Winchester Model 1873 Third Model Short Rifle .32-20 Win., 22-inch Octagon Barrel (1891)
This Winchester Model 1873 is a Third Model Short Rifle manufactured in 1891 and chambered in .32-20 Win. It features a 22-inch octagon steel barrel, a brass carrier block, and an integral dust-cover rail with sliding dust cover. The rifle is equipped with iron sights and a 12-round tubular magazine, delivering a well-defined example of the late-production 1873 configuration.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Details: The metal surfaces show widespread rust and pitting, with numerous scratches. The wood furniture has damage in several locations but does not show any cracks. The rifling is defined, though it displays visible blemishing.
What's Included
- Winchester Model 1873 Third Model Short Rifle in .32-20 Win.
The Third Model configuration includes an integral dust-cover rail with a sliding dust cover, a brass carrier block, top ejection, and a right-side loading gate. These late-pattern features distinguish it within the Model 1873 lineage.
As a Short Rifle, it is built with a 22-inch octagon steel barrel and a tubular magazine with a 12-round capacity. This compact, octagonal profile is a defining element of this variant.
Sighting is provided by a dovetailed front blade and a barrel-mounted rear sight.
The rifle is stocked in walnut with a straight grip and a crescent buttplate, and it has a 13.0-inch length of pull. The receiver and barrel are steel, consistent with Winchester construction of the era.
Manufactured in the United States by Winchester Repeating Arms in 1891, this antique Third Model 1873 presents the key mechanical and configuration traits that collectors look for in a late-production example.