FRONTIER USED 1873 .44-40 20" OCTAGON SHORT RIFLE, #544XXX, SHIPPED 1900. This rare example is from an old Arizona collection and shows signs of its use during the Mexican Revolution (1910 – 1920). According to The Winchester Handbook by George Madis, of the over 720,000 Model 1873s made, only 1,602 were special ordered with barrels shorter than the standard 24” length. These short rifles were very popular on both sides of the border in the Southwest. Easily identified as a true short rifle and not a cut-down rifle by the one inch shorter length of the forend- 8 3/8" compared to the standard 9 3/8". The overall metal condition on this one is an attractive, uncleaned dark brown patina with some patches of rust pitting. Barrel markings are all visible. It has a carbine ladder rear sight with slide intact and small blade/bead front sight. The muzzle end of the barrel shows heavy wear on the sharp octagon edges which are now rounded at the end of the barrel- takes a lot of in and out scabbard use to produce this! Where the serial number is located on the bottom tang there is considerable corrosion with only a few numbers readily visible. A previous owner used magnification and various lighting/tilting to come up with the rest of the numbers so he could get a “call-in sheet” from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center (where the Winchester shipping records are kept) which verifies the caliber, oct. barrel length and a shipping date of March 1900. Overall, the stock and forend show heavy handling and saddle scabbard wear. There is a “P. H.” lightly carved in the left side of the stock along with a small silver inlay in the right side of the stock. Dust cover is intact, brass lifter is mellow and uncleaned/unpolished. Bore shows rifling all the way through but is dark. A most intriguing and exceptionally rare special ordered 1873 .44-40 20” octagon barrel short rifle that exudes loads of southwestern border country history! The rifle weighs 7lbs 2oz. Serial Number: 544054 This firearm qualifies as a Curio & Relic firearm, and requires FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.