Manufactured in 1891 as a third model with a dust cover guide rail integral to the top of the receiver and dust cover featuring serrated finger grips on the rear. The front sight base serves as a bayonet lug, and the rear sight is a folding ladder. The top of the barrel has the two-line address/patent dates marking ahead of the rear sight and "44 CAL" at the breech. The cartridge elevator is marked "44 CAL." The upper tang is marked "MODEL 1873." The lower tang has the serial number. A sling swivel is mounted to the underside of the middle barrel band and buttstock. The buttstock is fitted with a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included). Comes with a collection tag marked "B1109."

Good overall as a result of authentic and extensive period use with the metal surfaces having a mottled brown-gray patina and well worn wood showing the scaring of many years of faithful use, particularly the forearm which proudly follows the contour of the user's grip. The middle barrel band screw is absent. Mechanically excellent. A Model 1873 with immense character, radiating a by gone era to America's past. It is not hard to imagine this '73 musket being carried by a frontiersman during his daily struggle to survive out West.