A friend's old Winchester lever - educate me

[tRidiot]

So this old rifle supposedly was recovered down in Mexico sometime around the 1920s by the owner's grandfather. He was a former Texas Ranger who went down and hunted down the man who killed his friend. This was the dead friend's rifle.

That's about all I know about it.

Let me know what you think.

This one says Winchester Model 1873 if you can't read that. I didn't get great pics, sorry.

How do I go about finding out more about this and what it could be worth, should it be cleaned up or left alone, refinished, what?

Is it a dime-a-dozen junk remake from the 1970s someone made up a story about?

44 cal it says... not .44 Magnum, right? Is it .44-40?

 

[tRidiot]

Quick search suggests to me this was manufactured in 1889.

 

[MilitantBEEMER]

That is one cool piece. I would think you would leave it as is, however someone who understand collector value will probably chime in.
Looks like 1889-1890 manufacture date.
http://www.guncollectionsonline.com/winchester1873.htm

https://gun-data.com/winchester_73.htm
Factory letters for you gun can be obtained from:
The Cody Firearms Museum
Buafflo Bill Historical Center
720 Sheridan Ave
Cody Wy . 82414
1 307 578 4032
www.bbhc.org/firearms/records.cfm

 

[Glock 40]

I'm no expert but I would leave it alone. From the Winchester FAQ showing SR# 1889 https://www.winchesterguns.com/cont...ture-Dates-by-Year-2012-Scanned-Documents.pdf

Yes its a 44-40 its a Ring Carbine this will give you some examples on price. The condition has a lot to do with price. I would think its probably on the lower end due to condition but man its cool the way it is. I wouldn't screw with it.
https://www.gunsinternational.com/s...ord=1873+ring+carbine&start_row=1&the_order=6

 

[dlbleak]

Don’t touch it cleaning wise! Get a history first.

 

[tRidiot]

Yeah, it looks like someone beat on the screw on the left side with a chisel. Ugh.

Pretty neat old gun, though.

 

[MilitantBEEMER]

Here is an excerpt from a rare James Gordon book. It is a 44-40

 

[SoonerP226]

Pretty neat old gun, though.

Yeah, there's something unspeakably cool about those old survivors, especially those with cool stories attached.

 

[MilitantBEEMER]

@tRidiot this is way cool. I just love to see these old pieces of history and to here the stories behind them. Are you acquiring it?

 

[dennishoddy]

Cool old lever gun! I wouldn't touch a thing on it.