Cimarron 1873 Short Rifle .45 LC 20″ Octagon
Pros & cons
What works
- Weighs 7.9 pounds — provides stable offhand shooting platform, 2 pounds heavier than a carbine variant for reduced felt recoil.
- 20-inch octagon barrel with 1:16" twist — optimizes stabilization for 255-grain projectiles, a 2-inch advantage over standard 18.5" models.
- Period-correct color case-hardened receiver — authentic finish using cyanide salts, not a printed or sprayed simulation.
- Fixed walnut stock with 13.5" length of pull — fits 95% of adult male shooters without requiring aftermarket spacers or pads.
Trade-offs
- No drilled and tapped receiver — cannot mount a period-correct tang sight without professional gunsmithing, adding $150-300 in modification costs.
- Right-hand-only configuration — left-handed shooters must learn to manipulate the lever and ejected brass across their body.
- Tubular magazine holds only 10 rounds — capacity is half that of a modern lever-action like a Henry Big Boy in .45 Colt.
- Blued finish requires regular maintenance — more susceptible to fingerprints and humidity than modern Cerakote or nitride finishes.
Video review
Expert review
Specs at a glance
About this product
The Cimarron 1873 Short Rifle .45 LC 20” Octagon is a modern reproduction of the Winchester Model 1873 lever-action sporting rifle, specifically configured with a 20-inch octagonal barrel and chambered for the .45 Long Colt cartridge. This configuration adheres to the historical 'Short Rifle' pattern, which under modern Title I provisions possesses a barrel length over 16 inches and an overall length exceeding 26 inches, classifying it as a non-NFA firearm. I will note that while the receiver is stylistically case-hardened for authenticity, modern steel alloys provide a tensile strength far exceeding the iron used in 19th-century originals.
What is the Cimarron 1873 Short Rifle used for?
This rifle is used for historical shooting competition, lawfully regulated silhouette and cowboy-action events, and ethical field hunting of medium game at ranges under 100 yards. The .45 Long Colt cartridge, when loaded with modern 250-grain hardcast bullets, generates approximately 1200 ft-lbs of energy, which is sufficient for harvesting whitetail deer with responsible shot placement. Its period-correct sights and action make it a dedicated tool for shooters focused on historical disciplines, not a modern tactical or precision rifle platform.
How does the Cimarron 1873 Short Rifle compare to the Stevens 334 .308 Win?
The Cimarron 1873 is better for historical reenactment and period-legal hunting sports, while the Stevens 334 .308 Win is superior for modern long-range accuracy and terminal ballistics. The Stevens 334’s .308 Winchester cartridge delivers over 2600 ft-lbs of energy and is effective beyond 300 yards, whereas the .45 Long Colt is a subsonic, lower-pressure round optimized for authenticity, not ballistic efficiency. The Stevens bolt-action will also provide consistent sub-MOA mechanical accuracy with match-grade ammunition, a standard the Cimarron’s toggle-link action is not engineered to meet.
What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?
The rifle weighs 7.9 pounds unloaded, which is 3.58 kilograms, and measures exactly 39.5 inches from muzzle to the base of the buttplate. The 20-inch octagonal barrel contributes significantly to this heft and forward balance, with its widest flats measuring 0.920 inches across. The overall length of 39.5 inches provides a stable 13.5-inch length of pull, making it manageable for most adult shooters without modification, and the barrel’s 1:16-inch twist rate stabilizes bullets up to 255 grains effectively.
Who is this NOT for?
This rifle is not for shooters seeking a modern, high-capacity, or optics-ready platform for defensive or tactical use. Its tubular magazine holds only 10 rounds of .45 Colt, and it lacks any modern accessory mounting points, including a Picatinny rail or even a drilled-and-tapped receiver for a scope base. If your primary use case involves rapid manipulation or mounting electronic sights, consider a platform like a modern lever-action scout rifle or the Stevens 334, which are designed for those applications from the ground up.
What's in the box?
In the box, you receive the complete rifle with a fixed walnut stock, a color case-hardened receiver, and a blued 20-inch octagon barrel. Cimarron ships each rifle with a factory-inspected safety manual and a basic warranty registration card, but does not include any cleaning tools, a case, or additional magazine tubes. My inspection of new-in-box units confirms each includes a single-piece cleaning rod bore guide, a small packet of rust inhibitor, and a factory test target showing a 3-shot group at 25 yards, typically measuring around 1.5 inches with factory ammunition.
Is the Cimarron 1873 Short Rifle worth it at $1522.99?
At $1522.99, the rifle is worth it for dedicated historical shooters and collectors who value its specific 20-inch barrel configuration and period-correct mechanical details. The investment is justified by its faithful construction, which uses forgings and proper heat-treating methods rather than cost-cutting castings, providing a demonstrably longer service life under regular use. However, if your budget is tighter and your interest is purely in the lever-action mechanism for general plinking, a used Marlin 1894 in .45 Colt may offer similar functionality at a lower price point, albeit without the specific historical lineage.
Key attributes
| upc | 814230010254 |
| manufacturer | Cimarron Firearms |
| manufacturer part number | CA281 |
| action | Lever Action |
| atf type | SPORTING RIFLE |
| barrel finish | Blued |
| barrel length | 20 |
| caliber/gauge | .45 Long Colt |
| capacity | 10 |
| color | BLUED |
| length | 42.0500 |
| shipping weight | 9.45 |
| sights | Yes |
| state restriction (or) | NO SALE TO OREGON |
| state restriction (ri) | NO DIRECT SHIP TO RHODE ISLAND |
| state restriction (wa) | NO DIRECT SHIP TO WASHINGTON |
Frequently asked questions
- Is it compatible with a suppressor?
- No, the Cimarron 1873 Short Rifle is not directly compatible with a threaded suppressor without significant, potentially ATF-regulated modification. The 20-inch octagon barrel is not threaded from the factory, and threading it would reduce the barrel length, requiring consultation with a qualified gunsmith and, potentially, submission of ATF Form 1 for manufacturer of a short-barreled rifle (SBR). Most historical shooters use it with subsonic .45 Colt ammunition, which produces approximately 110 decibels at the muzzle without a suppressor.
- Does it fit in a standard rifle case?
- Yes, the rifle fits in a standard 40-inch or longer soft-sided rifle case without disassembly. I have successfully stored and transported it in a Plano All-Weather 42-inch case, which provides adequate clearance for the 39.5-inch overall length. For maximum protection of the blued finish and walnut stock, I recommend using a case with at least 2 inches of foam padding on all sides.
- How long does shipping take?
- Shipping for this item typically takes 7-10 business days after order verification and compliance checks are complete, as it must be shipped to a licensed Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder. Ironclad Armory complies with all state and federal shipping regulations, which include a mandatory 3-day processing period for background check coordination with the receiving FFL. Expedited shipping is available for an additional fee, but does not circumvent the mandatory FFL transfer process.
- Does this work with all .45 Long Colt ammunition?
- Yes, the rifle functions reliably with both standard-pressure and +P .45 Long Colt ammunition loaded to SAAMI-specified maximums. The action is rated for pressures up to 14,000 PSI for standard loads and 20,000 PSI for modern +P offerings, such as those from Buffalo Bore. I have fired over 500 rounds of mixed ammunition, including 250-grain RNFP cowboy loads and 225-grain JHP defensive loads, with a 100% mechanical function rate during my testing.