Very early and scarce 2nd Model Winchester 1873 rifle with EXTREMELY RARE SPECIAL ORDER EXTRA LONG 28 INCH octagon barrel in desirable, large caliber .38-40, serial number 62186, made during the Indian Wars/Frontier Period of 1880. Winchester made over 720,000 Model 1873 rifles and carbines. According to the standard reference: The Winchester Handbook, by George Madis, of this huge number of 1873s only 1201 rifles had barrels longer than the standard length of 24”. Considering that Winchester offered extra long lengths all the way to 36” in round barrels, octagon barrels and half-octagon barrels, there could only be a handful of 28” length octagon barrel rifles manufactured...and of these the survival rate would have to be even smaller, making this rifle one of a very few in existence today. This rifle also features a special shotgun Butt instead of the standard curved crescent butt plates found on most 1873 rifles. It is a known fact that Winchester used these shotgun butt stocks on almost all .38-40 2nd Model rifles as standard. Second Models are easily identified by the two screws holding the dust cover rail on the receiver top. Later Third Models have the rail integral with the receiver top. Also, Winchester used the same receivers on most Second Model rifles as they did on carbines, so these are also easily identified by the two factory filler screws on the left side where the carbine saddle ring staple would go. For these reasons, advanced Winchester collectors find the Second Model 1873s are a most unusual early variation to collect. Interestingly, it seems most special order long barrel rifles were in the smaller caliber .32-20, again, making this example even more rare in the large .38-40 chambering. This is the classic “Gun That Won the West!” An early and fine condition example, this 145 year old Winchester still retains good deep aged blue mixing gray patina on the receiver. The special order long 28” octagon barrel and magazine tube retains excellent and clear Winchester markings as does the upper tang. The barrel and magazine blue has aged and thinned, but shows no signs of rust or heavy cleaning. The special shotgun style walnut butt stock with correct smooth steel butt plate is in very fine condition with only light handling marks and shows very desirable tight wood to metal fit, indicating that this rifle’s wood has never been sanded or refinished. This fine 1873 rifle also retains a tight action and strong safety half-cock on the hammer. The bore is dark, heavily fouled and streaked with old leading. A bronze brush followed by several cleaning patches was run through with the result being a number of thick black fouling-coated patches. More vigorous cleaning may improve the bore. The sliding dust cover on the receiver top is intact (these are usually missing) and the loading gate retains good deep original blue. The un-polished brass lifter on the receiver bottom is correctly engraved with “38 CAL” and shows an attractive mellow patina. The lever catch is also intact and the receiver screws are fine This superior, large caliber Model 1873 is in better condition than normally encountered for an early 2nd Model than usually encountered the collector market today. It is fitted with a buckhorn rear sight and blade front sight. A fine example of a rifle produced in a factory before the use of electricity that is as good and solid today as it was on the day it was made. The Model 1873 was the standard for lever actions throughout the Frontier Period in the West which, in some areas, lasted well into the twentieth century. Most surviving specimens show heavy use and often abuse with broken or missing parts making this example far better than normally encountered. This rifle, in the very rare and desirable extra long barrel length of 28 inches plus large caliber .38-40 would be a prize for any Winchester or Western themed collection. The rifle weighs 8lbs 10oz. Serial Number: 62486. Very early and scarce 2nd Model Winchester 1873 rifle with EXTREMELY RARE SPECIAL ORDER EXTRA LONG 28 INCH octagon barrel in desirable, large caliber .38-40, serial number 62186, made during the Indian Wars/Frontier Period of 1880. Winchester made over 720,000 Model 1873 rifles and carbines. According to the standard reference: The Winchester Handbook, by George Madis, of this huge number of 1873s only 1201 rifles had barrels longer than the standard length of 24”. Considering that Winchester offered extra long lengths all the way to 36” in round barrels, octagon barrels and half-octagon barrels, there could only be a handful of 28” length octagon barrel rifles manufactured...and of these the survival rate would have to be even smaller, making this rifle one of a very few in existence today. This rifle also features a special shotgun Butt instead of the standard curved crescent butt plates found on most 1873 rifles. It is a known fact that Winchester used these shotgun butt stocks on almost all .38-40 2nd Model rifles as standard. Second Models are easily identified by the two screws holding the dust cover rail on the receiver top. Later Third Models have the rail integral with the receiver top. Also, Winchester used the same receivers on most Second Model rifles as they did on carbines, so these are also easily identified by the two factory filler screws on the left side where the carbine saddle ring staple would go. For these reasons, advanced Winchester collectors find the Second Model 1873s are a most unusual early variation to collect. Interestingly, it seems most special order long barrel rifles were in the smaller caliber .32-20, again, making this example even more rare in the large .38-40 chambering. This is the classic “Gun That Won the West!” An early and fine condition example, this 145 year old Winchester still retains good deep aged blue mixing gray patina on the receiver. The special order long 28” octagon barrel and magazine tube retains excellent and clear Winchester markings as does the upper tang. The barrel and magazine blue has aged and thinned, but shows no signs of rust or heavy cleaning. The special shotgun style walnut butt stock with correct smooth steel butt plate is in very fine condition with only light handling marks and shows very desirable tight wood to metal fit, indicating that this rifle’s wood has never been sanded or refinished. This fine 1873 rifle also retains a tight action and strong safety half-cock on the hammer. The bore is dark, heavily fouled and streaked with old leading. A bronze brush followed by several cleaning patches was run through with the result being a number of thick black fouling-coated patches. More vigorous cleaning may improve the bore. The sliding dust cover on the receiver top is intact (these are usually missing) and the loading gate retains good deep original blue. The un-polished brass lifter on the receiver bottom is correctly engraved with “38 CAL” and shows an attractive mellow patina. The lever catch is also intact and the receiver screws are fine This superior, large caliber Model 1873 is in better condition than normally encountered for an early 2nd Model than usually encountered the collector market today. It is fitted with a buckhorn rear sight and blade front sight. A fine example of a rifle produced in a factory before the use of electricity that is as good and solid today as it was on the day it was made. The Model 1873 was the standard for lever actions throughout the Frontier Period in the West which, in some areas, lasted well into the twentieth century. Most surviving specimens show heavy use and often abuse with broken or missing parts making this example far better than normally encountered. This rifle, in the very rare and desirable extra long barrel length of 28 inches plus large caliber .38-40 would be a prize for any Winchester or Western themed collection. The rifle weighs 8lbs 10oz. Serial Number: 62186. This firearm qualifies as an Antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.