Original Item: Only One Available. "The Gun that Won the West!" Another item that we have not offered previously. A very fine example of the very RARE Winchester model 1873 Military "Musket" in .44-40 caliber (marked .44CAL on the chamber and ejector block) with a 30" round barrel and full-length magazine tube. This model represented only 5-10% of total production, and was geared towards military contracts, which sadly did not pan out like they had hoped.

However, they were still produced, complete with the sling swivels required on a military rifle. It also features a standard "ladder" rear sight, with a barleycorn front sight, much different from the standard sights on most 1873s. The serial number is 371527B denoting the year of manufacture as 1891. The engraving on top of the barrel is mostly legible, but worn:

Offered with a crisp tight action in fully functional condition with the original tight fitting dust cover. Metal work is good, with a lovely worn gray patina. There is a bit of light pitting on the barrel woodline and areas of the receiver.  Bore is in very good condition, with clear lands and grooves and a mostly bright finish, with just a few spots of oxidation. Stocks are in very good condition, with just a few scratches and dents on the wood, but nothing major, and a great worn look. There are some scratched in markings in places. The butt stock has a fully functional storage compartment.

Attached to the sling swivels on this example is an original Springfield leather sling, as used on the Trapdoor and Krag–Jørgensen rifles, the standard issue at the time this musket was made. It is in good condition, though it is missing one of the two keepers, and the leather is definitely worn from age.

These are becoming increasingly hard to find, especially the longer Military Musket. Fully cleaned and ready for display!

The Model 1873 was one of the most successful Winchester rifles of its day, gaining the reputation as "The Gun that Won the West". Still an icon almost a century and a half later, it was manufactured between 1873 and 1919. Originally chambered for the .44-40 cartridge, it was later produced in .38-40 and .32-20, all of which were also popular handgun cartridges of the day, allowing users to conveniently carry just one type of ammunition. The Model 1873 was produced in three variations: a 24" barrel rifle, 20" barrel carbine, and a musket. The easy to transport and handle carbine was the most popular, while the musket accounted for less than 5-10 percent of total production.

Due to feeding problems, the original Model 1873 was never offered in the military standard .45 Colt cartridge, although a number of modern reproductions are chambered for the round. The popularity of the original Model 1873 led Colt to manufacture .44-40 a version of the Single Action Army revolver called the "Frontier Model".

To both celebrate and enhance the Model 1873's prestige, Winchester established a coveted One of One Thousand grade in 1875. Barrels producing unusually small groupings during test-firing were fitted to rifles with set triggers and a special finish. Marked One of One Thousand, they sold for a then princely $100. A popular 1950 Western starring Jimmy Stewart, Winchester '73, was based on the coveted gun. Promotions included a search for One of One Thousand rifles by Universal Studios, with advertisements in sporting magazines and posters in sporting goods stores.

A second grade of Model 1873 barrels producing above average accuracy were fitted to rifles marked One of One Hundred, and sold for $20 over list. Approximately 136 One of One Thousand Model 1873s were sold, and only eight One of One Hundreds. In all, over 720,000 Model 1873s were produced.

The .38-40 Winchester round is actually a .40 caliber cartridge shooting .401 caliber bullets. The cartridge was introduced by Winchester in 1874 and is derived from their .44-40 Winchester. This cartridge was introduced for rifles, but in its reintroduction for Cowboy Action Shooting it has seen some popularity as a pistol cartridge. It is not particularly well suited to hunting larger game, but it was popular when it was introduced, along with the previous .44-40 Winchester, for deer hunting. It can be used successfully on smaller game animals, and for self-defense.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1891
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 30 Inches
Overall Length: 48 3/4 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Repeater
Feed System: 14-round tube magazine

Note: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are no able to ship to the United Kingdom. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services.