This is a Winchester Third Model carbine that was manufactured in 1881. The carbine has a blue finish on the barrel, magazine, barrel bands and receiver with casehardened lever, hammer and carbine style buttplate. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut. The carbine has a round barrel with steel block style front sight, dovetail mounted adjustable folding leaf rear sight and second style upper barrel band. The magazine has the second style cap secured by a screw. The Third Model receiver has an integral dust cover rail and a dust cover with serrated edges. A staple-mounted saddle ring is located on the left side of the receiver. The upper tang is factory drilled and tapped for a tang 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 29.1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. The upper tang is stamped "{ MODEL 1873}" in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number, "91624A" is stamped in script letters on the lower tang behind the lever latch.

Excellent. The carbine retains 80% plus of the original blue finish. Most of the blue finish is present on the barrel and magazine; the sides of the barrel bands have some finish wear. The blue finish on the receiver is thin with light edge wear and there are two small patches of light pitting on the right side behind the side plate. The case colors on the hammer, lever and buttplate are muted. The barrel and receiver markings are sharp. The stock and forearm are both very fine overall; wear is limited to some minor handling and storage marks. Model 1873 carbines were utility weapons that typically saw hard service and are rarely found with any original finish. This is an outstanding original example of a Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Carbine that was manufactured in 1881 and would be a fine addition to any advanced collection of Winchester lever action rifles.