The accompanying factory letter lists this Model 1873 carbine with a "fancy stock," engraving, gilt receiver, bands and buttplate and the balance nickel plated when received in the warehouse on September 25, 1885 and shipped the same day. According to Winchester expert and author George Madis, "Rifles in the 1873 model outnumber carbines by 20%, and only one of each 600 guns had plating. Only one of each 700 guns had engraving or inscriptions, and one of each 600 had special wood. These figures would be for all of the Model 73s produced. For carbines only, the ratios would be much higher." You are most certainly looking at an extremely rare Model 1873! The gilt third model receiver features an integral dust cover rail, dust cover with serrations at the rear, saddle ring on the left side and an extensive factory engraving. This engraving consists of floral scrollwork on a punch dot background, simple borders, a blank inscription banner on the right side plate and circular panel scene depicting a stag on the left side plate. The scrollwork extends to the cartridge elevator, dust cover and buttplate tang. The barrel is fitted with a factory blade front sight and a period replacement fixed notch rear sight and is stamped with the two-line address/patent dates marking ahead of the rear sight and "44 CAL" at the breech. The upper tang is marked "MODEL 1873." The buttstock is fitted with a trapdoor buttplate (cleaning rod not included). The forearm and straight grip stock are "XXX" walnut. The left side of the lower tang is marked "XXX 643." The assembly number "643" is repeated on the stock inlet and buttplate. The carbine is pictured and described in R.L. Wilson's "The Book of Winchester Engraving" on page 186. As noted by Wilson, "Similarities in scroll placement are apparent in comparison with other engraved Model 1873s, e.g., rifle number 93941 [on page 185], and (an almost exact duplicate) number 192647, pictured in George Madis [on page 179]…Note the hair-like tendrils from certain of the scrolls, akin to the same motif as popular with Nimschke." Furthermore, this carbine features "a more deluxe grade of coverage than rifle number 127938" attributed to Ulrich, as pictured on page 185. Wilson also attributed this carbine as a work of the Ulrichs and their shop. The carbine is also pictured and identified in Madis' "The Winchester Book" on page 178. Madis notes, "Few carbines have special wood, even when engraved or with a special finish on metal parts." Formerly of the Stanley R. Andrus collection.

Very good plus. The barrel, magazine, and lever retain 50% plus original nickel plating and the receiver retains strong traces of original gold in the protected areas with heavier amounts around the trigger, otherwise the carbine has a smooth gray patina. The revarnished wood is very good with splice repairs, a few hairline stress cracks, couple filled repairs and some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. A seldom encountered factory engraved, two-tone Model 1873 carbine missing from even the most advanced Winchester collections.