This extraordinary Deluxe Winchester Model 1873 rifle was received in the warehouse on September 3, 1884, and shipped on September 5, 1884 as part of order number 14227. The factory letter also confirms it was shipped with the following special order features: 26 inch octagon barrel, set trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, "Special rear and target" sights, and casehardened finish (receiver). These details are also listed in the included factory ledger copy. This Third Model 1873 rifle has the integral dust cover rail on the receiver and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The rifle has a blued barrel, full-length magazine, dust cover, loading gate, and trigger. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever, and crescent buttplate are casehardened with vivid case colors. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, 4X, fancy grain walnut with a high polish piano finish. The forearm and pistol grip have Winchester "Style H" checkering. The bottom of the pistol grip has a horn or ebony inlay. The left side of the lower tang is marked with "5475 XXXX," and the upper tang inlet on the stock has "S 5475." The extra long barrel is fitted with a special order Winchester globe front sight and a buckhorn, sporting style rear sight with screw adjustable center insert and serrated edges. A special order, folding, graduated peep sight is mounted on the receiver tang. The rifle has a factory single set trigger. The crescent buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor and is marked "0/5475" on the underside at the toe. 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. "44 CAL" is stamped on the top of the barrel ahead of the receiver. "44 CAL." is also stamped in script across the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped in script across the lower tang between the lever latch and the tang screw. Provenance: The Joe Marlin Hilliard Collection

Excellent original condition with 90% plus of the original blue and 95% vivid casehardened finish. Wear is limited to some minor finish loss on the muzzle and end of the magazine, some thinning on the sides of the barrel band and bottom of the magazine and very slight handling wear on the barrel edges. The loading gate, trigger, and bolt all have 90% of the original blue finish. The special order case colors on the side plates, top and sides of the receiver, hammer, and sides of the lever are vivid. The case colors are slightly silvered on the raised edges of the receiver at the junction with the forearm and on the bottom surfaces of the lever. The case colors on the buttplate have faded to a smooth, silver patina. The highly figured 4X, fancy grain stock and forearm are both excellent and retain nearly all of the high polish piano finish. 4X wood is rare and typically only used on 1 of 1000 Winchesters and other highly Factory embellished guns. The well-executed original checkering on the forearm and pistol grip is sharp. Wear on the stock and forearm is limited to a few, very minor, storage marks. This is a magnificent example of a Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action 44-40 Rifle in the most desirable caliber and configuration!