1866, October 16, 1860''; upper receiver tang is roll stamped ''Model 1873'' in fancy script; lower tang is marked with the serial number behind the lever latch. With factory letter verifying all features, including 7 Leaf Express and Beach sights, shipped November 14, 1890, to Order number 19479. (See page 316 of ''Winchester's New Model of 1873, A Tribute'', Vol. I, by James D. Gordon, where he states ''The rarest and perhaps most interesting rear sight found on Model 1873s is the 'Winchester Seven Leaf Express'. Because of the length of the Seven Leaf sight, the factory had to move the barrel address further ahead than normal on such guns and put the caliber marking on the side of the barrel.'' Condition is very good with no original finish remaining but with a nice light gray patina with brown/reddish highlights overall. Dustcover with some light pitting; left sideplate and frame around hammer and near wrist with small impressions; hammer with faded case colors remaining. The 7-Leaf Express sight retains all its leaves and shows no signs of repair. Buttstock and forend show oil darkening and normal scratches and normal signs of age and wear; forend remains sound with no cracks or breaks. Left side of buttstock is marked ''44''. Action is fine, bore is dark with general corrosion. An attractive Winchester 1873 with the hard-to-find factory 7-Leaf Express sight feature. Est.: $6,500-$8,500. (Antique)