This is an example of a scarce Winchester Model 1873 Short Rifle that was manufactured in 1905. The rifle has a special order 20-inch full octagon barrel with full-length magazine. The barrel has a standard pattern sporting style front sight with nickel silver blade and a Lyman folding two-leaf rear sight with white sighting triangle on the short leaf. The rear sight dove tail is located 3 3/4-inches ahead of the receiver. The rifle has the short (8 1/2-inch) forearm utilized on rifles with shorter than standard barrels. A Lyman folding combination rear sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The receiver has the Third Model integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The stock has a crescent steel buttplate with sliding brass trap door. The butt trap contains a four-piece jointed steel cleaning rod. The barrel, magazine, forearm cap receiver, dust cover, loading gate and buttplate are blued and the hammer, trigger and lever are color case hardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut. Two British Birmingham proof marks are stamped on the right barrel flat just ahead of the receiver. A small single proof mark is stamped on the lower right front edge of the receiver. A small British "Crown/CP" proof is stamped on the top of the bolt. The left barrel flat is rollstamped 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 front sight. The caliber designation "44 W.C.F." is stamped on the left barrel flat just ahead of the receiver. Oval Winchester "W/P" proof marks are stamped on the top of the barrel and receiver. "44 CAL." is stamped in script letters and numerals on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. There is also an oval "P" proof present on barrel (usually means rebarrel). The serial number, "606319B" is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang behind the lever latch.

Excellent. The rifle retains at least 95% of the original blue and casehardened finish. Nearly all of the blue finish is present on the barrel, magazine, forearm cap and dust cover. The receiver and side plates show traces of edge wear with several very minor storage marks. The buttplate has some very minor edge wear. The loading gate retains nearly all of the fire blue finish. Close to 98% of the subdued case colors are present on the hammer, trigger and lever. The barrel legend, caliber designations, and Winchester and British proof marks are crisp. The folding leaf rear sight appears to be a period replacement. The stock and forearm are very good with a few scattered and very minor handling marks and appear to have been refinished. This is an excellent example of a rare special order Winchester Third Model 1873 Short Rifle.