The included letter describes this Model 1873 as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 38, Barrel Type: 1/2 Octagon, Trigger: Plain, Checkered stock with pistol grip, Casehardened" and "Sling and swivel". The letter states that this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on March 19, 1892. The Third Model receiver has the integral dust cover guide and dust cover with serrated rear edges and the rounded top found on .38, .32 and .22 caliber rifles. The half-round/half-octagon barrel has a Beach folding combination front sight and buckhorn, sporting style, rear sight with adjustable center notch. A folding peep sight with fifty minute graduations is mounted on the upper receiver tang. The crescent steel buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor, and the butt trap contains a four-piece, jointed, steel cleaning rod. In addition to the special order half-round/half-octagon barrel, the rifle has special order sling swivels on the forearm cap and stock, very desirable casehardened receiver, and highly figured, fancy grade walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with checkered panels and high polish piano finish. The bottom of the pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The barrel and full length magazine have a blue finish. The dust cover is a high polish blue, and the loading gate is fire blue. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever, trigger and crescent buttplate are casehardened. 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 flat is roll-stamped with the caliber, "38 W.C.F." between the rear sight and the receiver. "38 CAL" is stamped in script across the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped across the lower receiver tang between the lever latch and rear tang screw.

Very fine. The barrel and magazine have 50% of the blue with the magazine showing a plum-colored patina. The magazine band shows finish wear. The Winchester legend and caliber markings are crisp. 90% of the bright blue finish is present on the dust cover. The loading gate has 80% plus original niter blue finish. 85% of the case colors are present on the forearm cap. The case colors on the receiver have faded slightly with 50% remaining, silvering on the high points and scattered spots of age discoloration. The hammer and sides of the lever have strong case colors; the bottom of the lever shows handling wear with a silver patina. The buttplate has about 60% of the case colors with some spots of age discoloration and some pitting on the edge of the toe and heel. The highly figured walnut stock and forearm are both in fine condition and retain 70% of the piano finish. The checkered panels show some handling wear. The stock and forearm have a number of light scratches and handling marks. This is a very good example of a special order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with highly desirable casehardened receiver.