Rare Winchester 1873 Rifle with Factory-Upgraded Nickel Trim

Serial #66558, .38 WCF (.38-40), 24" octagon barrel with a fine, bright bore that has some mild freckling within the grooves at the muzzle.  This is a handsome rifle that originally left the factory warehouse on February 11, 1881, as a standard rifle with round barrel.  Interestingly, it was returned to the Winchester factory the next year so that the following features could be added: octagon barrel, half-magazine, nickel plated trim, and peep and Beach sights; with a second shipment from the warehouse, in its new configuration, on December 12, 1882.  The rifle remains in its second, factory-upgraded form, although the specified "peep" sight is no longer present.  The barrel has an overall smooth plum-brown patina, with some traces of original blue remaining on protected areas, and thin silvering along the edges of the barrel facets.  The Beach front sight added by the factory is still installed, and is mated to an original Winchester rear barrel sight.  The frame and forend cap have retained 60-70% of the nickel plated finish with the balance flaked to plum-brown in small spots throughout, and has larger brown areas at the carry point towards the front and underside of the frame.  Muted color case-hardening can still be seen on the hammer, but the lever has turned a uniform plum-brown patina over time.  The smooth walnut forend and straight-wrist stock have numerous small handling marks and small surface blemishes scattered throughout the original varnish, and the crescent steel buttplate has much of the Winchester nickel finish remaining, although there is wear to the underlying metal on the left side, consistent with longtime use by a right-handed shooter.  Also included is a 2024-dated Cody Data Sheet that confirms the shipment dates and configuration of the upgraded rifle.  Factory-returned and upgraded rifles are very seldom seen, and this example is in very good condition overall.  Antique