Manufactured in 1903. The musket has the distinctive 30 inch barrel with full-length forearm, three barrel bands, block front sight base that serves as a lug for a socket bayonet (bayonet not included), military style folding leaf rear sight and carbine buttplate. Sling swivels are mounted on the middle barrel band and the stock. The frame has the Third Model integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor (cleaning rod not included). The barrel, magazine, barrel bands and frame have the Winchester commercial blue finish. The hammer, loading lever and buttplate are color casehardened. The oil-finished stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut. The top of the barrel has the two-line address/patent dates marking ahead of the rear sight and "44 WCF" at the breech. The cartridge elevator is marked "44 CAL." The upper tang is marked "MODEL 1873." The lower tang has the serial number. This musket was part of a lot of over 700 Model 1873 Muskets in the 560,000-571,000 serial number range that were shipped to Central America in September 1903. A number of these muskets were discovered in their original crates and were returned to the United States in un-fired condition in the 1950s.

Very fine, retaining 90% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance and scattered spots of pitting on the receiver and tops of all barrel bands. 85% original niter blue remains on the loading gate. The hammer retains 90% original case colors. The lever and buttplate retain 40% of the original case colors. The wood is fine with a filled repair at the rear barrel band and dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.