The Model 1873 is one of the most famous of all American firearms and has been popularly known as "the Gun that Won the West" due to its popularity with pioneers. The rifle has the very desirable late first model dust cover with integral "thumb print" that rides in grooves mortised directly into the frame. Only about 31,000 First Models were manufactured. The top flat of the barrel is marked with the two-line address and King's patent marking and correctly lacks a caliber marking. The upper tang is marked with the model designation and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is equipped with a replacement beaded blade pattern front, an elevation adjustable notch rear sight, and a special order single set trigger. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate containing an included four-piece cleaning rod.

Good, retains traces of the original blue finish and faint traces of the original nitre blue on the loading gate with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina with some scattered light surface pitting typical of a working gun. The refinished wood is good with some filler/a repair on the left of the forearm along with a hairline crack and some dark staining, and otherwise some scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.