W4428 MAINE STATE PRISON MARKED WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 RIFLE CHAMBERED FOR 44 WCF [A]

Description

W4428 MAINE STATE PRISON MARKED WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 RIFLE CHAMBERED FOR 44 WCF; A basic standard configuration rifle with a 24 inch round barrel, standard sporting front and rear sights, a full length tube magazine, plain walnut forearm with matching straight grip buttstock fitted with a crescent rifle trapdoor buttplate. Condition is very good overall consistent with a gun carried daily for many years but rarely fired. Metal surfaces show only scant traces of original finish in protected areas now appearing mostly a dull gray. The  bore is bright and fairly shiny showing just slight pitting at the edge of the grooves up next to the lands. The action is crisp and tight. The stocks show plenty of wear with handling marks consistent with daily use and are otherwise solid. An included signed certificate from Bruce Gamage Jr. states that he worked as a corrections officer at the Maine State Prison from February of 1970 to March 1980. On the certificate he states that during his time at the prison, the wall guards were issued Winchester Model 1894s, but that they were marked like this Model 1873, that he knew several “old time officers” who remembered the use of Model 1873s, and that this is likely one of them. The rifle has the standard Winchester markings with the addition of “LOADED 12RDS 44/40 CAL” stamped on the right of the stock and a small arsenal plaque marked “10” attached near the toe of the stock.

ANTIQUE   $ 7,500.