The rifle has the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with a serrated finger guide along the rear edges. The Cody letter describes this "Model 1872 as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 38, Barrel Type: Octagon, Trigger: Set, Checkered stock with pistol grip", and "Casehardened". The letter further states that this rifle was shipped from Winchester on July 21, 1888. The rifle has a blue finish on the barrel, magazine and dust cover. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The loading gate has a fire 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 bottom of the pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The octagon barrel has a Winchester "Rocky Mountain" front sight with steel blade and buckhorn, sporting style rear sight with serrated edges. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. The receiver is fitted with a Winchester single set-trigger. The crescent buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor. The receiver has the round top found on .38, .32 and .22 caliber Winchester Model 1873 rifles. 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. "38 W.C.F." is stamped on the top barrel flat just ahead of the receiver. "38 CAL" is stamped in script letters and numerals across the cartridge elevator. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped "MODEL. 1873." in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number is stamped in small block letters across the lower tang below the lever latch.

Fine. The blue on the barrel and magazine is 30%; the balance is a blue-brown patina. The metal surfaces are smooth and the markings are crisp. The dust cover retains about 60% of the blue finish with traces of brown patina. The loading gate has 40% of the niter blue finish remaining. The forearm cap, receiver and hammer retain 50% of the casehardened finish with strong case colors. The case colors on the lever and trigger have faded to a mottled brown patina. The buttplate shows more wear than the other components and has a gray-brown patina with light pitting on the toe and heel. The fancy grade walnut stock and forearm are both in fine condition and retain 80% of the original piano finish with most of the wear concentrated on the rear portion of the forearm. The checkering on the pistol grip and forearm shows light-moderate handling wear but remains sharp. The stock and forearm have numerous light handling marks that do not detract from the overall appearance of the rifle. This is a fine example of a scarce and very desirable special order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle.