This lot offers a very high condition Winchester Model 1873 octagon rifle in desirable caliber .38-40, serial number 399678, made during the last years of the Indian Wars/Frontier Period of 1891. This is the classic “Gun That Won the West!” An early and very high condition example, this 132 year old Winchester still retains very fine even original blue on the receiver as well as fine deep factory blue on the 24” octagon barrel and magazine with only a slight amount of natural plum aging. The receiver retains the original dust cover and remarkably, along with the loading gate (these often missing), display original blue. The octagon barrel also retains excellent and clear Winchester markings as does the upper tang. Walnut butt stock shows very tight and desirable wood to metal fit, indicating this rifle’s wood has never been sanded or refinished. Additionally, the screw heads appear unturned. It correctly has the sliding brass door compartment in the butt plate for storing cleaning rods. This fine 1873 rifle with an overall length of approximately 42 inches, also retains excellent mechanics and strong springs with a solid safety half-cock on the hammer. The brass lifter on the receiver bottom is correctly and legibly engraved with “38 CAL” and shows an attractive mellow patina. The lever catch is also intact. This superior, large caliber Model 1873 is in far better condition than normally encountered on the collector market today. The bore shows good rifling with some normal black powder corrosion. The barrel is fitted with a Winchester factory buckhorn rear sight and Winchester blade front sight. It is also fitted with a desirable Lyman tang sight with the small folding eye disc intact. 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 like Montana, lasted well into the twentieth century. Most surviving specimens show heavy use and often abuse with no original finish remaining, plus broken or missing parts making this outstanding high condition, high finish example far better than normally encountered. This rifle, in the very desirable large caliber .38-40, recently came out of Arizona. The rifle weighs 8lbs. Serial Number: 399678. This firearm qualifies as an antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.*