This factory engraved Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine received its serial number on August 9, 1895, per the included factory letter. It is listed in the factory records as a carbine in .44 caliber with a "Fancy, Checkered stock," "$2.50" engraving, "Half gold" and "Half nickel finish, the gold on the frame, bands, and buttplate; and was received in the warehouse on August 28, 1895, and shipped the same day in order 16519. It was then returned and received on March 4, 1897, and shipped again on March 9, 1897, in order 5015. It then was received and shipped again on May 20, 1897, in order 8501 and shipped again with the designation "NY Expo 1898", received on January 6, March 5, and May 9th of 1898, shipped again on May 12, 1898, in order 8869, received again on December 29, 1898, and November 20, 1899, and finally shipped the last time on December 30, 1899. The numerous receiving and shipping dates are consistent with other factory exhibition rifles and carbines displayed by Winchester at the World's Fairs and other large events in both the U.S. and abroad. Serial number 48117 Winchester Model 1892, a nickel plated trapper carbine, was sold by RIAC in May of 2017 and was documented as received in the warehouse just two days after this carbine and listed as displayed at the "New York Expo" in 1897 and also had a notation for a New York Expo in 1898 that was rubbed out (possibly because there was no American Institute Fair in 1898). Similarly, serial number 110606 Winchester Model 1886, a panel scene engraved rifle finished in gold and nickel like this carbine, was also noted as displayed at the "New York Expo 1897" and was sold by RIAC in December 2014. There were American Institute Fairs in New York annually with the last major event held in the fall of 1897. Each of those fairs was an "important gathering of inventors and manufacturers of America." Exhibitions around the world were significant forms of advertising for firearms companies in the 19th century and gave the companies opportunities to show potential customers their wares in person. The World's Fairs, for example, drew in several million visitors, and Colt and Winchester had elaborate displays complete with highly engraved and otherwise embellished arms. Aside from the "NY Expo 1898" note, the other dates listed do not give destinations, but there were large expositions around the world in the 1890s where this carbine could have been on display. For example, the first exhibition this carbine may have been displayed at could have been the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta which ran from September 18 until the end of 1895, and the shipping date in May of 1897 would have been towards the beginning of the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition which ran until the end of October 1897 in Nashville and brought in over a million paid visitors. Since there was no American Institute Fair in 1898, it is possible this carbine was instead on display at the New York Agriculture Exposition that year. There are also known cases of exhibition guns being temporarily loaned for prominent dealers for display. It has the extremely rare combination of gold-plated receiver, dust cover, buttplate and barrel bands and nickel-plated barrel, magazine, loading gate, hammer, trigger and lever. The stock and forearm are deluxe, fancy grade, walnut with Winchester Style H checkering and semi-gloss piano finish. In addition to the special order finish and deluxe walnut stock and forearm, the carbine has factory engraving on the receiver, side plates, dust cover, cartridge elevator and buttplate heel. The Winchester No. 10 engraving features restrained but flawlessly executed scrollwork with a vignette of an elk in profile on the left side plate and simple border work on the receiver and side plates. The engraving was probably executed by John Ulrich or his shop. "DEC/ 17/1900" is neatly non-factory hand-stamped above the elk in the vignette on the left side plate. This marking is period but not Winchester factory work. The round barrel has two barrel bands with block front sight with integral blade located behind the upper band and folding leaf rear sight graduated to "9". The Third Model receiver has an integral dust cover guide and dust cover with serrated rear edges. A staple mounted saddle ring is located on the left side of the receiver. The upper tang is factory drilled and tapped. The buttplate has a sliding trapdoor, and the butt trap contains a three-piece, jointed, steel cleaning rod. The top of the barrel 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: "44 W.C.F." is stamped on the top of the barrel between the rear sight and the receiver. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "-MODEL. 1873-" with foliate devices at either end of the marking. Winchester Model 1873 carbines were usually purchased as working firearms. Model 1873 carbines with any engraving or any deluxe features are rare. This carbine with the very unusual combination of factory engraving, deluxe stock and forearm and gold and nickel-plated finish is extremely rare.

Very fine. The barrel, magazine lever and loading gate have 95% of the factory nickel plating. The nickel-plated finish on the trigger and sides of the hammer has some scattered flaking. The delicate gold plated surfaces show more wear. The receiver has 50% plus of the gold plated finish with handling wear on the left side and side plate, right front. The gold plating on the buttplate top and heel shows moderate handling wear. Most of the gold plating is present on the right side plate. The flawlessly executed scrollwork and detailed elk are crisp and deep. The barrel and receiver markings are sharp. The fancy grade, nicely figured, walnut stock and forearm are in fine overall condition with scattered, minor, handling marks. The checkering shows light-moderate handling wear. The stock and forearm retain 90% of the original piano finish. This is a very fine example of an extremely rare Winchester Model 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine with factory engraving, nickel and gold plated finish and deluxe stock and forearm.