The Cody letter describes this Model 1873 as: "Type: Rifle, Barrel Type: Octagon, Trigger: Plain, Checkered stock" and "Casehardened". The Cody letter further states that this rifle was received in the warehouse on July 17, 1878 and shipped on July 19, 1878. This rifle has the early Second Model receiver with screw fastened dust cover guide and dust cover with checkered oval finger grip. The rifle has a blue barrel and magazine, high polish blue dust cover and niter blue loading gate. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate are casehardened. The stock and forearm are "XX" fancy grade walnut with a piano finish and factory checkering. The 24-inch octagon barrel has a Beach folding combination front sight and early buckhorn, sporting style rear sight with short base and knurled sides. The full length magazine tube has the early threaded cap. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. The buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor. The stock and forearm have factory checkering; the forearm checkering is the early style that completely adjoins the receiver and extends forward to slightly ahead of the rear sight dovetail. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." ahead of the rear sight. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped "MODEL. 1873" in fancy letters. The serial number is roll-stamped on the lower tang between the lever latch and the rear tang screw. The left side of the lower tang is stamped with the assembly number "754" followed by "XX". The assembly number is also stamped in the upper tang inlet of the stock and in the inside of the buttplate. The barrel and brass cartridge elevator, correctly, have no caliber markings.

Excellent. This exceptional Winchester 1873 Deluxe rifle is all original. 90% plus of the blue finish is present on the barrel and magazine with some very minor edge wear at the muzzle and magazine tip. The dust cover has 90% of the bright original blue finish with some light edge wear and one tiny spot of surface discoloration. The loading gate retains 95% of the nitre blue finish. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate have 85% plus of the original casehardened finish. The case colors on the receiver bottom and sides ahead of the side plates show some light handling wear and have faded slightly. The side plates, protected areas of the receiver, hammer, lever and buttplate have vivid case colors. The fancy grade "XX" walnut stock and forearm remain in excellent condition with slight handling wear and retains nearly 95% of the original finish. The checkering on the stock and forearm is very sharp. The markings on the barrel and receiver are crisp. This is a truly exceptional example of a Second Model Winchester deluxe Model 1873 rifle.