The letter describes "Model 1873, serial number 248858" as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 22, Barrel Type: Octagon, Trigger: Plain, Checkered stock, Pistol grip" and "Casehardened". The letter further states that this rifle was shipped from Winchester on January 13, 1888. The rifle has a full octagon barrel fitted with a Winchester globe front sight and a factory blank in the rear sight dovetail. A folding graduated peep sight with 50 minute graduations is mounted on the receiver tang. The full length magazine has the early style magazine tube with separate stop ring. The Third style receiver has a integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The receiver has the rounded front found on .22 caliber Model 1873 rifles. The rifle has the very desirable color casehardened receiver with casehardened forearm cap, hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate. The barrel, receiver and dust cover have a blue finish. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grade walnut with fine checkered panels and a high polish piano finish. The buttplate has an ebony insert. 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 blank. The caliber: "22 SHORT" is roll stamped on the top barrel flat just ahead of the receiver. "22 CAL./SHORT" is roll-stamped in script in two lines across the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped in small script letters across the lower tang between the lever latch and rear tang screw. Deluxe, special order Model 1873 .22 Rimfire Rifles are rare.

Very good plus. The blue on the barrel and magazine has aged to a plum-blue patina. The barrel has 25% blue with scattered patches of shallow pitting and the magazine has similar spots of age discoloration. The barrel markings are crisp. Most of the blue is present on the dust cover. The case colors of the forearm cap have aged to smooth, dark patina, The case colors on the receiver, hammer and lever have aged to a silver-gray patina with scattered spots of age discoloration. The buttplate has a mottled dark patina with several spots of light pitting. The deluxe, fancy grade, walnut stock and forearm are all in fine condition. The piano finish on the buttplate has dulled from handling but the stock retains nearly 90% of the high polish finish with some wear on the wrist. The checkered panels are sharp. Wear on the stock and forearm is limited to a few light handling and storage marks. This is a solid representative example of a seldom encountered rare, deluxe, special order Winchester Model 1873 .22 Rimfire Rifle.