This rifle has the second model receiver with screw fastened dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The accompanying Cody Firearms Museum letter describes this rifle as: "Rifle, Barrel Shape:1/2 Octagon, Plain trigger, Fancy wood stock with oil finish, 1/2 magazine, Shotgun butt, Casehardened," and "Sling and swivel". The rifle was shipped from Winchester on July 6, 1881. The barrel has a large nickel-silver "Rocky Mountain" front sight blade and buckhorn rear sight with knurled edges. The receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. Factory sling swivels are mounted on the stock and forearm cap. The stock and forearm are deluxe, highly figured, fancy grade walnut with a high polish piano finish. The top barrel flat has the two-line address/patent dates marking ahead of the rear sight. "MODEL 1873" is in fancy letters on the upper receiver tang. The barrel and cartridge elevator correctly lack caliber markings.

Very fine. 90% original blue finish remains on the barrel, magazine and shotgun buttplate. The loading gate has 85% plus original nitre blue finish. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, trigger and lever have 40% plus original case colors. The left side of the receiver, side plate and lever have spots of mottled brown surface discoloration. The wood retains 60% original oil finish with scattered and very minor handling marks concentrated primarily along the bottom of the stock and forearm. This is a very fine example of a scarce, fully documented, deluxe, special order Winchester Model 1873 rifle with very desirable casehardened receiver.