Manufactured in 1879, this Winchester Model 1873 has the second model receiver with dust cover guide retained with two screws and dust cover with the sunken, checkered "thumbprint" grip area. According to Winchester historian George Madis, only one out of every 600 Model 1873s were special ordered with a plated finish, either full or half like this example. Madis also notes that only one out of every 600 were ordered with special wood like this specific rifle. The included factory letter lists the rifle with an octagon barrel, nickel finish, set trigger, sling and swivels, and fancy stock when received at the warehouse on 9 April 1879 and shipped on 10 April 1879 in order number 15092. All of these special order features would have made the rifle particularly desirable on the Western Frontier, the durable finish, set trigger for accuracy, and sling swivels for portability. The top barrel flat has the standard two-line address/King's patent marking, and it correctly lacks caliber markings as .44-40 W.C.F. was standard. The model designation is marked on the upper tang and the serial number is on the lower tang. The left side of the lower tang is marked "XX 6", with "6" repeated inside the stock inlet and inside the buttplate (one of the buttplate screws is broken, but in place). It is fitted with a blade front sight (blade absent), elevation adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight, a special order set trigger, and special order sling swivels. It is mounted with a very finely figured, smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included).