The copy of the Cody letter describes this "Model 1873 as: "Rifle, 22 caliber, Barrel Shape: Octagon, Plain trigger" and "Shotgun butt". The letter states that this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on May 13, 1885. The rifle has the distinctive receiver with no loading gate, 25-shot magazine with early style cartridge stop ring and bolt with one-piece spring steel extractor. It also has the unique tapered takedown pin in forward frame. The special order, 24-inch, full octagon barrel has a standard sporting style front sight with nickel-silver blade and buckhorn, sporting style rear sight with knurled edges and solid back. The receiver has the 'step' in front of the ejection port found on .22, .32, and .38 caliber Winchester Model 1873 rifles. The top of the receiver has an integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edges. A Marble folding combination peep sight is fitted to the upper receiver tang. The stock has a special order, steel, shotgun style, buttplate. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1865. OCTOBER 1. 1860." ahead of the rear sight. The caliber designation: "22 CAL" is roll-stamped on the top barrel flat just in front of the receiver. The bottom of the brass cartridge elevator is roll-stamped: "22 CAL./SHORT." in script letters. The serial number is roll-stamped on the bottom of the lower tang between the lever latch and tang screw in script numerals. The barrel and magazine are blue, the forearm cap, receiver, dust cover and shotgun buttplate are bright blue and the hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are straight grain American Walnut with a varnish finish. Introduced in 1884, the Winchester Model 1873 .22 Rimfire rifle was the first .22 caliber repeating rifle made in the United States. Includes a letter of authenticity signed by Tom Selleck confirming it is from his personal collection.

Excellent. This rifle is all original and retains 95% of the bright original high polish blue and color casehardened finish. The barrel and magazine tube have 97% of the blue finish with some slight edge wear at the muzzle and several faint spots of age discoloration on the left barrel flat. The barrel legend and caliber markings are clear. The forearm cap retains nearly all of the bright blue finish. The receiver has 90% plus of the bright blue finish with several faint handling marks and traces of age spotting on the sides and side plates, There is a small spot of dark, rough, metal on the receiver step. The dust cover retains 90% of the bright blue finish. The shotgun buttplate shows finish wear on the heel and toe with scattered age spotting. 85% of the bright blue finish on the buttplate remains. The hammer, trigger and lever have 98% plus of the casehardened finish with strong case colors. The stock and forearm are excellent and retain at least 95% of the original varnish with minimal handling and storage wear. This is an excellent example of an early production Winchester Model 1873 .22 Rimfire Rifle with special order shotgun buttplate. Model 1873 .22 Rimfire Rifles are rarely encountered in this high condition and very seldom with the takedown pin! Provenance: The Tom Selleck Collection