This iconic 44-40 Winchester Model 1873 rifle was manufactured in 1885. This rifle has a receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges which is typical of the third variation. The 24-inch round barrel has a dovetail mounted sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and a sporting style rear sight. The upper tang is factory drilled and tapped for a rear sight. The crescent steel buttplate has a sliding brass trap door. The rifle has a blued barrel, magazine, forearm cap and receiver. The hammer, loading lever and buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut with a varnish finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER-REPEATING-ARMS NEW HAVEN. CT/KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860". The caliber designation: "44 CAL" is stamped on the top of the barrel just ahead of the receiver. "44 CAL" is stamped in script letters on the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. The upper tang is roll-stamped: "{ MODEL-1873.}" in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end of the marking. The serial number, "214711B" is stamped in script letters on the lower tang between the lever latch and the rear tang screw.

Extremely fine. The rifle retains 80% plus of the original blue finish overall. The blue on the contact points of the barrel and magazine has dulled slightly from handling. The receiver, forearm cap, loading gate and dust cover have most of the high polish blue finish with some edges wear on the side plates and some scattered, insignificant, handling marks. The hammer and lever retain 60% of the color casehardened finish. The case colors on the bottom of the buttplate have faded to a smooth, silver-gray, patina. The stock and forearm are both in very fine condition with most of the varnish finish intact and light-moderate handling wear with numerous scattered storage scratches and dings. The barrel and receiver markings are crisp and clear. This is an extremely fine example of a Winchester Model 1873 rifle in desirable 44-40 caliber!