Lot 22: Documented, Special Order, Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever

The Cody letter describes this rifle as: "Rifle, casehardened, 32 caliber, Barrel Length: 26 inches, Barrel Shape: Octagon, Plain trigger," and "Checkered stock with pistol grip". The letter further states that this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on November 29, 1892. This rifle has the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The receiver has the step on the front found on .38, .32. and .22 caliber Model 1873 rifles after serial number 125,000. The full length magazine has the late screw fastened cap. The special order 26-inch, full octagon barrel has a standard sporting style front sight with nickel silver blade and buckhorn sporting style rear sight with serrated rear edges and screw-adjustable center piece. A Lyman folding combination rear sight with short coarse knurled stem is mounted on the receiver tang. The top 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." ahead of the rear sight. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the caliber designation: "32 W.C.F." between the rear sight and the receiver edge. "32 CAL" is stamped in script across the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped in small script numerals across the lower tang between the lever latch and rear tang screw. The barrel, magazine and barrel band have a blue finish, and the forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and solid crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The loading gate has a niter blue finish. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grade American walnut with a piano finish and Winchester "Style H" checkering. The bottom of the pistol grip has an ebony inlay.

Very fine. This rifle retains nearly 75% plus of the original blue and vivid color casehardened finish with light handling wear. The barrel and magazine have some finish wear on the muzzle and cap, and there is some slight finish loss on the barrel edges. The Winchester legend and caliber markings are crisp. The blue dust cover has faded to an even brown patina, and the loading gate retains 40% of the niter blue finish. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate have 90% of the casehardened finish with strong case colors. The stock and forearm remain in fine condition with nearly 90% of the original piano finish. Most of the finish wear is concentrated on the forearm; the sides of the stock have several scattered shallow handling and storage marks. The checkered panels on the pistol grip and forearm show moderate handling wear. This is a fine looking example of a special order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle.