This is an extraordinary example of a Winchester Model 1873 Musket manufactured c. 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, military style folding leaf rear sight and carbine buttplate. The middle barrel band and stock are fitted with sling swivels. The frame has the Third Model integral dust cover rail and a dust cover with serrated edges. The buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor compartment which contains a five piece cleaning rod. The barrel, magazine, barrel bands and frame have a blue finish. The loading gate bolt and rear sight spring are a fiery niter blue. The hammer, loading lever and buttplate are casehardened. The straight grain black walnut stock and forearm have a varnish finish. 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." between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. The caliber "44 W.C.F" is roll-stamped on the top of the barrel at the breech. "44 Cal." is roll-stamped in script letters on the bottom of the brass cartridge elevator. "{MODEL 1873}" is roll-stamped on the upper tang in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and the upper tang screw. This musket appears to be part of a group of 700 muskets in the 569,000-571,000 serial number range that were shipped to Central America in September 1903. These muskets were apparently never issued and were re-imported to the United States in the late 1950s in new un-fired condition.

Excellent plus. The musket appears to be unfired and shows only very minimal storage wear. The barrel, magazine, barrel bands and rear sight have 99% of the original blue finish remaining. The receiver and dust cover retain 98% of the original blue finish with wear limited to several very shallow scratches on the left side plate and frame and two small (1/4-inch) spots of finish loss on the top of the receiver. The bolt and loading gate have 98% plus of the fiery niter blue finish. The hammer, trigger and loading lever retain 90% plus of the original case colors. The case colors on the buttplate have faded slightly, and there is some finish loss on the heel. The markings on the barrel, receiver and cartridge elevator are extremely sharp. The stock and forearm are excellent with nearly all of the original varnish finish. There are several shallow storage dents on the right side and comb of the stock; these marks are minor and do not detract from the appearance of the musket. This is a nearly new example of a scarce Winchester Third Model 1873 Musket.