The Cody letter describes this Winchester Model 1873 as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 38, Barrel Type: Octagon" and "Trigger: Plain" and states that it was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on January 21, 1893. The rifle has the third style receiver with integrally machined guide rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The top of the receiver has the "step" found on .38, .32 and .22 caliber rifles. The 24-inch full octagon barrel has a standard, sporting style, front sight with nickel-silver blade and buckhorn, sporting style, rear sight with screw adjustable rear aperture and serrated rear edges. The upper receiver tang is factory drilled and tapped. The steel, crescent, buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor. The butt trap contains a Winchester, four-piece, jointed, steel cleaning rod. The barrel and full-length magazine have a blue finish. The forearm cap, dust cover and receiver are bright blue. The loading gate has a fire-blue finish. The hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A./ -KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860.-" ahead of the rear sight. The caliber, "38 W.C.F." is roll-stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and receiver. "38 CAL" is stamped in script across the brass cartridge elevator. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "-MODEL: 1873-" with floral devices at either end of the marking. The serial number is roll-stamped on the lower tang in script numerals.

Exceptionally fine. The barrel and magazine have 90% of the blue finish and show minimal wear. The edges of the barrel are sharp, the Winchester legend and caliber markings are crisp. The forearm cap, dust cover, receiver and side plates retain 90% plus of the blue finish. Most of the blue is present of the forearm cap. The dust cover has some slight edge wear but has 90% of the blue. Protected areas of the receiver are partially covered with dried oil. The receiver and side plates retain 90% of the bright blue finish with light edge wear on high points and some scattered light scratches. The loading gate is partially covered with dried grease but has 60% of the nitre blue finish. The hammer, trigger and lever retrain 90% of the muted case colors. The top of the buttplate heal has several patches of surface rust and the balance of the buttplate retains 70% of the faded color casehardened finish. The stock and forearm are both in very fine condition and have most of the original finish. The finish wear is primarily on the underside of the forearm. The stock and forearm have a few scattered and relatively minor handling marks. This is an excellent example of a Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle.