This Second Model 1873 rifle was manufactured in 1880. The factory letter indicates it was received in the warehouse on December 30, 1880, and shipped on March 10, 1881, as a rifle with round barrel and plain trigger. .44 W.C.F. would have been standard. The upper tang has been non-factory drilled and tapped for sight mounting. It has the screwed on dust cover guide rail, dust cover with grasping serrations on the tail, German silver blade front and elevation adjustable rear sights and smooth forearm and straight grip buttstock with crescent buttplate featuring a trapdoor (cleaning rod not included).

Good. The rifle has a mottled brown patina with the metal surfaces showing evidence of having been painted black at one time. Paint remains on the hammer, lever and in the protected areas. Note that applying paint to metal was considered a preservation technique many years ago. The cartridge elevator is incorrectly hand scratched with "38 WCF". The wood is very good with a few gouges and some minor pressure dents and scratches. Mechanically excellent.