Manufactured in 1884, this is a highly desirable example of a Winchester Model 1873 deluxe lever action rifle. The rifle features a full octagon barrel with special order half-magazine, checkered fancy grain forearm and pistol grip stock and steel shotgun buttplate. The barrel, magazine, dust cover and loading gate are blued. The forearm cap, frame, lever, hammer and shotgun buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The highly figured walnut stock and forearm have Winchester "Style H" checkering and the pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The stock and forearm have a high polish "piano" finish. The barrel has a dovetail mounted sporting style front sight with modified blade and a sporting rear sight with serrated edges. A folding, combination rear sight is mounted on the upper tang. The "Third Style" frame has an integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped "WINCHESTER'S -REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1865. OCTOBER 16. 1860." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The serial number is roll-stamped in script numerals on the lower tang. The included factory letter states the rifle was received in the warehouse on January 29, 1884 and shipped the next day with an octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, half magazine, shotgun butt, and casehardened frame. Provenance: The Gateway Collection

Extremely fine. The rifle retains 75% original blue and 60% original color casehardened finish. The barrel has most of the blue finish intact with only minor edge wear. Most of the blue finish is present on the loading gate; the dust cover has 70% of the blue finish. The color casehardened finish on the forearm cap, frame, lever and hammer is faded but retains strong amounts of case color in protected areas. The buttplate has a mottled silver-gray patina. The stock and forearm are both in excellent condition. The checkering is sharp with only minor handling wear. Most of the original high polish, "piano" finish varnish is present; wear is limited to a few, very minor handling marks. The barrel markings are crisp. Mechanically excellent. This is a highly desirable example of an exceptional deluxe, special order, Winchester Model 1873 lever action .44-40 rifle.