Very Early ( 1880 ) model '73 'short rifle'

[Marshal Deadwood]

Winchester 1873 Deluxe Short Rifle s/n 61331 mfg 1880 - 20" round barrel, case hardened receiver, fancy walnut checkered straight grip stocks, steel shotgun butt, buckhorn rear sight. Mechanical action is excellent; barrel and mag retain 80% original blue coverage mixed with plum; receiver has traces of case colors with balance mottled; hammer and lever retain 40% vivid case colors; stocks retain considerable original varnish finish w/sharp checkering. Possibly the earliest deluxe '73 short rifle.

http://www.rarewinchesters.com/gunroom/1873/M73-061331/M73-61331.shtml

[Joe Lansing]

    I'm a little confused about what I see. The '73 pictured has a pinned trigger through the frame. I have not seen this before on a '73. Also, the dust cover is riding on a rail. Early '73s, including at least some 1 of 1000's dust covers ride inside 2 grooves.
    I doubt if this is that early a deluxe rifle, especially since the serial no. indicates it was made in1880. Most one of one thousand rifles were made before 1877 and were first offered in the 1875 catalog. I dare say all of these rifles were considered deluxe.

                                                             J.L.

[Joe Lansing]

    I did a little more research and that pin, as well as the extra screw on the receiver may be there because of the set trigger.                 

                                                     J.L.

[Fox Creek Kid]

    I did a little more research and that pin, as well as the extra screw on the receiver may be there because of the set trigger.                 

                                                     J.L.

It is.