Winchester Model 1873 Sporting Rifle with Cody Firearms Records Office letter that describes this rifle as: "Type: Rifle, Caliber: 32, Barrel Type: Round, Trigger: Plain" and "1/2 Magazine". The letter states it was shipped from the Winchester Warehouse on September 16, 1887. The rifle has the Third Style receiver with integral dust cover guide rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The front of the receiver has the step found on 22, 32 and 38 caliber rifles. The 24-inch round barrel has a standard sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and buckhorn, sporting style rear sight with serrated edges and solid back. The half-magazine has a late style casehardened magazine cap held in place by the forend tip. 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." head of the rear sight. "32 W.C.F." is roll-stamped on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and the receiver. "32 CAL" is roll-stamped in script across the brass cartridge elevator. "-MODEL 1873-" is roll-stamped on the upper tang in fancy script with foliate devices at either end of the marking, and the serial number is roll-stamped in script letters on the lower tang between the lever latch and the rear tang screw. The barrel, forearm tip, receiver and dust cover have a blue finish. The loading gate is a fiery niter blue. The magazine tip, hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate are casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with a high polish varnish finish.

Excellent. This rifle is all original and retains 97% plus of the original high polish blue finish. The barrel has some edge wear at the muzzle and some faint scuff marks along the left side of the barrel. The balance of the barrel has nearly all of the blue finish and crisp Winchester legend and caliber markings. The forearm tip, receiver and dust cover exhibit of high point wear and some scuff marks on the dust cover guide and top of the receiver. The loading gate has 98% of the fire blue finish. The hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate have 95% of the casehardened finish with strong case colors. The stock and forearm remain in excellent condition and retain nearly all of the high polish varnish finish; wear is limited to some scattered and very minor scratches and handling marks. This is an excellent example of a special order Winchester Model 1873 Sporting Rifle.