The Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming has unveiled a painstakingly restored Winchester Model 1873 rifle, often called the 'Gun That Won the West.' The rifle, manufactured in 1882 and originally shipped to a hardware store in Kansas, has been restored to firing condition and is now the centerpiece of a new exhibit exploring the role of lever-action rifles in shaping the American frontier. The Model 1873 is one of the most recognizable rifles in American history, famed for its reliability, rapid-fire lever action, and use in the turbulent years of westward expansion. Produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company between 1873 and 1923, the rifle became synonymous with ranchers, lawmen, homesteaders, and Native Americans alike. Chambered in popular cartridges like .44-40, it provided both hunters and settlers with a durable tool for survival and defense. The newly displayed rifle was discovered in a private collection in Nebraska, bearing the scars of heavy use: a cracked walnut stock, rusted action, and worn bluing. The museums firearms curators worked with restoration specialists to carefully return the rifle to working order while preserving its patina of history. 'We didnt want to erase its story,' said chief curator Paul Hendricks. 'Every scratch and dent reflects an owners life on the frontier.' The exhibit contextualizes the rifle within broader themes of 19th-century expansion. Display panels trace how Winchesters mass production techniques made rifles more accessible, changing the balance of power between settlers, Native American tribes, and outlaws. Original advertisements highlight how Winchesters marketing branded the Model 1873 as not just a firearm, but a symbol of rugged independence. Visitors will also see comparisons between the 1873 and competing designs like the Colt Single Action Army revolver and the Sharps rifle. Together, these firearms defined both the mythology and the practical reality of frontier life. To deepen engagement, the museum added an interactive digital display where visitors can cycle through exploded diagrams of the rifles mechanism and see animations of the lever action feeding cartridges. Historians stress that the 'Gun That Won the West' label oversimplifies a complex history. While the Winchester gave settlers a reliable firearm, it also played a role in violent conflicts that displaced Native Americans. The exhibit addresses this dual legacy, presenting the rifle as both a technological triumph and a tool bound to Americas expansionist policies. Collectors are expected to flock to the exhibit, as restored 1873s command high prices on the auction market. Last year, an engraved and gold-plated example sold for over $600,000. Yet the museum emphasizes that the historical narrative is more valuable than market worth. 'This isnt about dollars,' Hendricks explained. 'Its about helping people understand the reality of firearms on the frontierbeyond Hollywood myths.'