This is a spectacular example of a deluxe, special order, factory engraved, Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action rifle. The rifle is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Record Office letter that describes it as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 32, Barrel Type: Round, Trigger: Set, Engraved: Engraved $3.20, Barrel & Magazine Nickeled" and "Receiver, Butt plate & tip Gold". The letter states this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on May 21, 1884. The rifle has a 24-inch round barrel and full length magazine and is fitted with a single set-trigger. The barrel and magazine are nickel-plated. The barrel has a Beach folding combination front sight and a sporting style buckhorn rear sight. A Lyman folding combination sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The forearm cap, receiver, dust cover and crescent buttplate are gold plated. The loading gate has a fire-blue finish. The hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened, The stock and forearm are nicely figured, fancy grain walnut with second style fine checkered panels and a high polish piano finish. The forearm cap, receiver, dust cover and buttplate heel are decorated with restrained scroll engraving on a punch-dot background with a game scene on each side plate. The game scene on the right sideplate features a grizzly bear while the left sideplate features a bull elk in profile. The engraving is the medium grade of Winchester factory engraving. Model 1873 rifles serial number 121172 and 127938 have similar engraving and are illustrated on pages 184 and 185 of "THE BOOK OF WINCHESTER ENGRAVING" by R.L Wilson. The engraving was probably executed by John or Conrad Ulrich. 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. The caliber designation: "32-CAL" is stamped on the top of the barrel immediately in front of the receiver. "32 CAL" is roll-engraved in script letters across the gold-plated brass cartridge elevator. The serial number, "148088A", is engraved in script numerals on the lower tang behind the lever latch. The assembly number "5332" is stamped in the stock tang inlet, lower receiver tang and the inside of the buttplate. "XX" is also stamped on the left side of the lower tang indicating the grade of the fancy grain walnut stock and forearm. An "R" designation indicating "rifle" is stamped on the left side of the lower tang and on the inside of the buttplate. The combination of a factory nickel-plated barrel and gold-plated forearm cap, receiver and buttplate is striking and very rare.