Winchester 1873 Appraisal

Winchester Rifles and Shotguns was established by Oliver F. Winchester on February 20, 1866.  The first model produced under his name was the Model 1866 lever-action rifle .44 caliber rimfire.  There had been earlier rifles using lever action  including the Rocket Ball and Volition Repeater in 1848, Jennings Rifle (patent 1851), Smith and Wesson pistol, and Volcanic Repeating Arms (New Haven Arms Company and Henry Rifles).  When the design was improved by B. Henry Tyler (shop foreman at the New Haven Arms Company), the .44 caliber metalic rimfire cartridge became powerful enough to compete with the single shot rifles of the day.   Winchester Repeating Arms Company established itself as one of the world's leading firearms manufacturers of the world, and the subsequent rifles produced by Winchester are highly prized by collectors today.

About 1873 Winchester Rifles
The 1873 Winchester was the most popular lever-action center-fire rifle that Winchester ever produced. It was designed for the more powerful 44-40 cartridge, and available in several different configurations (herein called 'Styles') and had three 'Models.' In 1879 they offered this gun in the .38-40, in 1882 the 32-20, and in 1884 in a .22 caliber. The 1873 Winchester was produced from 1873 through +/- 1919, and during that 46-year period, there were over 720,000 guns sold. THIS APPRAISAL COURSE WILL PROVIDE VALUES FOR ALL STANDARD '1873' WINCHESTER GUNS. For those with special features, it is best to consult an expert.

For a complete outline of the history of Winchester Guns
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Appraisals
To determine the value of your firearm, you must first analyze it carefully.  There will be sufficient information in this course to accurately price and date your Winchester 1873. 

There are 3 distinct Model Configurations and they can vary a great deal in value.  In appraising your gun, you must initially determine your Model Configuration.   After selecting the appropriate Model, you will be guided through the many possible variations, then condition rating, to the final value range.  There are also additional informational pages on the history of Winchester firearms.  Recognize that the final value of your gun can be greatly influenced by special order features.

 There are 4 steps to this process.

Step 1: Determine the Model (i.e., Configuration) of your shotgun
Step 2: Determine gauge variations of the model type
Step 3: Determine your Firearm Condition
Step 4: Determine the Value of your gun

Click Here to Begin your Appaisal.