079-0125-9241, Winchester M-1873 Extra Heavy Octagon Barrel Rifle in 38-40. With early script style barrel caliber marking, clear barrel address. 24 inch barrel. #364xxx made in 1890. The barrel measures slightly under 24 inches and calipers to 1 inch across the muzzle. Also the frame is slightly heavier built to accommodate the heavy barrel. A heavier than standard barrel was a special order feature that renowned Winchester author George Madis lists as only being found on one out of every 1,100 Model 1873 rifles, making it one of the rarest special order features. The top barrel flat is marked with the two-line address/King’s patent marking. We measured this with calipers and the frame is slightly wider in most dimensions. The WACA forum mentions this increase in frame size. The 1 inch measure across the face of the muzzle is correct for Extra Heavy Barrel Guns. I contacted the Cody museum and the gun comes with a phone call letter from the Cody museum confirming the year of shipment and the gun is a .38. The caliber marking is script on the barrel, which is correct for special order guns. The museum also told me that few heavy barrel model 1873’s were made and the letters only designated caliber and not barrel weight. The barrel markings are correct for special order guns. Flashes of blue in protected places on the frame. Moderate bumps dings and use marks. The bore has deep 9-groove rifling. The kind of rifling found on these heavy barrel rifles. The bore shows some light wear to rifling, but still deeply grooved. The forearm has been oiled and apparently had a period repair, it is correct wood, but not exact fit you find. Incredibly hard to find. Very good overall, very good plus bore. Antique.

(Latest sale at RI for an extra heavy Winchester Model 1873) Est. Value: $7000