This is an exceptional, special order antique Winchester Model 1873 rifle manufactured in late 1882. This rifle has the Second Model receiver with screw-fastened dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. It is fitted with two special order features: 1) half length magazine, 2) a shotgun butt. It is fairly rare to have a special order rifle with only two special order features such as this one. It has the standard 24 inch round barrel with a half nickel blade front sight with a buckhorn sporting style rear sight with knurled edges. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." ahead of the rear sight. It is also marked with ".38 Cal" directly in front of the receiver. The serial number (83878) is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and rear tang screw. The barrel and cartridge elevator, correctly, do not have caliber markings. The rifle has the Winchester charcoal blue finish on the barrel, magazine, receiver, smooth flat buttplate and dust cover. The loading gate has a fire blue finish. The hammer, trigger and loading lever are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are oil-finished straight grain American walnut.

Exceptionally fine with 85% plus of the original blue finish overall with some light wear on the edges and high spots overall with some minor blue flaking on the side of the receiver mixed with some light brown patina specks. The loading gate retains 70% original nitre blue. The buttstock and forend are both in very fine condition with the oil finish showing very minor handling marks. An attractive special order Winchester Model 1873 lever action rifle.