Winchester Model 1873 Cleaning Rods

This is a fantastic original 4-piece set of cleaning rods for the Winchester Model 1873 Rifle in 38-40 and 44-40 calibers.  These are NOT repros and I will guarantee these to be authentic original Winchester manufacture. They show their age but still remain mostly bright having been tucked inside the stock of a Model 1873 and kept away from oxygen for many years.  Excellent Condition.  As you'll note in the pic, it has the less common steel tip which replaced the brass tips around 1892.  Note also the slender tapered or "drawn" neck leading up to the jag.  In my opinion, this was the last style of cleaning rod manufactured for the Winchester 1873 and perhaps the most uniformly made and best in terms of quality and aesthetic appeal.   These would be correct for a late 3rd model 1873 rifle in the high 500,000's up to the 700,000 range.  Some collectors call these last 1873's "4th models" as many have stepped frames, dark blued finish, different markings, and even use wire springs for tensioning the trigger block safeties.  There is a sharp photo of a very late production Winchester 1873 carbine with gumwood stocks AND its late iron-tipped/taper neck cleaning rod.  See page 139 of Age of the Gunfighter by Joseph Rosa. I believe this carbine was never sold but was retained by Winchester for its collection (now housed at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, WY) and is probably in the high 600,000 to low 700,000 range.  It also appears to be the same Model 1873 carbine pictured in every edition of Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms.  These rods were also provided as replacement rods after the turn of the century and for special-order Winchesters with trap door buttstocks well into the late 1920's to early 30's.  A fairly scarce set of early 20th century Winchester rods that would be difficult to improve upon.

Item# 1296

$250