Winchester Model 1873 with standard 24” octagon barrel, full magazine, crescent butt plate and chambered for the popular .32 Winchester Center Fire cartridge (also known as the .32-20). It is serial numbered 424251 indicating a manufacture date of 1892. This is the famed “Gun That Won The West,” and undoubtedly one of Winchesters earliest and most popular repeating rifles. This fine example is typical of those found in every barn, saddle scabbard and behind every ranch house kitchen door during the Frontier Years. Interestingly, this example recently came out of right here in Montana! Made uninterruptedly from 1873 through 1923, the 1873 is perhaps the most iconic of Winchester’s early products and found favor with hunters, ranchers, farmers, lawmen and outlaws. It was, and still is, known for having the smoothest action of any Winchester model. Its mechanism has few internal parts and by removing the side plates, is extremely simple to clean and repair if needed. This was a huge selling point in sparsely populated areas where a gunsmith might by many days’ ride away. A frontiersman or hunter with a few spare parts and a screwdriver would never have to worry about his rifle becoming out of service. This rifle is a particularly attractive example with deep and even aged blue on the barrel, magazine tube and receiver and shows no evidence of even being cleaned! The dust cover on the receiver top is also aged perfectly to the rest of the rifle and has what appears to be a small area of scroll engraving on the forward portion! The engraving is well executed and aged, indicating it has always been on this rifle. The Walnut butt stock and forearm also show no signs of being sanded or refinished and display a tight wood to metal fit which indicates that the stock and forend have never been sanded or refinished. There is some light saddle wear on the bottom of the forend which lends great character and history to this fine Winchester Model 1873. Correct Winchester markings and patent dates on the barrel and upper tang are sharp and clear and the mechanism is tight and crisp. The bore is dark with visible worn rifling the and barrel retains a traditional buckhorn rear sight as well as the original standard Winchester blade front sight. A handsome and original 130 year old Model 1873 rifle that only recently showed up locally. Serial Number: 424251. This firearm qualifies as an Antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.