What do you all think about this 1873?

[Dave]

A guy at work told me he had a Winchester he wanted me to look at. Yesterday he brought it and I was surprised to see this 1873 in 32-20. According to the serial number it was made about 1891. The bore is kind of bumpy but no real bad pits and strong rifling. The dust cover is missing. The action is snappy and the lever doesn't sag at all. Someone has put some varnish on the stocks but it would probably come right off. Overall the gun is solid and I would shoot it if I had some shells. The outside is pretty smooth. It looks like there is the letter "B" after the serial number. He wants to sell it but I don't know what to tell him about its value. I don't know about guns this old. What do you think?

[Old Ironsights]

How good a friend? Tell him it's a tomato spike and give him a case of beer for it...

[mouthpiece]

$50 & I'll pay the s&H/FFL fees.

[cshold]

Hummm!!! Where's the cool little sliding door in the butt
plate for the cleaning rod

[Dave]

Hummm!!! Where's the cool little sliding door in the butt
plate for the cleaning rod

I wondered that too.

[kimwcook]

I'm not a good one for values on original '73's. Someone here should be able to help. It would depend on the overall shape and with your description and pictures it sounds and looks like it's in decent shape. I'd take a look at the standard online gunsites for an idea, Gunsamerica, Gunbroker, etc... Now these would just be ballpark as almost all of them are way overpriced to just overpriced, but it should give you some idea of what it's worth.

P.S. For a number of reasons I didn't get an original, but got a new Uberti. Modern steel for shooting white, good barrel and I could almost be assured it would be a decent piece as I couldn't easily put my hands on an original. And, for the asking prices of an original I wouldn't take the chance on something subpar.

[Dave]

and looks like it's in decent shape. I'd take a look at the standard online gunsites for an idea, Gunsamerica, Gunbroker, etc...

We did that. It seems like people are asking crazy money for some guns and not selling them. It is hard to find a gun like his. I think this gun is not in good enough to make a collector's heart beat faster, but might be good for a beginner collector. On the other hand if it was a 44 I might want it to kill deer with but since it is a 32 it isn't that great for a hunting gun. Kind of an in between gun. Not enough condition for a real collector and not enough power for deer.

[cowboykell]

Only 38-40s and 44-40s had the trapdoor for the wooden cleaning rod. The rod was too large for a 32-20 bore so therefore no need for a trapdoor. $1500.00 would be my guess.

[gak]

These are the kind I love, so rewarding to clean up!

[cshold]

Only 38-40s and 44-40s had the trapdoor for the wooden cleaning rod. The rod was too large for a 32-20 bore so therefore no need for a trapdoor. $1500.00 would be my guess.

Didn't know that, thanks

[Grizzly Adams]

$1000 - $1200 would be a fair price for that rifle, given it is missing the dust cover, and it's overall low average condition. 32-20s do not bring as much as the 44WCF and 38WCF all other factors being the same.

[Sixgun]

$1000 - $1200 would be a fair price for that rifle, given it is missing the dust cover, and it's overall low average condition. 32-20s do not bring as much as the 44WCF and 38WCF all other factors being the same.

Thats exactly what I was thinking and I might add that that price would be retail.------Sixgun

[.45colt]

Yep I agree with You Guys.1000-1200 for that one. this one has been around the horn several times over at the Sass classifieds and is very nice, now reduced to $2,900.. nice slide show.

http://sassnet.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=161472

[TMair]

I know absoultly nothing about prices for any "Old" gun, but the first thing that goes through my mind when I see a gun like that one is "where have you been, and what have you done"...cool
Terry

[Mike D.]

Maybe a Grand, but no more. Plenty rust in the screw slots and on the bottom tang. Corrosion on any metal parts is a deal breaker for me. The wood is nearly black, also an indicator of something applied over a dirty surface. .32 caliber '73s don't have the strong collector draw that .38 and .44s do.

[KirkD]

No finish left on the metal, just a heavy patina. The wood appears to be untouched, which is very good. 32-20 not as in high demand as 44-40 or even 38-40. I would say somewhere between $1,000 and $1,200 retail.

I should add that the '73 posted on the SASS forum is in high condition, much higher than this one. High condition '73s command a lot more money.

[pwl44m]

I was thinking a $750 tops. It is pretty beat up, lots of nick in the metal, afore mentioned rust and pitting of xternal metal and the bore.The screws actually look good ie not boogered up. Wood looks pretty sound ( couple cracks). I think the Gun would clean up very nice and be a shooter, for that it gets some points. There is a lot of work to be done to make it worth More. Of all the estimates, are those what U think it is "Worth" or what U wood actually pay for it ? I would pay $750 for it. I kinda like the small Calibers. Just My dos centavos

[JohnB]

Only 38-40s and 44-40s had the trapdoor for the wooden cleaning rod. The rod was too large for a 32-20 bore so therefore no need for a trapdoor. $1500.00 would be my guess.

I have an 1873 in .32-20, circa the 1890's and it is all original, with the exception of the front sight (which I replaced). It has the trapdoor in the butt stock...

I am confused by your insight. I do not mean to question it but I don't understand....

[JB]

Only 38-40s and 44-40s had the trapdoor for the wooden cleaning rod. The rod was too large for a 32-20 bore so therefore no need for a trapdoor. $1500.00 would be my guess.

I have an 1873 in .32-20, circa the 1890's and it is all original, with the exception of the front sight (which I replaced). It has the trapdoor in the butt stock...

I am confused by your insight. I do not mean to question it but I don't understand....

I didn't think the original 32-20's had the trapdoor in the butt stock. Your rifle maybe a special order or perhaps someone replaced the buttstock. I'm assuming the rod actually fits your barrel?

[JohnB]

Only 38-40s and 44-40s had the trapdoor for the wooden cleaning rod. The rod was too large for a 32-20 bore so therefore no need for a trapdoor. $1500.00 would be my guess.

I have an 1873 in .32-20, circa the 1890's and it is all original, with the exception of the front sight (which I replaced). It has the trapdoor in the butt stock...

I am confused by your insight. I do not mean to question it but I don't understand....

I didn't think the original 32-20's had the trapdoor in the butt stock. Your rifle maybe a special order perhaps someone replaced the buttstock. I'm assuming the rod actually fits your barrel?

Actually, it does not have the rod. I just visited the Rare Winchesters website and they concur with you, so now I am REALLY puzzled...

I will need to take a closer look at the fit of the butt stock....

[kimwcook]

I have an 1873 in .32-20, circa the 1890's and it is all original, with the exception of the front sight (which I replaced). It has the trapdoor in the butt stock...

I just visited the Rare Winchesters website and they concur with you, so now I am REALLY puzzled...

I will need to take a closer look at the fit of the butt stock....

UH-OH!

[pwl44m]

Only 38-40s and 44-40s had the trapdoor for the wooden cleaning rod. The rod was too large for a 32-20 bore so therefore no need for a trapdoor. $1500.00 would be my guess.

I have an 1873 in .32-20, circa the 1890's and it is all original, with the exception of the front sight (which I replaced). It has the trapdoor in the butt stock...

I am confused by your insight. I do not mean to question it but I don't understand....

John, is Your stock drilled to accept cleaning rods or just has buttplate with door. R the plates the same configuration or different on the 32-20 versus other calibers ? looks like a lot can go on here.

[southfork]

Only 38-40s and 44-40s had the trapdoor for the wooden cleaning rod. The rod was too large for a 32-20 bore so therefore no need for a trapdoor. $1500.00 would be my guess.

I have an 1873 in .32-20, circa the 1890's and it is all original, with the exception of the front sight (which I replaced). It has the trapdoor in the butt stock...

I am confused by your insight. I do not mean to question it but I don't understand....

John, is Your stock drilled to accept cleaning rods or just has buttplate with door. R the plates the same configuration or different on the 32-20 versus other calibers ? looks like a lot can go on here.

Well, I also have an nice 1873 Winchester in 32-20, and it also has the trapdoor in the buttstock. The gun doesn't appear to have ever been messed with. I'd say that the trapdoor buttstocks were an manufacturing option.

[Dave]

I appreciate all the comments about this rifle. The guy who owns it wants a gun he can use for deer hunting so I am going to try to find a new home for this one.

[JohnB]

Only 38-40s and 44-40s had the trapdoor for the wooden cleaning rod. The rod was too large for a 32-20 bore so therefore no need for a trapdoor. $1500.00 would be my guess.

I have an 1873 in .32-20, circa the 1890's and it is all original, with the exception of the front sight (which I replaced). It has the trapdoor in the butt stock...

I am confused by your insight. I do not mean to question it but I don't understand....

John, is Your stock drilled to accept cleaning rods or just has buttplate with door. R the plates the same configuration or different on the 32-20 versus other calibers ? looks like a lot can go on here.

Yes, my stock is drilled for a rod....the mystery continues....