The famous Winchester Model 1873 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. Even with all their success selling lever action rifles and carbines to civilians, the goal for Winchester was always to secure lucrative military contracts with the United States or any other countries willing to “pony up” for their repeaters, which is why Winchester continued to produce musket versions of their lever actions from the Model 1873 through the Model 1895. The Model 1873 and 1876 Muskets mounted a unique brass handled sword bayonet purported to have been produced by the legendary Ames Manufacturing Company of Chicopee, Mass., though based on the “crown” type markings on the ricasso, these blades appear to be of European origin, which suggests manufacture by a Horstmann-like importer who mounted European blades on their own foundry made handles. Either way, despite their murky maker’s origin story, these unique bayonets are verified to have been issued with Winchester Model 1873 and Model 1876 muskets in the last quarter of the 19th century, and they remain scarce and desirable today. This Antique Winchester 1870s Model 1873 & Model 1876 Musket Brass Handle Sword Bayonet is in Very Good condition, with some light rounding, nicking, and chipping to the blade tip, some light sharpening and scattered chipping to the blade edge, a more notable chip in the lower blade edge, some light cleaning, scratching, pitting, and spot patina at each side of the blade, some scattered cleaning, scratching, nicking, pitting, and spot patina to the guard, handle, and pommel, some scuffing to the bottom of the pommel, and with some scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features an approximately 20” long Yataghan sword style fullered blade that was factory left “in the white”, sports the classic one piece brass guard, scale gripped handle, and pommel, and is stamped with a “crown” over what appears to be the Gothic letters “CR” at the ricasso, along with the letter “B” at the reverse ricasso, and the serial, gun, or rack number “24” at the right side of the guard. These bayonets are distinguished by the unique cutout in the bottom right edge of the muzzle ring to allow it to properly fit the front sights of those two patterns of muskets. It boasts a fully functional “locking lug” attachment at the lower handle, and is a fine example of a very rare, original Antique Winchester 1870s Model 1873 & Model 1876 Musket Brass Handle Sword Bayonet. No scabbard included.
RIFLE