This Winchester Model 1873 .22 rimfire rifle was manufactured in 1887 and subsequently returned to factory for rebarreling and mounting the A5 scope. It has the distinctive .22 rimfire receiver with no loading gate and front-loading magazine tube. The overall condition of this rifle is just fantastic; it is probably the best .22 caliber Model 1873 rifle we have ever offered for sale. The factory letter confirms the rifle had a .22 caliber octagon barrel and plain trigger when it was originally shipped on July 29, 1887, in order 20947. It was returned and repaired on October 21, 1913, in order 51865. The special order half-round, half-octagon barrel, special order globe front sight, factory mounted A5 scope (the proof is stamped forward of the rear scope block), and the sporting type adjustable rear sight would have been done at that time. The barrel, magazine, forearm cap and receiver have the Winchester rust blue finish, and the hammer, loading lever, and crescent steel buttplate have a casehardened finish. The buttplate does not have a trap. The walnut stock and forearm have a varnished finish. The receiver has an integral dust cover rib and dust cover with seriated edges. The top octagon barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A./-KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866.OCTOBER 16.1860-." The top of the barrel is fitted with a set of original Winchester A5 scope blocks with the rear base directly in front of the receiver ring and the Winchester circled "WP" proof ahead of the rear base indicating factory mounting and the front base mounted 7.2 inches center to center. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "{MODEL 1873}" flanked by foliate motifs. The bottom of the brass cartridge elevator is engraved: "22 CAL/SHORT" in two lines. The serial number, "24303B," is stamped on the lower receiver tang behind the loading lever latch. The Model 1873 .22 rimfire rifle was the first .22 caliber repeating rifle manufactured in America. Winchester manufactured 19,552 of these rifles between 1884 and 1904. Surviving examples in exceptional condition such as this rifle are extremely scarce.

Excellent with 97% plus original blue finish overall, thinning and showing some light high spot wear overall with slight thinning on the magazine tube. The stock and forend are also excellent with most of the original varnished finish and some minor handling marks on the left side of the forend from light use. Mechanically excellent other than missing the extractor. The Winchester A5 scope retains 99% of the original blue finish with just a couple of minor scratches from sliding in the mounts. The optics are clear with exception of the slightly wavy cross-hairs (a common problem with these older rifles). This rifle would certainly be a centerpiece in any advanced Winchester collection.