Deluxe, special order, Winchester Model 1873 Rifle manufactured c.1883. This rifle has the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The rifle has a full octagon barrel and full length magazine. The barrel has a standard sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and buckhorn, rear sight. A Lyman folding combination rear sight with short, coarse, knurled post is mounted on the upper receiver tang. The receiver has a factory single set-trigger. The crescent buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor and the butt trap contains a four piece steel cleaning rod with brass trip. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured 3X or 4X fancy grain walnut with Winchester "Style H" checkering and a piano finish. The bottom of the pistol grip has an ebony inlay. 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. "44 CAL." is roll-stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver. "44 CAL" is roll-stamped in script letters across the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped across the lower tang between the lever latch and rear tang screw. The barrel magazine, dust cover and trigger have the Winchester charcoal blue finish. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened.

Very good plus. There are strong traces of blue finish remaining on the barrel in the protected areas, and magazine and dust cover have aged to a very attractive plum patina. The barrel markings are crisp. The case colors on the forearm cap receiver, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are 25%.The balance is a smooth silver gray patina. The highly figured, fancy grain walnut stock and forearm are in very fine condition and retain at least 85% of the high polish piano finish. Wear is limited to a few scattered and very minor handling marks. The Winchester "Style H" checkering is sharp. This is an attractive example of a scarce, deluxe, special order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Sporting Rifle.