WINCHESTER 1873 .44-40

The Winchester 1873, also known as “The Gun that won the West”, was perhaps the most successful lever action rifles of its time, being sold in its original configuration until 1923. This is a particularly early example, made in 1876 and having the distinct “Thumbprint” dust cover. Having just turned 150 years old as of 2026, this rifle has seen quite a bit of use, and as such is rather worn. Its stocks have been rubbed down and maintained by an unknown number of previous owners, and its steel has had much of its original finish worn away by many years of use and being polished with various types of cloth and oil. Externally there are no signs of significant corrosion, and internally the bore shows strong rifling, with only mild pitting from the use of black powder. Most notably, the action feels somewhat loose and there appears to be a ring in the barrel, with a faintly visible bulge, otherwise, this is a wonderful example of an early 1873 that has seen honest use on the frontier.