I happened upon a '73 in 38-40. Pics added.

[RicMic]

Serial 216XXX.  The gun is complete in about 50% condition, 24" round barrel, the bore is very nice.
I found a website that lists all kinds of old guns by SN, http://oldguns.net.  http://oldguns.net/sn_php/winmods.htm is the one for 1873 and other Winchesters.  Mine was made in 1886.  I gave $1k for it and hope I didn't get took.







Thanks
RicMic

[Graybeard]

Judging by the photos I'd say ya dun gud.

[Spanky]

If only that rifle could talk.
You got yourself a piece of American history my friend.
Take good care of it.



Spanky

[LONGTOM]

The pics really make it hard to judge but I would say you did OK.
The screw behind the hammer is either loose, the wrong screw or it had a peep sight on it at one time.
The third pic color of the right side of the receiver just ahead of the loading gate shows maybe some blotchy spots which may or may not be the result of an old reblue.
Hard to say for sure from the pic.
Most 73s came standard with a buckhorn style rear sight.
The last pic shows more of a modern style more typically found on a model 94.
Again, hard to say.
Could have been replaced.
Over all condition IMO would be a little higher than 50%.
The old 73s saw heavy use and this one looks a little nicer than what you would usually run across in the price range you got it for.
The round barrel was standard but really is more rare than the optional octagon barrel.
Most people seemed to want the octagon style back then.
I would say you got a pretty good deal! 




LONGTOM
   

[RicMic]

I agree about a peep sight being there once upon a time.

[Dee]

Is it for lookin, or shootin?

[RicMic]

I plan on putting a small amount of rounds down range, and maybe - just maybe - into a doe this fall at 100' or less.


RicMic

[jlchucker]

I plan on putting a small amount of rounds down range, and maybe - just maybe - into a doe this fall at 100' or less.


RicMic

Nice looking gun, RicMic.  Why not shoot a buck with it at 100 yd or less though, if a good one happens by?  It oughta have whomp enough to take a deer with horns.  Back a few decades ago (seems like yesterday) there were a couple of my classmates that hunted with 38-40's and got deer. 

[mannyrock]

  Assuming that it wasn't reblued, and there are no significant cracks in the buttstock or forestock, then you did OK.  These would typically go for $1,300 to $1,500.

  If it has any of the problems I mentioned above, then you paid about a fair price.

 You can't assume that it is safe to shoot just because the inside of the barrel is nice.  Lots of these were sent back to the factory to be rebarrelled in the old days.  You really need to have this checked out by a gunsmith before shooting it, and never shoot anything but black powder rounds.

Best,  Mannyrock