This extraordinary Deluxe Winchester Model 1873 lever action rifle was manufactured in 1879. This rifle has the Second Model receiver with screw-fastened central dust cover guide and dust cover with serrated finger grips. The rifle is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter that describes it as: "Type: Rifle, Barrel Type: Octagon, Barrel Length: 28 Inches, Trigger: Set, Pistol grip stock, Sights: Vernier and Wind gauge" and "Casehardened". The letter states that this rifle was shipped from Winchester on December 27, 1879. The receiver has the very desirable color casehardened finish on the receiver, forearm cap, crescent buttplate, hammer and lever. The special order 28-inch barrel, full length magazine, dust cover, loading gate cover and trigger have a blue finish. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grade walnut with a high polish piano finish. The stock and forearm have fine factory checkering. The bottom of the pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The barrel is fitted with a standard sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and a buckhorn, sporting style rear sight with knurled edges. A folding combination rear sight with heavy base and fine knurling on the post is mounted on the upper tang. The receiver has a factory single set trigger. The buttplate has a sliding brass door. and the butt trap contains a five-piece steel cleaning rod with brass tip. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "WINCHESTER-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16.1860" in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The barrel and bottom of the cartridge elevator are correctly not marked with the caliber designation. The serial number "40700" is stamped in small script numerals between the tang screw and the lever latch.

Excellent plus. The rifle retains 98% of the original blue and vivid color casehardened finish. The barrel has perfect markings. The loading gate, dust cover and trigger have nearly all of the high polish blue finish. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and buttplate have vivid case colors. The only visible wear is some silvering on the buttplate heel and toe. The highly figured walnut stock and forearm remain in excellent condition with 98% of the high polish piano finish and sharp checkering. Wear is limited to a few scattered and very minor storage marks. The wind gauge front sight and Vernier rear sight were apparently replaced with a Winchester sporting style front sight and Lyman folding combination tang sight; both of these sights are correct on a Second Model 1873 rifle. This is an exceptional example of a Deluxe Special Order Second Model Winchester 1873 rifle that would be extremely hard to improve upon. Provenance: Robert M. Lee Collection.