This is just a fabulous, like new and unaltered original Model 1873 Winchester, 3rd model Lever Action Musket as manufactured in late 1903. This musket was part of a lot of over 700 Model 1873 Muskets in the 560,000-571,000 serial number range that were shipped to Central America in September 1903. A number of these muskets were discovered in their original crates and were returned to the United States in un-fired condition in the 1950s. This musket has the distinctive 30 inch round barrel with full-length forearm and three barrel bands. The barrel has a block front sight that serves as a bayonet lug and a military style folding leaf rear sight with 900 yard center notch. The Third Style frame has an integral dust cover guide and a dust cover with serrated edges. The stock has a carbine-style buttplate with sliding brass trap door. Sling swivels are mounted on the middle barrel band and the stock. The barrel, magazine, barrel bands, receiver and dust cover have the Winchester commercial blue finish. The loading gate is a fiery niter blue. The hammer, loading lever and buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The straight grain walnut stock and forearm are oil-finished. 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." ahead of the rear sight. The caliber "44 W.C.F." is roll-stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. "44 CAL." is stamped in script on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. "- MODEL. 1873-" is roll-stamped in fancy letters on the upper tang with foliate devices on either end of the marking. The serial number, "570055B" is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang behind the lever latch. The musket is complete with the four-piece jointed steel cleaning rod in the butt trap and a ultra-rare all original 1873 pattern contract bayonet. The bayonet remains in its original, unaltered in the white condition and is a very scarce accessory for this rare rifle.

Excellent to like new condition with 99% of the bright original blue finish overall with just a hint of blue wear on the front end of the muzzle ring and upper right side of the barrel where the bayonet might have been attached at one time. The hammer and lever both retain 98% of their original factory case colors. The stock and forend are both in excellent plus condition with all their original oil finish on the wood showing some very minor storage dents/bruises from where they came in contact with the wood dividers in the storage crates. The screws are all original and have not been damaged or removed. A super example of a exceptionally rare all original untouched, 111 year old, Model 1873 Winchester 3rd model musket.