This is an example of a Winchester Third Model 1873 Sporting Rifle that was manufactured in 1891. The rifle has an octagon barrel and full-length magazine. The rifle has a blued barrel, magazine and receiver with casehardened hammer, loading lever and crescent steel butt plate. The stock and forearm are black walnut. The receiver has the Third Model, integral dust cover guide and dust cover with serrated edges. The barrel is fitted with a "Rocky Mountain" front sight with nickel silver blade and a sporting type rear sight. The butt plate has a sliding brass trap. 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 29.1865.OCTOBER 16.1860." ahead of the rear sight. "44 CAL." is stamped on the top barrel flat ahead of the receiver. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "MODEL 1873" with foliate designs at either end of the marking. "44 CAL" is engraved on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The serial number, "440127B" is located on the underside of the receiver tang behind the loading lever latch.

Very good. The receiver has a satin grey patina. The balance of the rifle retains approximately 30-40% of the original finish. Most of the blue finish is present on the barrel and magazine. There is handling wear on the barrel edges and some light pitting on the upper right and top barrel flats. The forearm cap has a silver patina and the receiver has aged to a gray brown with traces of the original blue finish in protected areas. The receiver surfaces are smooth and free from pitting. The loading gate has about 60% of the original blue finish. The case colors on the hammer and loading lever have aged to a gray patina. The buttplate has a silver patina. The stock and forearm have been light sanded and reoiled and are in very good condition. This is a solid example of a Third Model Winchester 1873 Lever Action Rifle.