The Hotchkiss bolt actions were designed by Benjamin Hotchkiss who then sold the rights to Winchester in 1877. Many of these Hotchkiss bolt actions were assembled from Winchester parts at the Springfield Armory and another 15,000 were made for Chinese Empire. This example is a First Model Hotchkiss carbine manufactured in 1880. The safety and turn button magazine cut-off is located above the trigger guard on the right side. The left side of the stock has the saddle ring, and the left receiver wall has the three line address/patent dates marking followed by the serial number at the rear. The carbine is equipped with a pinned blade front sight and a ladder rear sight graduated to 1,000 yards with a ski jump base. It has a smooth straight grip stock with a single barrel band, carbine style buttplate, and "38" stamped on the top of the butt.

Fine. The rifle retains 40% of the original blue finish with streaks of brown patina. The stock is fine with a hairline crack on top left rear of wrist, various dings, pressure marks, and minor scrapes. Mechanically fine with clear markings.