Page 56 - 4095-BOOK1

LOT 43
Magnificent Documented Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action .44-40 Rifle with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 156226, 44-40 WCF cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, fancy walnut checkered pistol
grip stock. This extraordinary Deluxe Winchester Model 1873 rifle was received in the warehouse on September 3, 1884,
and shipped on September 5, 1884, as part of order number 14227. The factory letter also confirms it was shipped with the
following special order features: 26 inch octagon barrel, set trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, “Special rear and target” sights,
and casehardened finish (receiver). These details are also listed in the included factory ledger copy. This Third Model 1873
rifle has the integral dust cover rail on the receiver and dust cover with serrated rear edges. The rifle has a blued barrel, full-
length magazine, dust cover, loading gate, and trigger. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever, and crescent buttplate are
casehardened with vivid case colors. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, 4X, fancy grain walnut with a high
polish piano finish. The forearm and pistol grip have Winchester “Style H” checkering. The bottom of the pistol grip has a horn
or ebony inlay. The left side of the lower tang is marked with “5475 XXXX,” and the upper tang inlet on the stock has “S 5475.”
The extra long barrel is fitted with a special order Winchester globe front sight and a buckhorn, sporting style rear sight with
screw adjustable center insert and serrated edges. A special order, folding, graduated peep sight is mounted on the receiver
tang. The rifle has a factory single set
trigger. The crescent buttplate has a
sliding brass trapdoor and is marked
“0/5475” on the underside at the toe.
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.”
ahead of the rear sight. “44 CAL” is
stamped on the top of the barrel ahead
of the receiver. “44 CAL.” is also stamped
in script across the bottom of the brass
cartridge elevator. The serial number is
stamped in script across the lower tang
between the lever latch and the
tang screw.
54