This extraordinary Deluxe Model 1873 rifle was shipped from Winchester on September 5, 1884. It is accompanied by a letter from the Cody Firearms Museum that describes the rifle's features. The letter describes Model 1873, serial number 156226 as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: Model 1873, Barrel Type: Octagon, Barrel length: 26 inches, Trigger: Set, Checkered Stock, Pistol Grip, Sights: Special rear sight & target" and "Casehardened". This Third Model 1873 rifle has the integral dust cover rail on the receiver and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The rifle has a blued 26 inch octagon barrel, full-length magazine, dust cover, loading gate and trigger. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are casehardened with vivid case colors. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, 3X, fancy grain walnut with a high polish piano finish. The forearm and pistol grip have Winchester "Style H" checkering. The bottom of the pistol grip has a horn or ebony inlay. The barrel is fitted with a special order Winchester globe front sight and a buckhorn, sporting style, rear sight with screw adjustable center insert and serrated edges. A special order, folding, graduated peep sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The rifle has a factory single set-trigger. The crescent buttplate has a sliding brass trap door. 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." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. "44 CAL" is stamped on the top of the barrel ahead of the receiver. "44 CAL." is stamped in script across the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number, "156226/A" is stamped in script across the lower tang between the lever latch and the tang screw.

This rifle is in excellent original condition and retains at least 95% of the original blue and vivid casehardened finish. The barrel and magazine retain 98% plus of the original blue finish. Wear is limited to some minor finish loss on the muzzle and end of the magazine, some thinning on the sides of the barrel band and bottom of the magazine and very slight handling wear on the barrel edges. The dust cover, loading gate, trigger and bolt have at least 95% of the blue finish. The special order case colors on the side plates, top and sides of the receiver, hammer and sides of the lever are vivid. The case colors are slightly silvered on the raised edges of the receiver at the junction with the forearm and on the bottom surfaces of the lever. At least 97% of the case colors are present on the forearm cap. The case colors on the buttplate have faded to a smooth, silver patina. The highly figured 3X and likely 4X, fancy grain stock and forearm are both in excellent condition and retain nearly all of the high polish piano finish. The stock looks like it has never been removed from the gun so wasn't pulled to determine the level of deluxe wood. The exceptionally fine checkering on the forearm and pistol grip is sharp. Wear on the stock and forearm is limited to a few, very minor, storage marks. This is a magnificent example of a Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action 44-40 Rifle in the most desirable caliber and configuration!