Deluxe Winchester Model 1873 rifle with Cody Firearms Museum letter that states this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on October 22, 1887. The letter describes the rifle as "38 caliber" with octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered stock, pistol grip, Mid range Vernier sights and wind gauge sights. The rifle has a Third Model frame with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The full octagon barrel, full length magazine, dust cover and loading gate are blued. The forearm cap, frame, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The stock and forearm are highly figured, "fancy grain" walnut with "Style H" checkering and a high polish, "piano" finish. The pistol grip has an ebony insert. The crescent buttplate has a sling brass trap door. The barrel has a dovetail mounted wind gauge front sight with spirit level and a sporting style rear sight with serrated edges. A Vernier rear sight with large peep is mounted on the upper tang. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A./- KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860-" in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The caliber, "38 W.F.C.", is roll-stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the frame. "38 CAL" is stamped in script letters on the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number, "251559" is stamped on the lower tang between the lever latch and the rear tang screw. Deluxe Model 1873 rifles with a factory fitted wind gauge front sight and Vernier rear sight are very rare.

Excellent. The rifle retains 95% of the original blue and 85% plus color casehardened finish. The octagon barrel and full-length magazine retain more than 95% of the blue finish and show only very minor handling wear. Most of the blue finish is present on the dust cover, loading gate and Vernier rear sight. The frame, hammer and loading lever have nearly 95% of the casehardened finish intact. The case colors on the left side of the frame and lever are vivid; the case colors on the right side of the frame and lever are more muted. The forearm cap and crescent steel buttplate show light handling wear and retain about 85% of the casehardened finish with a silver patina. The barrel, cartridge elevator and tang markings are crisp. The stock and forearm are both in very fine condition. The varnish finish on the forearm has some minor handling wear and there are several shallow handling marks on the underside of the forearm near the junction with the frame. The stock has nearly all of the high polish finish intact; wear is limited to several insignificant handling marks between the pistol grip cap and the toe of the buttplate. This is an exceptional example of a special order, Deluxe Winchester Model 1873 Sporting Rifle with special order windage and Vernier target sights.