This Winchester Model 1873 lever action rifle is chambered in the desirable .22 short rimfire caliber and was manufactured in 1888. The rifle has the distinctive .22 caliber receiver with no loading gate and front loading magazine with late pattern magazine tube. Third Model receiver has an integral dust cover guide and dust cover with serrated edges. The top barrel flat is marked "WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A./KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860." ahead of the rear sight and "22 SHORT" at the breech. The bottom of the cartridge elevator is roll-stamped "22 CAL./SHORT.". The serial number is marked on the lower tang. Blade front, adjustable buck horn rear sight. Blue finish with casehardened hammer, lever and buttplate, and fitted with a standard walnut forearm with steel end cap and straight grip walnut stock with crescent buttplate.

Fine as modified (see below, barrel) with 60% of the original blued finish overall with wear and thinning on the sides of the receiver, mixed with some browning on the magazine tube. The stock and forend retain 65% of their original factory varnish with the front end of the grip area and rear end of the forend having an old dark brown varnish lightly added and very nicely blended in with the original varnish. The rear of the barrel flats (directly in front of the receiver) show vice marks and the flats have been slightly rounded over and touched up with artificial brown. Mechanically fine. This is a fine example of a scarce Winchester Model 1873 lever action rifle in the scarce 22 short caliber.