Antique Winchester 1873 3rd Model Lever Action Rifle 22 SHORT W Letter 1887

Up for sale is a used, antique Winchester 1873 3rd Model lever action rifle chambered in 22 SHORT. Plain round barrel measures 26" in length with a dull, dark, heavily frosted bore with worn rifling and light pitting throughout. Metal surfaces have toned to a mottled mix of brown and gray patina with scratches, high edge wear, small dents, freckling and some fine pinprick pitting. Smooth wood forend and straight grip crescent buttstock are dark from age and show various small nicks, scratches and fine chips and hairline cracks around the action. Rifle is sighted with a silver blade front sight and buckhorn sporting rear leaf. Front dovetail crosspin on the magazine tube is missing, the extractor is a non-factory replacement with a broken spring that does not open the dust cover and the finger lever has some side to side play and the finger lever tension is a little weak. Magazine tube insert appears complete but we cant see how well it cycles since the extractor has the previously mentioned issue. Included with the rifle is a photocopy of a Cody Firearms Museum research request letter. Letter indicates the rifle was built in 1887. ANTIQUE