The factory letter (copy) lists this extraordinary deluxe Model 1873 short rifle with a 20 inch octagon barrel in .44 caliber, set trigger, “fancy” stock and forearm, “rod in the butt”, and style 10 factory engraving costing an extra $2.00. The letter indicates that this rifle was received in the warehouse on June 20, 1900, “To Russ- No Date,” December 3, 1901 (presumed returned to warehouse), shipped on December 4, 1901, charged to Gilson S.G. Co. of Rochester, New York, returned January 29, 1908, shipped on December 27, 1909, returned on January 1, 1910, “sales consignment a/c September 11, 1912,” and returned on October 19, 1912. A large series of entries is typical for Winchester's well-traveled factory exhibition pieces that were displayed at various World's Fairs, other international exhibitions, American exhibitions, and sometimes at important dealers. The December 3, 1901 date might be for the return of the gun from the Pan-American Exposition held in Buffalo, New York, from May 1-November 2, 1901. The inclusion of Gilson S.G. Co., which might be a misspelling for the sporting goods store Gibson & Woodworth, suggests that the rifle was displayed in Rochester, New York, from late 1901 to early 1908. The remaining dates suggest short term loans, likely to prominent Winchester dealers. This incredibly rare factory engraved Model 1873 short rifle was clearly a key display piece for the company and was likely seen by millions of potential customers circa 1900-1912. As such, it is an important piece of Winchester Repeating Arms Co.'s colorful history. The rifle was found in 1949 by Harry Sefried of New Haven, Connecticut, in a Winchester sales office and is pictured and identified on page 200 of "The Winchester Engraving Book” by R.L. Wilson. The rifle has a blue finish on the barrel, magazine, forearm cap, frame, dust cover and crescent buttplate. The hammer and lever are color casehardened. The stock and forearm are deluxe fancy gain walnut with fine checkered panels and a high polish piano finish. The left side plate is factory engraved with a whitetail buck in an oval panel surrounded by open scroll engraving. The right side plate and frame are decorated with open scrollwork and single line borders. Scrollwork flourishes are engraved on the dust cover, top of the receiver, upper tang, bottom of the receiver and cartridge elevator. The receiver has the step found on later production short rifles and Third Model integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The barrel has a dovetail mounted Sheard front sight with brass bead and rare Winchester folding leaf express rear sight. The rear sight features one fixed and three folding leaves graduated from 100-400 yards. The action has a factory set trigger. The stock is fitted with a crescent buttplate with sliding brass trapdoor. Mounts for detachable sling swivels are located on the forearm cap and stock. The left barrel flat is die-stamped "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS, NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A./KING"S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29, 1866. OCTOBER 16, 1860." ahead of the rear sight. "44 W.C.F." is roll stamped on the left barrel flat just ahead of the receiver. The oval "W/P" Winchester proofmarks are stamped on the top barrel flat and top of the receiver. "44 CAL" is stamped on the cartridge elevator in script letters. The upper receiver tang is die-stamped "MODEL 1873" in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number is stamped in script numerals between the lever latch and the tang screw. The combination of a short rifle configuration with factory engraving, deluxe stock and forearm, special order features, and interesting shipping history make this rifle a one-of-a-kind piece. Provenance: The Joe Marlin Hilliard Collection

Excellent. The rifle retains 97% plus of the original blue and casehardened finish with some very minor wear on the buttplate. The factory markings and flawlessly executed engraving are crisp. The highly figured walnut stock and forearm are both in excellent plus condition; the checkering is extremely sharp and nearly all of the high polish piano finish remains intact. Wear is limited to a few very insignificant storage marks and a small scuff mark on the right side of the stock. This is an exceptional example of an extremely rare, deluxe, factory engraved Winchester Model 1873 Short Rifle with special order front and rear sights, set-trigger, crescent buttplate with trap and mounts for sling swivels.