Winchester Model 1873 Third Model .38-40 Rifle, 24-inch Round Barrel, 1888 Antique
This 1888 Winchester Model 1873 Third Model rifle is an antique .38-40 Win. (marked .38 W.C.F.) with a 24-inch round steel barrel and a full-length tubular magazine. It features the Third Model integral dust-cover rail, top ejection, and classic rifle configuration with straight-grip, oil-finished walnut furniture and a steel crescent buttplate with trapdoor. Tang is marked "Model 1873," and capacity is 15+1.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: The original sliding dust cover is missing. The receiver and barrel exhibit widespread finish loss. The walnut stocks show wear consistent with field use.
What’s Included
- Winchester Model 1873 Third Model rifle chambered in .38-40 Win.
As a Third Model, this rifle incorporates the integral dust-cover rail on the receiver and retains the two-piece sideplate construction. It uses top ejection and a right-side loading gate, consistent with late-19th-century Winchester design.
The rifle is configured with a 24-inch round steel barrel and a full-length tubular magazine for a 15+1 capacity. The receiver is iron/steel, and the gun was made in the United States during the 1880s.
Sights include a fixed front blade and an adjustable sporting rear sight with a step elevator. The walnut furniture features a straight-grip stock and a rifle forend with a steel cap. A steel crescent buttplate with a trapdoor provides storage for cleaning rods, and the length of pull measures 12.5 inches.
Markings align with the caliber and model: the barrel is stamped ".38 W.C.F." and the upper tang is marked "Model 1873." These details, along with its 1888 manufacture date, place this example firmly within the classic production era of the Model 1873.