This highly desirable and rare Winchester Model 1873 Rifle is accompanied by a Buffalo Bill Historical Factory Letter that describes correctly the rifle as a "1 of 1000" and states that it was received in the Winchester warehouse on August 10, 1875 and shipped on August 11, 1875. The rifle is a described and illustrated on pages 66 and 106-107 of "WINCHESTER, THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN GUNMAKING AND THE WINCHESTER 1 of 1000" by R.L. Wilson. This is the only rifle pictured three times in Wilson's book! This rifle is one of the "Second Style" 1of 1000 rifles that feature a scarce numerical "1 of 1000" marking on the barrel and correctly no barrel engraving. The rifle has a rare, 28-inch, full octagon barrel with blue finish, a casehardened forearm cap, frame, hammer, loading lever and crescent buttplate and deluxe XXXX walnut stock with checkered wrist and forearm. The rifle has a single set trigger and sling swivel mounts on the stock and forearm cap. The set trigger, XXXX checkered stock, swivels and casehardened receiver are all documented in the Winchester Factory letter. The barrel is fitted with a standard sporting front sight with German silver blade and short base sporting rear sight. The rifle has the first model frame with small oval, "thumbprint' dust cover. The lower tang has the first pattern, half-moon shaped, lever latch. The hammer has course knurling with distinct borders. The buttplate has a sliding brass trap and is complete with a jointed, five-piece longer than standard, steel, cleaning rod with brass tip. Another special feature of this magnificent rifle is a factory engraved scroll-work flourish which is located on both sides of the frame ahead of the side plates. The edges of the frame have a wavy line and scroll border. The frame engraving and border on this rifle are nearly identical to the Granville Stuart "1 of 1000 rifle", serial number 7282 (two numbers subsequent), which was received in the Winchester warehouse on August 13, 1875 and shipped on August 21, 1875. The Second Style "1 of 1,000" numerical marking is engraved in small letters of the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the front of the frame. The upper tang is roll-stamped with the first style marking: "MODEL. 1873." in fancy letters. The serial number, "7280" is engraved on the lower tang behind the lever latch. 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. OCT. 16, 1860.". Between 1875 and 1879 Winchester manufactured 136 "1 of 1000" Model 1873 rifles. Author James D. Gordon stated in "WINCHESTER'S NEW MODEL OF 1873" that he identified 57 of the 136 documented "1 0f 1000" rifles. The "1 of 1000" Model 1873 rifles are among the ultimate rarities in Winchester collecting. Rock Island Auction Company is pleased to be able to sell the finest Winchester Model 1873 rifle ever in our history.

Excellent. The barrel and magazine have nearly 98% of the original blue finish with only very minor wear on the edges of the barrel flats. The Winchester legend and the "1 of 1000" markings are crisp. The frame, side plates and dust cover have approximately 85-90% of the original casehardened finish; wear is limited to contact points of the bottom of the frame.. The case colors have faded slightly to a muted dove gray with flashes of original bright colors but nearly all the finish is present. The engraved scroll-work flourishes and wavy border are crisp. The loading gate and extractor have 95% or more of the delicate niter blue finish, another indication of the fantastic condition of this rifle indicating little or no use. The hammer has 95% or more of the original case colors. The case colors on the top and bottom of the loading lever have a silver patina; the sides of the lever have strong case colors. The casehardened finish on the forearm cap and the buttplate shows more wear and has a mottled, silver gray, patina. The XXXX, fancy walnut, stock and forearm are in excellent condition with nearly all of the original finish and crisp checkering. Wear is limited to very minor storage and three marks on belly of stock rear of checkering. This is a completely original and fully documented example of one of the most sought-after of all Winchester rifles. It would be nearly impossible to find a more original, better documented or better condition Factory Engraved Winchester Model 1873 "1 of 1000" Rifle.