Introduced in 1873, Winchester's Model 1873 was, generally speaking, an updated version of their legendary Model 1866. The 1873 quickly gained popularity on the Western Frontier and would forge a legacy that would see it remain one of the iconic firearms of the American West, alongside the Winchester 1866 and Colt Single Action Army revolver. This example was manufactured in 1876, when much of the American West remained an untamed frontier. These guns found popularity with settlers, lawman, outlaws, and Native Americans due to their rugged dependability and portable firepower. The First Model receiver has the integral dust cover guides on either side of the ejection port and the impressed, finely checkered oval "thumb print" grip area. The top of the barrel on this example has the standard two-line address and correctly lacks a caliber marking, as the only caliber offered was .44-40 W.C.F. until 1879. The upper tang has the standard model marking and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a blade front sight that is integral to the barrel band, an early two-leaf rear sight, and a saddle ring on the left of the receiver. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor carbine buttplate (cleaning rod not included).