This is a fine example of a special order Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle that was manufactured in 1888. The rifle is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Records Office letter that describes the features as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 32, Barrel Type: Octagon, Barrel Length: 28 inches, Trigger: set", and "Casehardened". The letter states this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on November 30, 1888. The receiver has the "step" at the front found on .22, .32 and .38 caliber rifles. The barrel has a "Rocky Mountain" front sight with nickel silver blade and a buckhorn, sporting style rear sight with serrated edges and a screw-adjustable centerpiece. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. The barrel, magazine, dust cover, loading gate and trigger are blued, and the forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever, and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A./-KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." in two-lines ahead of the rear sight. "32 W.C.F." is roll-stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. "32 CAL" is stamped in script letter across the brass cartridge elevator. The upper tang is roll-stamped: "-MODEL 1873-" in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and the tang screw.

Fine. The rifle is all original and retains 40% of the blue and casehardened finishes. Most of the blue finish is present on the barrel with some light edge wear and scattered spots of age discoloration. The blue finish on the magazine tube has faded to a blue-gray patina. The dust cover and loading gate have about half of the nitre blue finish and significant amounts of blue remain on the trigger. There is light pitting on the upper edges of both side plates and along the upper edges of the receiver. The hammer and protected areas of the receiver and lever have strong case colors. The Winchester legend, caliber markings and model designation are sharp. The fancy grain walnut stock and forearm are in fine overall condition with a few light handling marks. The stock retains half of the original piano finish. The forearm shows more finish wear. This is an attractive example of a scarce special order Winchester Model 1873 rifle with very desirable casehardened receiver and extra length barrel.