This is an exceptional Winchester Model 1873 Musket that was manufactured in 1903. The included factory letter confirms this musket configuration and lists it as being received in the warehouse on September 01, 1903, and shipped from the warehouse September 18, 1903, on order number 13880. The musket has the distinctive 30 inch barrel with full-length forearm, three barrel bands, block front sight base that serves as a lug for a socket bayonet, military style folding leaf rear sight and carbine buttplate. Sling swivels are mounted on the middle barrel band and the stock. The frame has the Third Model integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor and the butt trap contains a four-piece steel cleaning rod. The barrel, magazine, barrel bands and frame have a blue finish. The hammer, loading lever and buttplate are color casehardened. The oil-finished stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut. The top of the barrel 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." between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. The caliber designation "44 W.C.F" is roll-stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the frame. "44 CAL." is roll-stamped in script letters on the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. The upper receiver tang is roll stamped with the model designation"-MODEL 1873-" in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and the upper tang screw. This musket is one of approximately 700 Model 1873 Muskets shipped from Winchester to Nicaragua in September 1903. Some of these muskets were apparently never uncrated. During the 1950s a few of these Model 1873 Muskets were discovered in the original crates in un-issued condition and were returned to the United States for resale. Provenance: The Collection of David L. DeLullo

Excellent plus. The musket retains 98% of the original blue and casehardened finish and remains in as-issued condition. Wear is limited to a few scattered and very minor storage marks. The rear sight spring, ejector and loading gate has 98% plus of the original fire blue finish remaining. Virtually all of the case colors are present on the hammer, trigger, lever and carbine style buttplate. The brass cartridge elevator has a good-looking, un-touched patina. All of the markings are sharp. The stock and forearm retain nearly all of the original oil finish with un-touched feathered grain. Wear is limited to several nearly imperceptible storage marks. Mechanically excellent. It would be almost impossible to find a better example of a Winchester Model 1873 Musket.