Lot 3022

Antique Special Order Winchester Deluxe First Model 1873 Rifle

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Antique Special Order Winchester Deluxe First Model 1873 Rifle

Estimate: $18,000 - $27,500

Starting Bid: $16,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 23, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Attractive and Highly Desirable Antique Special Order Winchester Deluxe First Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle in .44-40 W.C.F. with Casehardened Receiver and Factory Letter Manufactured in 1877, this is an attractive example of a highly desirable, special ordered, casehardened, deluxe Winchester First Model 1873 rifle. These early production Model 1873s found their way westward in large numbers, even in deluxe configurations like this one, laying the foundations that earned this model "the gun that won the West". According to the Winchester Collectors Association, only approximately 31,000 of these "First Model" 1873s were produced out of a total production of approximately 720,000, accounting for roughly 4% of the total, with far fewer surviving a hard life as a frontier working gun. These '73s in .44-40 W.C.F. were commonly paired with Colt's Frontier Six Shooter in the same caliber, making arguably the most iconic firearms duo in the American West. The included factory letter lists this rifle with an octagon barrel, plain trigger, casehardened, and a checkered stock when received at the warehouse on 22 October 1877 and shipped on 18 May 1878 to order no. 11863. In "The Winchester Book", author George Madis estimates that one in every 600 Model 1873s had special wood and one in every 700 had checkering. The highly attractive, special ordered, casehardened receiver is in the First Model configuration with integral dust cover guides on either side of the ejection port and a dust cover with the impressed checkered "thumbprint" grip area. The top of the barrel has the two-line address and King's patent marking, and the rifle correctly lacks caliber markings as the only caliber initially offered was the iconic .44-40 W.C.F. The upper tang has the model marking, while the serial number is on the lower tang. The left side of the lower tang is marked "X 399", while "399" is repeated in the stock inlet and inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a German silver No. 21 blade front sight and an elevation adjustable No. 22 notch rear sight. It is mounted with a very nicely figured forearm and straight grip stock, both with early pattern factory checkered grip areas, and a trapdoor crescent buttplate containing an included four-piece cleaning rod.

Manufacturer: Winchester

Model: 1873

BBL: 24 inch octagon

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 44-40 WCF

Finish: blue/casehardened

Serial Number27047

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Very fine, retaining 85% plus of the factory quality professionally restored blue finish, 70% of the vibrant original case colors, and 80% of the original nitre blue on the loading gate with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, a few scattered patches of light surface pitting, and some traces of protective varnish. The dust cover is refinished. The wood is also very fine with a minor groove on the right of the stock and some scattered minor dings and scratches. Mechanically functions. This is a highly attractive example of a special ordered, deluxe Winchester First Model 1873 rifle!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000