This extraordinary Winchester Model 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine features the Third Model receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The barrel has a block mounted front sight located behind the upper barrel band and folding, adjustable leaf, rear sight marked "1873" at the top of the leaf. A staple mounted saddle ring is located on the left side of the receiver. The buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor, and the butt trap contains a three-piece jointed steel cleaning rod. The barrel, magazine, barrel bands and receiver have the Winchester commercial blue finish. The dust cover and loading gate have a fire blue finish. The hammer, trigger, lever, lever latch and buttplate are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are oil-finished, straight grain, American walnut. 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." The top of the barrel between the rear sight, and the receiver is stamped with the caliber designation: "44 CAL." "44 CAL" is stamped in script letters on the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. The serial number is stamped in script on the lower tang between the lever latch and the tang screw. The upper tang is roll-stamped: "-MODEL 1873.-" in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The carbine is accompanied by a factory letter which states the carbine was received in the warehouse on August 9, 1884, and shipped on November 8, 1884. Provenance: The Joe Marlin Hilliard Collection