The included factory letter states the rifle was received in the warehouse on September 19, 1882 and shipped on September 21 with an octagon barrel in .45-60 caliber and plain trigger. This Third Model rifle has the integral dust cover guide rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The rifle has a 28-inch octagon barrel and full length magazine. The barrel has a sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and a folding leaf rear sight graduated to "10" and marked "1876" at the top of the leaf. A folding, graduated, "Mid-Range Vernier Peep Sight" with early style beveled base is mounted on the receiver tang. The crescent buttplate has a sliding brass butt-trap door. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER"S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." ahead of the rear sight. "CAL. 45-60" is roll-stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver. "45-60" is roll-stamped in script numerals across the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number is roll-stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and the rear tang screw. The barrel and magazine have a blue finish. The forearm cap, receiver, dust cover and bolt are bright blue. The loading gate is fiery niter blue. The hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate are casehardened. The straight grain walnut stock and forearm have a semi-gloss varnish or oil finish.

Very Fine. The barrel has 90% of the original blue with traces of high-point wear. The legend and caliber markings are crisp. The bottom of the magazine has some very slight handling wear with traces of plum-brown patina but retains 85% of the blue finish. The forearm cap has 80% of the bright blue finish with some very insignificant scuff marks on the sides. The receiver has 90% plus of the bright blue finish with a few scattered and very minor handling marks and some edge wear on the side-plates. The dust cover retains 95% of the bright blue finish while the guide rail has some minor scuff marks. The loading gate retains 90% plus of the fire blue finish. The hammer, trigger and lever retain 60% of the muted case colors with some fading on the contact points on the lever bottom. The crescent buttplate has aged to a mottled blue-gray patina with some finish loss and minor age discoloration on the inside of the heel and toe. The stock is also very fine with 90% of the original varnish remains and wear is limited to a few scattered and very insignificant handling marks. The refinished forearm is dented at the frame junction. Mechanically excellent.