Manufactured in 1888 as a third model with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The barrel has a standard sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and sporting style buckhorn rear sight with serrated edges and solid rear face. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. The crescent buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with a high polish varnish finish. The top of the barrel is has the two-line address/patent dates marking ahead of the rear sight. "38 W.C.F." is stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped "-MODEL. 1873.-" in fancy letters with foliate devices on either end. "38 CAL." is stamped in script characters across the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The serial number is in script characters on the lower tang between the lever latch and rear tang screw.

Exceptionally fine. 90% of the high polish blue finish is present on the receiver, dust cover and forearm cap; wear is limited to some insignificant scratches and minor finish loss on high points. The loading gate retains 85% of the bright original nitre blue. The barrel and magazine have 85% of the blue finish with crisp markings. The top of the barrel has a number of 1/8 to 1/4 inch patches of surface discoloration between the Winchester legend and rear sight. The balance of the blue finish on the barrel and other components remains very fine. The hammer, lever and crescent buttplate have 75% of the original casehardened finish with muted case colors. The stock and forearm are very fine and retain 85% of the original varnish finish with scattered, minor handling marks. This is a very good example of a Winchester Third Model 1873 rifle.