Winchester Model 1873 .22 Rimfire rifle manufactured in 1887. This deluxe, rifle has a special order color casehardened frame and fancy grain walnut stock with checkered pistol grip and forearm. The pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The octagon barrel and magazine cap are blued and the forearm cap, dust cover, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The rifle has the Third Style receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The barrel has a dovetail mounted replacement front sight and a sporting style rear sight. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS.NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A/.-KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860.-" ahead of the rear sight. The caliber designation "22 SHORT" is roll-stamped of the top of the barrel ahead of the receiver. ".22 CAL/SHORT" is stamped in script letters on the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped "{MODEL. 1873}" in fancy script with foliate designs at either end of the marking. The serial number "265127" is stamped in small numerals across the lower tang between the lever latch and the tang screw. The Winchester Model 1873 .22 Rimfire Rifle was the first Winchester .22 caliber rifle and the first .22 caliber repeating rifle manufactured in the United States. Deluxe, special order, examples of the Model 1873 .22 rifle are rare, especially with the very desirable casehardened frame.

Fine. The barrel retains 20% of the original blue finish. The magazine tube has a dark patina. The case colors on the forearm cap have faded to a dark patina. The frame, dust cover, hammer and lever retain 30% of the faded casehardened finish. The case colors on the crescent buttplate have a silver-gray patina. The fancy grain walnut stock and forearm are in very good condition with light handling wear. The checkering on the forearm shows moderate handling wear while the pistol grip checkering has less wear. There is a minor, repaired, hair-line crack on the left side of the forearm behind the checkered panel. The "SHORT" marking on the brass cartridge elevator has been partially scratched out and the initials "LR" have been crudely scratched over it. The bottom of the cartridge elevator has several minor dents. This is a fine example of a rare, special order, Deluxe Winchester Model 1873 .22 short caliber rifle.