The Model 1873 was incredibly popular in the American West due to their rapid firepower and their rugged dependability. That popularity continued well into the 20th century with ranchers, and this example being chambered in .38 W.C.F. would have been the perfect pairing with a Colt Single Action Army revolver in the same caliber. Manufactured in 1904 with Winchester factory oval proofs on the barrel and receiver at the breech. The top barrel flat has the two-line address/King's patent marking. The caliber marking is on the upper barrel flat at the breech and repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The three-line model and trademark information is on the upper tang and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with German silver blade front and elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sights. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate containing an included four-piece cleaning rod.

Fine, retains 40% plus of the original blue finish, strong traces of the original case colors, and 50% of the original niter blue on the loading gate with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, having the look of a well maintained frontier arm. The wood is very good with a lightly sanded and revarnished patch on the bottom of the forearm and some minor handling marks scattered throughout. Mechanically excellent.