This rifle is pictured and described on page 256 of "Winchester Engraving" by Wilson and listed as engraved by Ulrich. This rifle is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Records Office letter that describes it as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 32, Barrel Type: 1/2 Octagon, Barrel Length: 26 Inches, Trigger: Plain, Checkered stock, Pistol grip, Sights: Lyman and Beach sights, Shotgun butt, Casehardened, Engraved". The letter further states that this rifle was shipped from Winchester on June 18, 1886. The rifle has a 26-inch half round/barrel with half-magazine. The barrel has a dovetail mounted "Rocky Mountain" style front sight with nickel-silver blade and buckhorn, sporting style rear sight with serrated edges and solid back. A Lyman folding combination rear sight with finely knurled stem and 1884 patent date is mounted on the upper receiver tang. The Third Style receiver has a integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The front of the receiver has the "step" found on 38, 32 and .22 caliber Model 1873 rifles. The forearm cap, top, sides and bottom of the receiver, side plates, dust cover, bottom of the cartridge elevator and buttplate heel are decorated with Winchester factory engraving. The engraving features Germanic scrollwork on a punch-dot background with a vignette on the left side plate that depicts a bull elk in a woodland setting. The right side plate features a highly detailed hound's head in the center of a circle of scrollwork. The engraving was probably executed by John Ulrich. The rifle has a highly figured, fancy grade walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with shotgun buttplate. The stock and forearm have Winchester "Style H" checkering. The stock has an ebony inlay on the bottom of the pistol grip. 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 caliber designation: "32-CAL" is stamped on the top barrel flat just ahead of the receiver. "32 CAL" is engraved in script letters across the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped in block letters across the lower tang behind the lever latch. The barrel and magazine tip have a blue finish. The dust cover and shotgun buttplate are bright blue, and the loading gate is fire blue. The forearm cap receiver, hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened. The stock and forearm have a high gloss piano finish.

Very fine. The barrel has 30% of the blue finish with some high-point wear and a few scattered spots of age discoloration. The Winchester legend and the caliber markings are sharp. The dust cover retains 70% of the bright blue finish with moderate edge wear. The shotgun buttplate has 40% of the blue finish with dark age discoloration and some scattered light pitting. The loading gate retains 80% of the fire blue finish. The case colors on the forearm cap and receiver have silvered slightly but 50% remains. The high points and edges of the receiver and side plates show age spotting and handling wear. The hammer and sides of the lever have 50% of the case colors. The bottom of the lever has silvered, and the edges have traces of age spotting. The flawlessly executed scrollwork and border engraving and highly detailed animal designs are extremely sharp. The highly figured walnut stock and forearm are in very good overall condition and retain 90% of the original piano finish with scattered minor handling marks. The checkering on the pistol grip and forearm is in excellent condition. This is an attractive example of a rare deluxe, factory engraved Model 1873 rifle with many special order features.