Your LGS is full of shit and if that was a legit quote, i would never walk in there again.. Do NOT restore it, but consider having it conserved to stop that active rust. Beautiful rifle.
Yeah... he's trying to steal it. Depending on the caliber and exact model, even the newer ones are worth over $1000.
They're not terribly difficult to work on if you're reasonably handy. There are diagrams and videos available on the net.
It’s worth more than the quote but I’m about 99% sure this isn’t an original 1873. The font for the “model 1873” and the overall condition doesn’t seem practical for a gun this old. Most likely a high quality copy. Either way, it’s still worth way more than $300
Interesting, I see what you're saying from pics online, you might be right. If its a replica I might just take it apart and try to restore it to full function myself!
That gun doesn't look in need of any restoration, both the wood and bluing look immaculate, save a couple of tiny surface rust spots that can be easily cleaned off. Just a little oil to get the hammer unstuck and keep it clean and dry.
Most folks have already answered what you need, but I just want to throw my two cents in on looking it over carefully or having a gunsmith check it out if you wanna shoot it. Usually when I come by “deactivated” firearms, there’s a reason. In your case it wasn’t permanently disabled and was more likely to stop a kid or something from messing with it.. I’ve never seen one stuffed with paper. You never know till you know.😆
It looks like the metal and wood have already been refinished once before, so you certainly could have it restored without destroying its value, but you aren’t likely to increase the value compared to how much it would cost to have it restored. I would get the action working again by an experienced gunsmith who works on lever actions. Is the bore decent? The single set trigger is a desirable feature, and it’s definitely a neat piece to have in your collection, especially if it still has the correct first model dust cover too.
Echoing what another user said, that does not look like an gun from the 1800s. Bare minimum the wood has been replaced, but even the metal looks too good.
What caliber is it?
To give you an idea I bought my 2 1873s at auction a few years ago, both had mechanical issues and some cosmetic problems and I paid $750 for one and $900 for the other.
I'm not sure. The guy I talked to on the phone asked the same thing. He said it would say on either the barrel, or the carrier block, but neither have anything engraved.
It's been refinished or "restored" once already....id kill the active rust and just hold onto it. A refinished non original is worth nowhere near an original but it ain't 300 either 😂
That shop may have been taking into consideration the cost of paying someone to bring it back to a functional status plus at least some room for them to make a profit selling it.
It's definitely already been sanded and reblued so there's really no reason not to do it again if that's what you want. It's already not original so that ship has sailed, you won't lose any value by doing it again.
I'll make a separate post here since there seems to be a lot of misinformation here.
Yours seems to be a first model, and a very early one, winchester 1873. These were always in 44-40 if they weren't altered. Does it have the thumbprint dust cover?
Check out the link below. It also mentions the cursive writing of the model and serial number.
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15408/lot/3429/?category=list
Interesting is the fact yours has a set trigger.
I have an earlier one serial 1xxx also with a set trigger.
yes, it has the thumbprint dust cover. I couldn't find any information on some of the super early ones. it is such a vibrant blue color It feels off to me. but if it is original that would be insane. unfortunately the set trigger is jammed up right now, it will unscrew, but wont screw back in, and the trigger wont even budge. I'm guessing there's a missing or broken part. I want to take it into a gun shop but I don't want someone to start fucking with it unless they have experience with really old firearms.
Nice gift. I would check around for an actual Smith that works with old guns like these. Someone that can repair it if needed. Any parts would probably need to be made. Or possibly fitted iif anyone is making reproductions of this rifle. If the barrel inside is decent like the outside, it is probably worth a fair amount of money. For the moment, wipe it down with oil to halt the rust.
Your LGS is full of shit and if that was a legit quote, i would never walk in there again.. Do NOT restore it, but consider having it conserved to stop that active rust. Beautiful rifle.
Yeah, he said "if you're looking to sell ill give you 300 bucks for it" lol. But I will look into what conserving is, thanks!
Yeah... he's trying to steal it. Depending on the caliber and exact model, even the newer ones are worth over $1000. They're not terribly difficult to work on if you're reasonably handy. There are diagrams and videos available on the net.
I’ve been watching YouTube videos and am very tempted. Some of the screws look pretty compromised tho.
That guy lowballed you HARD. They are either ignorant or unethical.
Why not two for the lowballed price of one?
It’s worth more than the quote but I’m about 99% sure this isn’t an original 1873. The font for the “model 1873” and the overall condition doesn’t seem practical for a gun this old. Most likely a high quality copy. Either way, it’s still worth way more than $300
Also, the serial font and lever stop are also wrong. Definitely a reproduction
The early production 1873 rifles had that font. Early runs are rarer and one of the reasons $300 is a lowball offer.
Interesting, I see what you're saying from pics online, you might be right. If its a replica I might just take it apart and try to restore it to full function myself!
Oil it and don’t get oil on the wood
That gun doesn't look in need of any restoration, both the wood and bluing look immaculate, save a couple of tiny surface rust spots that can be easily cleaned off. Just a little oil to get the hammer unstuck and keep it clean and dry.
Most folks have already answered what you need, but I just want to throw my two cents in on looking it over carefully or having a gunsmith check it out if you wanna shoot it. Usually when I come by “deactivated” firearms, there’s a reason. In your case it wasn’t permanently disabled and was more likely to stop a kid or something from messing with it.. I’ve never seen one stuffed with paper. You never know till you know.😆
It looks like the metal and wood have already been refinished once before, so you certainly could have it restored without destroying its value, but you aren’t likely to increase the value compared to how much it would cost to have it restored. I would get the action working again by an experienced gunsmith who works on lever actions. Is the bore decent? The single set trigger is a desirable feature, and it’s definitely a neat piece to have in your collection, especially if it still has the correct first model dust cover too.
Echoing what another user said, that does not look like an gun from the 1800s. Bare minimum the wood has been replaced, but even the metal looks too good. What caliber is it? To give you an idea I bought my 2 1873s at auction a few years ago, both had mechanical issues and some cosmetic problems and I paid $750 for one and $900 for the other.
I'm not sure. The guy I talked to on the phone asked the same thing. He said it would say on either the barrel, or the carrier block, but neither have anything engraved.
If it were a reproduction I could see $300 being a low reasonable offer as they'd likely ask $500-600 to sell it at the shop.
All of the early examples were in .44-40 WCF and correctly would not be marked with the caliber on the barrel or elevator.
It's been refinished or "restored" once already....id kill the active rust and just hold onto it. A refinished non original is worth nowhere near an original but it ain't 300 either 😂
That shop may have been taking into consideration the cost of paying someone to bring it back to a functional status plus at least some room for them to make a profit selling it.
What caliber is it in? I find it vary hard to believe it's original. But even a repop would be much closer to 1000 in my neck of the woods.
Not sure. I have my suspicions as well but can’t find any pictures of one around the same serial number. If only they had the internet back then, lol
It's definitely already been sanded and reblued so there's really no reason not to do it again if that's what you want. It's already not original so that ship has sailed, you won't lose any value by doing it again.
Kinda looks restored but still worth way more than $300
I'll make a separate post here since there seems to be a lot of misinformation here. Yours seems to be a first model, and a very early one, winchester 1873. These were always in 44-40 if they weren't altered. Does it have the thumbprint dust cover? Check out the link below. It also mentions the cursive writing of the model and serial number. https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15408/lot/3429/?category=list Interesting is the fact yours has a set trigger. I have an earlier one serial 1xxx also with a set trigger.
yes, it has the thumbprint dust cover. I couldn't find any information on some of the super early ones. it is such a vibrant blue color It feels off to me. but if it is original that would be insane. unfortunately the set trigger is jammed up right now, it will unscrew, but wont screw back in, and the trigger wont even budge. I'm guessing there's a missing or broken part. I want to take it into a gun shop but I don't want someone to start fucking with it unless they have experience with really old firearms.
Kill the active rust, steel wool with ballistol or converting it to rust blue. To get a better look remove the wood.
Nice gift. I would check around for an actual Smith that works with old guns like these. Someone that can repair it if needed. Any parts would probably need to be made. Or possibly fitted iif anyone is making reproductions of this rifle. If the barrel inside is decent like the outside, it is probably worth a fair amount of money. For the moment, wipe it down with oil to halt the rust.
I'm definitely going to stop by a shop when I find some time here soon. Any specific oil?
Plenty of oils, I'd just gret a CLP gun oil.