Offered here is an excellent example of a Winchester Model 1873 Musket with an 18 inch bright finished socket bayonet that was manufactured in 1903. This musket appears to be part of a group of 700 muskets in the 569,000-571,000 serial number range that were shipped to Central America in September 1903. These muskets were apparently never issued and were re-imported to the United States in the late 1950s in near new, un-fired, condition. The third model receiver features the distinctive integral dust cover guide and dust cover with serrated edges. The barrel is fitted with a block front sight for a socket bayonet and a military pattern folding leaf rear sight graduated to 800 yards (Winchester No. 46A musket rear sight). Import marked on underside of barrel. The musket has the full-length forearm, three barrel bands and carbine buttplate with sliding brass trap. The but trap contains a five piece cleaning rod. Sling swivels are fitted to the stock and middle barrel band. The barrel, magazine, barrel bands and receiver are blued, the hammer, loading lever, trigger and buttplate are casehardened and the loading gate is niter blued. The walnut stock and forearm have an oil finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860." between the lower barrel band and 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. "44 CAL" is inscribed on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "MODEL 1873" with foliate designs on either end. The serial number is located on the lower receiver tang between the loading lever latch and the rear tang screw. Provenance: The Wayne Connor Collection

Excellent, retaining 98% plus of the bright original blue finish with only minimal bayonet mounting wear at muzzle, handling/storage marks. The hammer and lever retain 95% plus original case colors. The buttplate retains patterns of original case colors. Both sides of the stock have pressure dents likely obtained while in the packing crate, otherwise the wood is very fine with some scattered handling marks and attractive feathered grain. The bayonet is very fine. Mechanically excellent. This Winchester Model 1873 Musket will be a welcomed addition to any lever action collection.