Manufactured in 1894. The accompanying Buffalo Bill Historical Center letter indicates that Winchester factory records document this trapper carbine with a 15 inch barrel in .44 caliber and sling swivels when shipped on January 8, 1895. The included 1978 dated U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives letter lists this rare carbine by serial number as being removed from the NFA (National Firearms Act) and classified as an antique. As revealed in accompanying correspondence with the ATF, this carbine was part of a successful effort led by Lewis E. Yearout to gain ATF exemptions for several Winchester trapper carbines. This carbine is pictured in the article "Freeing Winchester's Old Trappers" featured in the April 1980 issue of American Rifleman (copy included). This trapper has carbine sights and stock with a trapdoor buttplate (cleaning rod not included), third model integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edge, saddle ring on the left side of the receiver and rare sling swivels on the underside of the rear barrel band and buttstock. The top of the barrel is stamped with the two-line address/patent dates marking ahead of the rear sight and "44 WCF" at the breech, the cartridge elevator is stamped "44 CAL," and the upper tang is stamped "MODEL 1873." All Winchester carbines having a shorter than standard 20 inch barrel are rare.

Good, having a smooth gun metal patina with minor pitting. The heavily worn wood is fair with a few hairline stress cracks, chipping and minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. Do not miss your opportunity to acquire a factory documented antique Winchester Model 1873 Trapper Carbine. These are very rare and desirable short barreled Winchester carbines.