This is a nice Model 1882 Reloader in 44-40 for the Model 1873 Winchester lever action rifle.  It comes complete with its original box, instructions, and a rare advertising insert for Winchester Gun Grease.  Overall, the tool is in Fine+ to Excellent condition retaining 80% original blue that is mixing with patina.  Nice edges and crisp markings include the Winchester address on top handle and "44 WCF" followed by the 1874 and 1882 Patent dates on the lower arm.  The tool comes with an old decapping pin...not the original...but well made a long time ago...probably after the original became lost. These pins are almost always missing.  The box is in very good condition with the side label marked expressly for the Model 1873 Rifle which reads, "44 Cal. Model 1873. WINCHESTER RELOADING TOOL". There is also a nice illustrated label depicting the model 1882 tool with the Winchester address and the words "TOOLS FOR RELOADING CENTRAL FIRE CARTRIDGES". 

This may look like a piece of iron to many of you but back in the late 19th century, this was a marvel of technological innovation. This tool was used with their new Model 1873 Rifle to reload spent catridges in .44 Winchester Central Fire...a brand new concept 130 years ago. Having reloadable ammunition is what made the repeating rifle practical on the Frontier.   Early repeaters, like the Henry Rifle and the Model 1866 Winchester were chambered in .44 Rimfire. The technology of these lever action rifles gave an individual unprecedented firepower compared to a single shot muzzle loader.  However, the fault with rimfire ammunition was that, once fired, the spent casings were completely useless and so was your rifle.  This problem was amplified out on the Frontier where running out of ammunition could be a life or death situation.  There weren't any Walmarts ten miles or less down the road and the nearest town with a hardware store might be hundreds of miles away.  This is why Winchester introduced the Model 1873 with a new type of fixed ammunition called the 44 W.C.F. cartridge aka 44-40...it had a central primer which could be removed and replaced with a new one...add some powder and a fresh bullet and...you and your rifle were back in business. These tools are what earned the Winchester Model 1873 the title "The Gun That Won The West."  A nice example of a historically significant Winchester tool complete with its original box and instructions.  This would make a great accessory to any Winchester collection.

Item# 0671

SOLD