First Model Winchester 1873 rifle with Cody Firearms Museum letter. The letter describes the rifle features as "Casehardened" with 24-inch octagon barrel and set trigger and states that it was shipped from the Winchester Warehouse on September 24, 1874. This rifle has the distinctive First Model features that include the receiver with grooved dust cover guides, dust cover with raised oval knurled thumbprint, shallow impressed hammer knurling, second style drilled and tapped tang and half moon shaped lever latch. Special order features include the very desirable casehardened receiver and single set trigger. The barrel has a standard sporting type front sight with nickel-silver blade and a sporting style rear sight with knurled edges. The crescent steel buttplate has a sliding brass trap. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend "WINCHESTERS-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16.1860." ahead of the rear sight. The upper tang is roll stamped with the second style marking "MODEL 1873" in fancy letters. The serial number, "1940" is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang behind the lever latch. The brass cartridge elevator is correctly not marked with the caliber designation. The barrel, full-length magazine and loading gate are blue and the forearm cap, receiver, dust cover, hammer, lever and buttplate are casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut. Early production First Model 1873 rifles like this example are scarce and are especially desirable with special order casehardened receivers.

Fine. The rifle is completely original and retains 30% plus of the blue and casehardened finish. The barrel and magazine have a smooth plum brown patina with sharp edges. Considerable amounts of blue finish remain in the protected areas. The case colors on the forearm cap, receiver, dust cover, hammer, lever and buttplate have faded to a mottled silver-gray patina. The edges of the side plates and other components are sharp. The screw heads are excellent. Barrel and receiver markings are crisp. The walnut stock and forearm are very good. The stock has scattered minor handling marks and retains most of the original finish. The forearm has more wear with numerous minor handling marks. This is a fine example of a early production First Model Winchester 1873 Lever Action rifle with desirable special order casehardened receiver and set trigger.