Winchester Model 1873 short rifle with half-magazine that was manufactured in 1888 and subsequently custom refurbished. The rifle has the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The rifle is custom engraved and refinished with gold plated forearm cap, receiver, dust cover and crescent buttplate. The front 10-inches of the original octagon barrel have been turned to create a half-round/half-octagon barrel. The barrel has gold bands inlaid at the muzzle and breech. The barrel muzzle and breech, forearm cap, dust cover, top sides and bottom of the receiver, side-plates and buttplate heel are engraved with tight scrollwork on a punch-dot background with scalloped borders. The left side plate has a game scene with a Whitetail Deer and the right side plate features a deer within the scrollwork. The barrel, magazine tip and loading gate are blued and the hammer, trigger and lever are color case-hardened. The forearm and straight grip stock are well figured walnut with fine checkered panels and a semi-gloss finish. The barrel has a Winchester Express style front sight and a buckhorn sporting style rear sight. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line Winchester legend which was partially obliterated when the front half of the barrel was turned. The caliber designation "44 W.C.F." is stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver in a panel with punch-dot and scalloped borders. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "-MODEL. 1873-" in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. "44 CAL" is stamped in script on the bottom of the cartridge elevator and the serial number "286687B" is stamped in script numerals between the lever latch and rear tang screw.

Very good as custom embellished. The blue finish on the barrel has a very attractive artificial plum blue patina. The custom configured "rapid taper" half octagon barrel has smooth metal surfaces, sharp edges and deep, crisp engraving and markings. The front sight is missing the colored bead. The forearm cap, receiver, dust cover and buttplate retain more than 90% of the gold-plated finish with some minor handling wear on high points and edges. The case colors on the hammer, lever and trigger have faded to a dark patina. The well executed custom engraving on the forearm cap, receiver, dust cover and buttplate is crisp and deep. The stock and forearm are in excellent condition and retain most of the semi-gloss finish. The custom checkering is sharp and the stock and forearm have minimal handling wear. This is a good looking example of a custom engraved and finished Winchester Model 1873 short rifle.