Manufactured in 1879, the factory letter indicates this incredible Winchester Model 1873 has an octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered stock, "New Peep and Globe" sights, and $4.50 engraving and was received in the warehouse on July 12, 1879, and shipped on July 14, 1879, in order 16080. The rifle features silver inlaid bands and scroll engraving at the muzzle and breech like a One of One Thousand. Perhaps no other Winchester carries more public appeal or notoriety than the “1 of 1000” in both the 1873 and 1876 models and as James D. Gordon stated have “long been the epitome of desirable guns.” The One of One Thousand program was announced by Winchester in 1873 and then more fully explained in Winchester’s 1875 catalog under the headline “Variety of Arms” which stated: "Every Sporting Rifle we make will be proved and shot at a target, and the target will be numbered to correspond with the barrel and be attached to it. When one hundred barrels are thus proved, the one making the best target will be selected and set aside, and another hundred proved in the same way, and so on until one thousand have been tested and ten targets selected with the barrels with which they were made. They will then be made up into Guns, in which each part is selected with the utmost care and finished in the finest manner. They will then be again subjected to trials for accuracy, and the best of the ten selected and marked ‘One of a thousand,’ the price of which will be $80.00 to $100.00. The other nine will be marked ‘one of a hundred,’ and the price will be from $60.00 to $75.00 each. Sportsmen will readily see that this severe process of gleaning will be a slow and expensive one, and the result be but a limited number of choice Guns, and that orders should be given in advance of their wants, or patience exercised with the necessary delay of filling them." While this Model 1873 is not part of the 1 of 1000 series, just having 1 of 1000 type embellishments shows the influence Winchester's advertising campaign had on the public. When wanting the finest in firearms artistry, the 1 of 1000 proved to be a great influencer. Ulrich scroll engraving is on most of the frame and even around the "thumb print" on the dust cover and on the cartridge elevator and a circular panel scene showing a running stag is on the right. Traces of an inscription can be seen on the sideplate. The rifle remained in the same family for many years, and when they sold it, they unfortunately removed the inscription from the side plate. The rifle has a dovetailed globe front sight, standard two-line address and King's patent marking, dovetailed sporting rear sight, Birmingham proof marks on the barrel, screw affixed dust cover guide rail, tang mounted graduated peep sight, plain trigger, serial number on the lower tang in an engraved panel, and deluxe checkered forearm and straight wrist stock with engraved matching assembly number "973" crescent rifle buttplate with trapdoor compartment containing the takedown cleaning rod. Assembly number "973" marked on lower left side of tang and in the stock inlet, which is also stamped "9".

Very fine with 90% original blue on the barrel with a dark aged patina on the inlaid silver bands, 60% original blue on the magazine tube which has some minor pitting and dings, 75% case colors with especially bright original case colors on the lever and hammer and professionally refinished side plate, and generally only mild age and storage related wear. The wood is also very fine and has crisp checkering attractive figure and grain, handling and storage marks, a few small chips, and some scrapes on the right side of the wrist. Mechanically excellent. Overall, this is a very attractive and beautiful factory engraved Model 1873 with a lot of original finish.