Manufactured in 1903. Accompanied by a Winchester factory letter that identifies it as: "musket, caliber .44" and states that it was shipped from Winchester on September 18, 1903. Also included is a catalogue page and bill of sale dated December 16, 1955, from Richard D. Short of Woodstock, New York. The catalogue states that Mr. Short acquired "nearly the entire surviving supply of '73 Winchester lever action muskets" and further notes that "Winchester collecting is on the march". The Short catalogue offered a "GRADE I - Unused" musket for $60.00. This musket has the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges, full length forearm, three barrel bands, block front sight base that serves as a bayonet lug, military style folding leaf rear sight, carbine buttplate, sling swivels and sliding brass buttplate trapdoor. A four-piece steel cleaning rod and original bright finish socket bayonet with 18 1/2-inch angular blade are included. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address/patent dates and "44 W.C.F." "44 CAL." is in script letters on the brass cartridge elevator. The upper receiver tang has "-MODEL 1873-" in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang. This musket is one of approximately 700 Model 1873 Muskets shipped from Winchester to Nicaragua in September 1903. Some of these muskets were apparently never uncrated. During the 1950s a few of these Model 1873 Muskets were discovered in the original crates in unissued condition, returned to the United States for resale and apparently acquired by New York firearms dealer Richard D. Short. This is the first example of a Winchester Third Model 1873 Musket offered by RIAC with an advertisement and bill of sale by the dealer who originally acquired the Model 1873 Muskets after their return from Central America.

Excellent. The musket retains 97% plus original blue and color casehardened finishes. The barrel has a few scuff marks near the muzzle from mounting the bayonet. The dust cover and top of the receiver have several small spots of light flaking and there are several small spots of age discoloration on the right side of the receiver. The loading gate retains nearly all of the fire blue finish. At least 98% muted case colors are present on the hammer, trigger, lever and buttplate. The wood is excellent and retains nearly all of the original oil finish; wear is limited to a few very insignificant handling marks. The bayonet is very good with 90% original bright finish and a few scattered spots of age discoloration. This is an outstanding example of a Winchester Model 1873 Musket with 1955 sales documents.