Winchester Reintroduces the Model 1873 Short Rifle
Patrick Durkin 01.24.13
Winchester Repeating Arms is reintroducing the 1873 Short Rifle about 140 years after “The Gun that Won the West” was first manufactured.
“This was one of Winchester Repeating Arms’ first rifles ever produced under that name ‘repeating arm,’” said Paul Thompson, a Winchester spokesman. “This is pretty much an exact replica of that original 1873 Short Rifle, right down to its straight pistol grip, top dust cover, classic crescent metal butt plate, and the brass carrier block underneath.”
The new Model 1873 is chambered for the .357 Magnum/.38 Special, and has a small catch piece behind the lever so shooters can’t open the lever by accident. However, it doesn’t have a safety, so cowboy action shooters and other traditionalists will probably appreciate that feature, or lack thereof.
Thompson estimates that Winchester ended production of the original Model 1873 during the 1920s. “We’re excited about the idea of reintroducing such a famous rifle 140 years after it first appeared,” he said. “It’s always fun to see a classic Winchester Repeating Arms rifle like this become available to a new generation of shooters.”
The new rifle weighs 7.25 pounds and carries an oil-finished walnut stock, rear semi-buckhorn sights and Marble Arms front gold bead. MSRP is $1,299.99.
