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.