Make: Winchester
Model: 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine
Serial Number: 555228
Year of Manufacture: 1901, C&R
Caliber: .38-40 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)
Action Type: Lever Action with Full Length Tubular Magazine
Barrel Length: 20" Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the barrel behind the front barrel band. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight which presents a "V"-notch when down and has a "V"-notch slider on the ladder. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel carbine-style buttplate with sliding-door storage compartment (there is nothing in the compartment). The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs, and scratches. There are notches in the front of the comb. The wood is discolored where it meets the metal. There is a tiny chip at the left-front edge of the forend. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 12 7/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has gone to a moderate patina with some minor surface erosion and some light scraping in the face. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is moderate erosion and pitting throughout the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 3 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This carbine retains about 3% of its metal finish. Most surfaces show wear or have gone to a light patina. There are scattered areas of darker discoloration and some minor surface erosion. There are scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There is wear on the left around the saddle ring. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this carbine is in Good Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this carbine. There is a lever lock on the lower tang, a lever safety, and a dust cover on the receiver that slides on an integral rail, 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 carbine comes with a Winchester factory records letter which indicates it was produced as a Carbine in 38 caliber, received in warehouse April 4, 1901, and shipped June 8, 1901 on order number 99841.
Our Assessment: The famous Winchester lever action repeating rifle, known as "the gun that won the West", had its beginnings in the Volcanic Firearms Company and the later designs by Benjamin Tyler Henry.The Model 1873 had a steel frame that was much stronger than the brass framed Model 1866, allowing Winchester to move away from .44 rimfire and develop the powerful new .44-40 WCF cartridge, as well as a family of other new potent rounds, with Colt usually producing Single Action Army revolvers in the same calibers shortly after they were developed. This example is a Model 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine with a 20" barrel that looks like it was “rode hard and put away wet” a few times. Despite its outward appearance, which indicates a long and useful life, the mechanics are still pretty good. This would make a nice addition to a Winchester or Old West firearms collection, and will display well with its "been there, done that" appearance.
RIFLE