Winchester 1873 EXTREMELY RARE SPECIAL ORDER EXTRA LONG 28 INCH octagon barrel rifle in desirable, large caliber .44-40 with crescent butt stock, serial number 139946 made during the Indian Wars/Frontier Period of 1883. Winchester made over 720,000 Model 1873 rifles and carbines. According to the standard reference: The Winchester Handbook, by George Madis, of this huge number of 1873s only 1201 rifles had barrels longer than the standard length of 24”. considering that Winchester offered extra long lengths all the way to 36” in round barrels, octagon barrels and half-octagon barrels, there could only be a handful of 28” length octagon barrel rifles manufactured...and of these the survival rate would have to be even smaller. This extremely limited production extra long barrel makes this rifle one of a very few in existence today. Interestingly, it seems most special order long barrel rifles were in the smaller caliber .32-20, again, making this example even more rare in the large .44-40 chambering. This is the classic “Gun That Won the West!” An early and fine condition example, this 141 year old Winchester still retains fine thinning aged blue patina on the barrel and magazine. The special order long 28” octagon barrel also retains excellent and clear Winchester markings. Walnut butt stock is in very fine condition with only normal surface handling marks and shows very desirable tight wood to metal fit, indicating that this rifle’s wood has never been sanded. Like the barrel, the receiver is an uncleaned natural aged patina. The forearm shows a couple of minor chips by the forend cap and there is evidence of old, uncleaned and hardened grease along the barrel sides and protected areas of the receiver edges indicating that this rifle has been in storage in an uncleaned state for decades. This fine 1873 rifle also retains a very tight action and strong springs. The sliding dust cover on the receiver top is intact (these are usually missing) and the loading gate retains some original blue. The brass lifter on the receiver bottom shows an attractive mellow patina. The lever catch is also intact. And screw heads are excellent. Additionally, it is fitted with an original buckhorn rear barrel sight with elevator bar intact and correct small blade front sight. This superior, large caliber Model 1873 is in better condition than normally encountered on the collector market today. Even the bore is in good condition and shows normal wear with strong rifling. A fine example of a rifle produced in a factory before the use of electricity that is as good and solid today as it was on the day it was made. The Model 1873 was the standard for lever actions throughout the Frontier Period in the West which, in some areas, lasted well into the twentieth century. Most surviving specimens show heavy use and often abuse with broken or missing parts making this example far better than normally encountered. This rifle, in the very rare and desirable extra long barrel length of 28 inches in the large caliber .44-40 would be a prize for any Winchester or Old West collection. A rare opportunity to acquire a nearly unique Model 1873 special order rifle. The rifle weighs 9lbs. Serial Number: 139946A. This firearm qualifies as an Antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.