Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.
If you have questions please email firearms@jamesdjulia.com.
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1025
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$0.00 |
HISTORIC 1866 WINCHESTER CARBINE, CAPTURED AT THE WOUNDED KNEE MASSACRE AND POSSIBLY USED BY SGT. WILLIAM JAMES WHO WAS KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIGHORN.SN 120168. Cal. 44. This Winchester was the subject of a video called the Curator’s Corner at the Whittington Museum. Wayne Armacost, the Curator, described the gun as follows “It is very, very probable and likely that this gun is just an incredible part of American history that was lost at the Little Big Horn and recovered at Wounded Knee.” This carbine has a very interesting history and the possibility exists that it did belong to a Sergeant William B. James who was attached to Company E, 7th Cavalry and was killed at The Little Big Horn. 7th Cavalry troopers were issued Springfield Trapdoors; however, it is believed that Sergeant James was carrying his own personal Winchester 1866 on that fateful day in June 1876. It is further believed that this carbine was picked up by a Sioux Warrior and later recovered at Wounded Knee in 1890. What made the owner of this carbine, Mr. Larry Nirenberg, commit to 14 years of research, in trying to tie this carbine to two historical events? Under the upper tang is scratched “Cpl. James”, and stamped on the lower tang is the inscription “WOUNDED KNEE 12 29 1890”. His research shows that eight Wounded Knee captured weapons included four Winchesters. According to accompanying letter from The Department of the Army, Rock Island Arsenal Museum: These weapons were given to J.W. Ellis in 1897 who had a museum in Maquoketa, Iowa which was disbursed in the 1960’s by auction in Delaware, Ohio (Garth’s?). Six of the eight captured guns, in 1897, had tags from the Rock Island Arsenal showing ownership by Chief Red Cloud, Crow Necklace, Poorbear, Sitting Eagle No. 2, White Tail and Broken-In. Various scholars mentioned in The Winchester Collector article believe the inscriptions shown and the overall aesthetics of this weapon are similar to other known captured Indian arms. There are no known Winchesters used by Troopers at Little Big Horn. However, there are privately owned weapons used by several of the Troopers known. In the archeological study of the Little Big Horn battle site, The US Department of Interior, National Park Service issued a report that has verified 47 different types of guns used on the battle field, including 44 Cal. Model 1866 Winchesters, though these were all thought to have been used by the Indians. No weapons were left on the battlefield as the Indians took them all. Interested parties should read the extensive and most interesting 9-pg research article published in The Winchester Collector, Summer 2006 and the additional documents provided by consignor in Provenance link found on our website. CONDITION: Good to very good overall. Markings, including inscriptions, SN, are all crisp and discernible. Bbl address is mostly discernible, but pitting obscures a portion as can be seen in photos. Stocks are sound and solid showing saddle wear, some wear and erosion, hand worn patina. Metal surfaces overall show old cleaning, brass has numerous small scratches, dings and dents with worn punch dot decorated design most prevalent as framed around SN. Mechanically gun is sound with clean rifling in bore. 51369-1 JS (125,000-250,000) – Lot 1025 Click here to view provenance |
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1026
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$12,650.00 |
VERY RARE NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 FLAT SIDE SADDLE RING CARBINE.SN 13182. Cal 44. Rare early carbine with 20″ bbl, full magazine, integral front band/front sight, thick forearm band and 2-position flip rear sight. Left side of receiver has a staple & ring. Mounted with nicely figured, uncheckered American walnut with straight stock and crescent brass buttplate with trap. Left side of buttstock has the remnants of a “Henry Bump”. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the SN and the tiny assembly number “192”. The full SN is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and appears to be stamped over another number which has been almost completely removed which indicates that the stock is a replacement and given the matching woodgrain and finish of the forearm it also is probably a replacement. Inside toe of buttplate has matching SN. Receiver has the very earliest style Henry features including sharp radius at the top rear, small loop lever and Henry style screws in the tangs & buttplate. The flat loading gate also appears to be a replacement. Receiver & buttplate tang are beautifully engraved by master engraver L.D. Nimschke with the Mexican eagle on the left sideplate and the balance of the receiver covered in Mr. Nimschke’s typical intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with a large flower blossom on the right side. The transition from sideplates to front side panels are engraved on both sides with a rope twist pattern. Carrier bottom is engraved in diamond & dot patterns. Bottom of the receiver, just below the carrier opening is stamped with the number that appears to be “020 8234”. Receiver was originally gold washed. Bottom tang, just below the lever lock has a filed cut. The entire bbl address is no longer visible and the face of the bolt is missing with the rimfire firing pins having been removed. CONDITION: Good. Bbl & magazine tube retain an artificially aged brown patina over fine pitting. Forearm band screw is stripped as is the lever screw. Receiver shows heavy edge wear with heavy wear on the engraving, but still shows traces of original gold wash around the saddle ring staple and inside the receiver under the wood. Receiver & buttplate show a dark mustard patina. Stock has an area of fill under the buttplate tang, otherwise wood is sound with an old refinish. Loading gate is jammed in the closed position, otherwise mechanics are fine. Dark bore with visible rifling and a partial ring about mid-point. 51772-1 JRL (12,500-17,500) – Lot 1026 |
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1027
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$12,650.00 |
FINE EARLY WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SADDLE RING CARBINE.SN 23170. 44 RF Henry. Outstanding ’66 carbine with 20″ rnd bbl, full magazine, integral front band/front sight and early style 2 position flip rear sight. Left side of receiver has a staple and ring. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut, including straight stock and brass crescent buttplate with trap. Top tang channel of buttstock is marked with last 4 digits of matching SN which is also found inside toe of buttplate. These early ’66 carbines are seldom encountered today and rarely in orig configuration with orig finish. The 1866 rifles & carbines have been touted as the “gun that won the west”. No doubt this model had a very large effect on the settlement of the west. It was the successor to the venerable Model 1860 Henry rifle and saw widespread distribution throughout the United States and literally around the world. They remained popular in the U.S. well into the 1870’s and 1880’s until fully supplanted by center fire arms. After that they still remained popular in South and Central America and lesser developed countries around the world where they rarely received maintenance of any kind and are rarely found today with orig finish. CONDITION: Very fine plus, all matching as noted. Bbl & magazine tube retain strong blue in sheltered areas being mostly a plummy blue/brown patina showing very little wear. Magazine & forearm bands are matching patina. Receiver, side plates and buttplate retain sharp edges and show a wonderful dark carmel patina. Hammer shows faint mottled case colors on the sides and the lever a dark brown patina. Wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and retains virtually all of its orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp. Strong bore with good shine and light to moderate pitting. 51173-5 JRL (7,000-12,000) – Lot 1027 |
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1028
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$5,750.00 |
WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SADDLE RING CARBINE.SN 167568. Cal 44 RF Henry. Standard carbine with 20″ bbl, full magazine, barleycorn front sight and 1873 marked carbine ladder rear sight. Top of bbl over the chamber area has the caliber marking “44 R.F.” and bottom of carrier is marked “44 CAL”. Left side of receiver has a staple & ring. Mounted with very nicely figured shell grain, slab sawed, uncheckered American walnut with straight stock and steel carbine buttplate with trap which contains a single fired cartridge case. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number “99” which number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock. Buttplate is un-numbered. This carbine was produced about 1890 which was very near the end of production of the model 1866. Only about 1,500 more arms of this model were produced after this one. The majority of these late production ’66s were sold into South & Central America where the rimfire cartridge was still in use. By that time, with the advent of center fire cartridges, the rimfire cartridge in the U.S. had fallen out of favor and many of this late production was sold into South & Central America. CONDITION: Fine. Bbl & magazine tube show a mottled silver/brown patina with some surface discoloration. Receiver has light peen marks over the front bridge probably to tighten a loose bbl. Receiver shows slightly worn edges but far better than average and has a couple of small dents in the right front flat. Lever & hammer retain dark case colors. Buttplate is a dark patina with some fine scattered pin-pricks of rust. Wood is sound and shows an old refinish with saddle-ring wear at the receiver. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with fine pitting and a ring near the muzzle. 51688-1 JRL (5,000-8,000) – Lot 1028 |
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1029
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$4,312.50 |
WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SADDLE RING CARBINE.SN 752428. Cal 44 CF. Standard carbine with 20″ rnd bbl, full magazine, integral front band/front sight and 2 position flip rear sight. Left side of receiver has a staple and ring. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with straight stock and steel carbine buttplate with trap. Top tang channel of buttstock has the last 4 digits of a SN “1112”. Left side of buttstock has hand carved initials “VL” and right side “V”. SN on the bottom tang is fictitious as there were only about 170,000 Model 1866 rifles & carbines produced during the period 1866 through the end of production. The Model 1866 is frequently referred to as “the gun that won the west” and although this carbine was apparently produced well after the advent of center fire cartridges it undoubtedly saw hard frontier service in the American west and probably later on in Mexico or South America. It shows this hard service. CONDITION: Fair to good. No orig finish remains being an overall dark blue/brown patina with light pitting on the bbl & magazine tube toward the muzzle end. Receiver shows heavy wear with rounded edges and numerous light nicks, dings & scratches. Forearm is missing a chip at the front tip and has a crack by the left bbl channel and stock has a short crack back of top tang, otherwise wood is sound, showing moderate to heavy wear and overall retains a dark hand worn patina. Bottom tang is missing the lever latch and the loading gate screw is replaced by a pin. Mechanics are fine. Strong dark bore with moderate to heavy pitting. 51165-1 JRL (2,500-3,500) – Lot 1029 |
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1030
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$0.00 |
EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL CIVIL WAR “BLACK LABEL” HENRY RIFLE CARTRIDGE BOX COMPLETE WITH 50 ORIGINAL CARTRIDGES.NSN. According to Giles & Shuey in their 2006 scholarly text One Hundred Years of Winchester Cartridge Boxes 1856 – 1956, they picture on page 38 and describe this rare box that only 3 were known at time of printing. “Sometime in the early/mid-1860s, probably 1863-65, this gold-on-black box appeared. As there is no callout of the manufacturer, it is often referred to as the “Generic Black Box”. Of the three that the authors have examined, one was empty and two were found with New Haven Arms 44 Pointed cartridges with raised “H” headstamps…The fact that “H” headstamps were found in two of these boxes is irrelevant. There is no way of knowing whether they were original to the box or just replacements by later owners who assumed (or wished) them to be of New Haven or Winchester production. Complicating the picture is the fact that it is known that New Haven contracted for outside production of 44 Henry cartridges. So it’s possible that the rounds that have been found in those boxes known to us were, indeed, native to the box; but, it is just as possible that they came from an outside contractor. Crittenden & Tibbals, interestingly, had the manufacturing wherewithal to produce the larger Rimfire calibers during the 1863-65 period. They are also known to have advertised (and presumably sold) the 44 Henry cartridge during the same period. And yet not a single 44 Henry box or label by C&T has ever been found with their name on it. Hmmm…” Authors obviously believe that Crittenden & Tibbals made these cartridges and boxes so the cartridges contained without headstamps are correct. These identical cartridges are commonly found in Civil War sites of 1864 campaigns, both in Virginia and Georgia and rarely with headstamps. This is a very rare box with discernible label that is complete and orig. CONDITION: Box is sound and solid. Cracked at edges, with a couple of old Scotch tape repairs on two corners of lid. Label is 98% complete with discernible text as can be seen in photographs, though light in areas. 51636-1 (7,000-9,000) – Lot 1030 |
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1031
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$575.00 |
SCARCE FULL BOX OF WINCHESTER 44 WCF AMMUNITION.Full original box containing 50 rounds of “W.R.A. Co.” 44-40 cartridges with small copper primers and flat nose lead bullets. Label is green & black with a line drawing of the cartridge on the lid. Line drawing exhibits the cartridge with head stamp. Box has a Kraft paper wrap label with the line drawing of a Winchester model 1873 saddle ring carbine on one side and the cartridge on one end. The opposite end is marked “WINCHESTER / .44 CALIBER. C.F. / MODEL 1873.” The other side of the box states that “These Cartridges are made especially for our MODEL 1873 RIFLE, and guaranteed to be superior to all others for use in that gun.—” Inside the lid has a pink reloading label. CONDITION: Fair to good. Top label is completely intact with a couple of small rub spots with vivid green and black. The wrap band has been opened with the cartridge drawing end still intact. The opposite end has broken corners and a broken edge with detached flap, but label is completely present. The band, on the side with the carbine is missing a few chips. Reloading label shows light soil but is completely intact and legible. Cartridges are bright & clean. 50661-1 (1,000-1,500) – Lot 1031 |
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1032
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$5,750.00 |
EXTREMELY RARE 4-PAGE WINCHESTER BROADSIDE REGARDING THE MODEL 1873 RIFLES AND CARBINES.Known as the Variety of Arms.Purportedly one of only 2 known. This is the first Printed Printed catalog and was the formal printed announcement of the Winchester model 1873.Printed on both sides on white paper, single fold with black lettering titled “WINCHESTER REPEATING FIRE ARMS.” / “MODEL OF 1873”. Pages 1-2 and 3 extol the virtues of the new Model 1873 over the old Model 1866 and lists a long series of improvements which includes the center-fire cartridge, set or hair trigger, the sliding lid (dust cover) and iron frame in place of brass which “increases strength and reduces weight”. Page 2 lists 2 other improvements “especially adapted to military arms, to secure safety from accident or premature explosion.” One is a retracting firing pin and two is the security of the hammer at full cock to prevent accidental discharge before the cartridge is seated in the chamber. It also lists a “VARIETY OF ARMS” which discusses manufacturing and accuracy. This page also discusses the process of selecting the rifles to be marked “One of One Thousand” and “One of One Hundred”. This sheet lists the prices of the One of One Thousand at $80.00 to $100.00, an enormous sum for a rifle of that era. The One of One Hundred rifles were to be priced at $60.00 to $75.00 each. Page 3 has a price list ranging from $40.00 for a carbine and round bbl rifle to $50.00 for an oct rifle with set trigger. Cartridges were $20.00 per 1000. Page 3 also discusses the quality of their cartridges and also has a price list for various sights. Page 4 is a reprint of 2 testimonial letters, one dated Dec 9,1873 and the other dated Dec 20,1873 with both letter writers extolling the virtues of their new 1873 rifles and their great satisfaction with them. One was for SN 24 and the other for SN 6. Undoubtedly this is one of the more rare pieces of Winchester ephemera ever to come to market. This document is nicely framed in double sided glass with tan matting that probably should be re framed to archival, acid free mat paper. CONDITION: Document has separated into 4 pieces along crease lines and has been professionally conserved with paper tape. Bottom edges have 3-4 small tears and some slight wrinkling. Top of Page 4 has what appears to be a water stain. Frame is slightly loose in the corners and shows light edge wear and minor nicks & dings. 51434-1 (5,000-10,000) – Lot 1032 |
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1033
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$6,900.00 |
EXTREMELY RARE ONE OF ONLY SIX PRINTED HANNAGAN REPORT ON THE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 ONE OF ONE THOUSAND RIFLES.Hard back book apparently produced by renowned old time collector John R. Woods, this book is inscribed inside the front cover “Number / 6 of 6 / John R. Woods”. The book consists of several hundred pages of reports, photographs, copies of notorized statements from more than 20 owners of One of One Thousand rifles. The first page in the book is a copy of a letter from Steve Hannagan dated 1950 and titled “ONE OF ONE THOUSAND” / MODEL 1873 / Winchester’s / First / High-Accuracy / RIFLE”. The body of this letter states “An account of how this great, and all but forgotten variety of the Model 1873 Winchester has now sky-rocketed to a fame far greater than it ever enjoyed at its prime, became the most famous rifle of 1950 and the most prized and valuable item among the nation’s gun collectors”. This book is the compilation of the Universal Pictures Company search for authentic One of One Thousand rifles to promote their movie “Winchester 73” starring Jimmy Stewart which came out in 1950. The book reports that the background story for the movie originated in 1945 when a Mr. Stuart N. Lake wrote a letter to Winchester’s Edwin Pugsley proposing a motion story that he planned to write around a Winchester rifle One of One Thousand. In the letter he gave the background of the rifle in the story as having originated in 1876 in Dodge City, KS where it was the first prize in a shooting contest on the 4th of July. The rifle was subsequently stolen and passed through a number of hands until 1884 when it was recovered by the original winner of the rifle. The movie followed Mr. Lake’s story very closely down to where the hero owner of the rifle thwarting a bank robbery by a gang in Dodge City. The gang allegedly included the outlaw who had stolen the rifle originally. The book also contains the advertising and efforts of Universal Studios to identify and authenticate these rare rifles, to the point of offering a new Winchester Model 94 to the first 20 owners of authentic, documented One of One Thousand rifles. In total the studio was able to document 23 authentic Model 1873 One of One Thousand rifles and 6 Model 1876 One of One Thousand rifles. Almost certainly this publication had a basis in the research for the writing of the books Winchester 1 of 1000, Wilson and the story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 and 100 rifles, Lewis. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Cover is bright and clean and completely intact with only slight, minuscule wear on the spine corners. Pages have slightly yellowed but are completely intact with no damage. A rare opportunity to own an extraordinarily rare book. 51079-12 JRL (3,000-5,000) – Lot 1033 |
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1034
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$103,500.00 |
EXCEEDINGLY RARE, JOHN ULRICH ENGRAVED ONE OF ONLY TWO EVER MADE WITH GOLD AND NICKEL FINISH WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 ONE OF ONE THOUSAND LEVER ACTION RIFLE OF ARGENTINE BUSINESSMAN DON EDUARDO CASEY.SN 37911. Cal 44 WCF (44-40). Second model 1873 rifle with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight and short semi-buckhorn rear sight with checkered edges. Receiver is 2nd type with attached dust cover rail and 3rd type dust cover without thumbprint. Receiver has set trigger. Mounted with about 2X American walnut with early style matching checkered forearm and straight stock that has crescent buttplate with trap. Buttstock & forend cap have factory sling swivels. Receiver, side plates, dust cover, lever, hammer, bbl, forend cap, magazine band and buttplate tang are beautifully engraved in scarce patterns by John Ulrich. Engraving consists of a running bull elk on the left side plate and a grizzly bear in the left front side panel. Right side plate is engraved with a running bull buffalo and the right front side panel is engraved with a vignette of a mountain lion. All the panels are surrounded by fine intertwined foliate arabesque patterns that have fine pearled background and light shading. Top of the receiver, dust cover and bottom of the receiver are engraved to match with matching engraving on the lever, hammer, forend cap, magazine band and buttplate tang. Bbl is engraved with matching patterns on the 5 exposed flats over the chamber area which surround the panel engraved “One of One Thousand”. Muzzle end of the bbl is also engraved to match and there is a silver inlaid band at the muzzle and chamber ends of the bbl. Receiver, side plates, dust cover, forend cap and buttplate are gold plated. Lever, hammer, trigger, loading gate, magazine tube, magazine band and sights are nickel finish. Left side of the lower tang, under the wood is marked “XX” and the assembly number “193”. Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock, inside toe of buttplate and right bottom flat of bbl under the forearm. Bottom tang is signed “J.Ulrich”. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle with oct bbl, set trigger, “XXX” checkered stock, sling swivel, engraved 1 of 1000, engraved “$20.00”, gold & nickel, received in warehouse Nov. 8 1879 and shipped Nov 26, 1879 to order #17571. This rifle is listed by SN on page 26 of The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 rifles, Lewis. According to consignor, this rifle was owned by his direct descendant, Eduardo Casey (1847-1906,). It has been handed down directly through 4 generations in Argentina until its offering by James D. Julia in this auction. Casey was the son of Irish immigrants who came to Argentina circa 1830. By age 30, Eduardo was an established rancher and was the first to export cattle on the hoof to England. He was also a member of the board of The Western Railway Company and The Buenos Aires Provincial Bank. One of his first business ventures was the purchase of 130,000 hectares (321,100 acres) of land in southern Santa Fe provance. In 1881 he acquired an additional 180,555 hectares (445,972 acres) of land which by 2 years later was fenced and on which he was running 40,000 head of cattle, 50,000 sheep and 10,000 horses. In the economic crash of the 1890’s Mr. Casey lost everything, primarily from bad investments in Uruguay. He lost all of his assets and even his personal property was auctioned to repay investors. His brother purchased most of his personal property at the auction and subsequently gave it back to him. Mr. Casey then went to England where he was able to borrow 100,000 English Pounds (about 1 million dollars) with which he repaid all of the small investors who had suffered financial losses when his investments collapsed. Mr. Casey died in 1906 at age 58, impoverished and ignored by the society to which he had devoted most of his adult life. CONDITION: Fine, all matching as noted above. Overall retains a very old restored finish with strong blue on the bbl with only a few scattered spots of light surface rust. Magazine tube retains 85-88% strong orig nickel. Receiver, side plates, dust cover, forend cap and buttplate retain most of their restored gold finish showing dark areas on the sharp edges and high points. The engraving is all crisp & clear. Lever retains about 50% orig nickel and the hammer about 65-70%. There is about a 1″ crack in the forearm at the receiver, otherwise wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and shows most of its fine restored finish with freshened checkering. Set trigger is not functioning otherwise mechanics are fine. Strong sharp bore with scattered light pitting. 51332-1 JRL (75,000-125,000) – Lot 1034 | Click here to view provenance |
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1035
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$0.00 |
RARE JOHN ULRICH ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 DELUXE LEVER ACTION “LIKE 1 OF 1000” RIFLE.SN 335484B. Cal. 38 WCF (38-40). SN 335484. Beautiful special order rifle with 26″ oct to rnd bbl, gold washed Beech’s front sight, semi-buckhorn rear sight & Lyman tang sight with loop. Mounted with extremely beautiful 3-4X American walnut with “H” style checkered forearm & straight stock with checkered steel buttplate. Left side of lower tang under the wood is marked with assembly number “25”, which number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock & inside toe of buttplate. Forend cap & buttstock have factory sling swivels. Receiver is spectacularly engraved by John Ulrich & signed on bottom tang. Left sideplate has a large vignette of a whitetail buck & doe in a very detailed woodland scene surrounded by extremely well executed foliate arabesque patterns and wavelet border patterns. Balance of receiver has light arabesque patterns with matching border patterns and a section of heavy border pattern at top left. Right sideplate has rare vignette of a cougar in a woodland scene, surrounded by matching borders with balance of right side is a mirror image of left. There are light arabesque patterns on both sides of lever & hammer with matching patterns on dust cover & top three flats of bbl at receiver. Muzzle also has a ring of engraving & buttplate tang is engraved to match. Carrier & forend cap & bottom of lever have matching engraving & serial number is encased in a ribbon. This exact rifle has two large photographs with description on p. 158 of Winchester Engraving, Wilson. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter fully identifying this rifle with $15.00 engraving and originally shipped with a blank in rear seat but accompanied by a buckhorn sight. SIZE: Ex-Dr. James M. Goforth Collection; Floyd Everhart. Special Note: This item(s) contains plant or animal properties that may be covered by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have taken care to ensure that this item(s) meets the standard for sale under the ESA. However, certain states and other countries have laws that are more restrictive than the ESA. It is the bidder’s responsibility to ensure that it is lawful to purchase or transport this item(s) into their state, and to obtain the necessary import and export approvals. Delay or failure to obtain any such permit or approval does not relieve the buyer of paying for the item(s) and consummating the purchase. CONDITION: Bbl retains 85-90% thin orig blue with wear at muzzle and over chamber areas. Receiver retains traces of case colors in very sheltered areas, having turned silver over most areas. Hammer retains 75-80% bright case colors & lever is a silver patina. Wood is sound showing moderate to heavy wear with light handling & use marks with forearm retaining about 50% orig varnish & buttstock about all of a fine restored finish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with scattered spots of light pitting. 50832-1 (60,000-80,000) ESA – Lot 1035 | Click here to view provenance |
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1036
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$28,750.00 |
WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 3RD MODEL RIFLE WITH COLOR CASE HARDENED FRAME.SN 274439. Cal 38 WCF (38-40). Standard grade rifle with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine, Rocky Mountain front sight and sporting rear sight with extra fine notch. Receiver, lever, hammer, forend cap & buttplate are color case hardened. Mounted with extra finish, uncheckered American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate with trap. It is unusual to find a 3rd Model ’73 rifle that is color case hardened with much remaining orig finish. Firearms from that era, 1886, usually saw continuous hard service on the American frontier under extreme, adverse conditions, usually with little or no maintenance. Such exposure to sunlight and poor care faded the case colors very quickly, therefore finding one today with high orig finish with bright colors is a great rarity, especially standard grade rifles which were the working man’s tool. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Bbl & magazine tube retain 98-99% strong orig finish with only very light muzzle edge wear; receiver & side plates retain brilliant case colors on the sides with some fine surface etching on both sides and side plates, lightly to moderately faded over top & bottom; hammer retains bright case colors as does the lever on the sides, fading to silver on outer faces; forend cap retains brilliant case colors; buttplate retains smoky case colors. Wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and appears to have been waxed at some time in the past, otherwise retains about all of its bright orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, appears to be unfired. 51079-15 (25,000-35,000) – Lot 1036 |
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1037
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$74,750.00 |
EXTREMELY RARE SMALL BORE FULL NICKEL PLATED WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE.SN 331022. Cal 22 Short. Full nickel finish with 24-3/8″ oct bbl, full magazine, globe front sight, flat top rear sight and sporting tang sight with 4″ staff. Receiver has single set trigger. Mounted with beautiful, center crotch, flame grain American walnut that has “H” style checkered forearm and black insert serpentine grip buttstock with nickeled brass Swiss buttplate. Screws are all nickel finish. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number “2871”, “XX” and “22”. Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock. Buttplate is unnumbered but there is little doubt it is orig to this rifle. Receiver is small bore 3rd type with stepped front receiver ring and integral dust cover rail containing a 3rd type dust cover. The brass carrier is also nickel finish and has the caliber marking which is also found over the chamber area of the bbl. Inside magazine is also nickel finished and may be a period of use replacement. Given the configuration and finish of this rifle it very likely belonged to a wild west show performer and trick shot artist. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum Records Office worksheet which identifies this rifle in caliber 22 with oct bbl, set trigger, checkered pistol grip stock with Swiss buttplate, graduated peep & nickel finish, received in warehouse Feb 8, 1890 and shipped same day to order # 8923 CONDITION: Extremely fine. Overall retains 98-99% strong orig nickel with a few minor, very light nicks & scratches. Buttplate retains about 85% orig nickel showing wear on the ears. Wood is sound with a few light handling and use nicks & scratches in the finish with the buttstock retaining most of its orig factory varnish. Showing moderate wear on the checkering. Forearm retains about 65-70% orig varnish showing moderate wear on the checkering with a dark hand stained patina on the bottom 1/3. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore, shows very little use. 51687-7 JRL (30,000-50,000) – Lot 1037 Click here to view provenance |
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1038
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$0.00 |
*RARE SEMI-DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 SMALL BORE LEVER ACTION RIFLE.SN 555264. Rare semi-deluxe 22 with 24-3/8″ oct bbl, full magazine, orig 2nd type inside tube, ivory bead Lyman hunting front sight and flat top semi-buckhorn rear sight. Top flat of bbl has standard Winchester & King address and patent date. Receiver is 3rd type with integral dust cover rail and 3rd type dust cover. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with capped pistol grip buttstock and Winchester embossed hard rubber shotgun buttplate. Left side of lower tang, under the wood, is marked with the assembly number “11372” which number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock. There was a total 720,610 Model 1873 rifles and carbines in 5 different calibers which includes 19,552 rifles produced in 22 rimfire, both 22 short and long, with short being the predominant quantity. These rifles were only produced during the period 1884 to 1904 and were the first repeating 22 rifle made in the United States. They were offered in both 24″ and 26″ bbls with very few of the 26″ models produced. This rifle was manufactured in 1900 near the end of production. Extremely few were produced as “special order” such as found here. These small bore rifles were generally considered to have been garden guns or for use by ladies and young boys. They usually saw extreme hard service with little maintenance and are rarely found today with high original finish or bright bores. The corrosive ammo of those days and lack of small bore cleaning equipment generally resulted in badly eroded bores. This scarce and desirable rifle is accompanied by a Winchester Factory letter from the Buffalo Bill Historical center. The letter further documents the configuration as follows: Rifle Cal. .22 Short, Octagon Barrel, plain trigger with plain pistol gripped stock, lyman hunter front and flat-top rear, shotgun butt with rubber butt plate. Shipped December 15 1900. The reverse side of the factory letter has a copy of the original ledger sheet. A very fine example of a very rare variation of the 1973 Winchester. PROVENANCE: Vince Sepulveda Collection. With Buffalo Bill Historical Center Factory letter and copy of Ledger sheet. Special Note: This item(s) contains plant or animal properties that may be covered by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have taken care to ensure that this item(s) meets the standard for sale under the ESA. However, certain states and other countries have laws that are more restrictive than the ESA. It is the bidder’s responsibility to ensure that it is lawful to purchase or transport this item(s) into their state, and to obtain the necessary import and export approvals. Delay or failure to obtain any such permit or approval does not relieve the buyer of paying for the item(s) and consummating the purchase. CONDITION: Excellent, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain 96-97% strong orig blue with scattered rust pitting on the top right flat in the area between the sights. Magazine tube has scattered areas of pin-prick pitting on the right side. Receiver retains about 90% strong orig blue with candy striping and fine sharp edge wear. Right side plate retains over 90% orig blue and the left side plate retain over 50% orig blue. Dust cover retains 15-20% original blue. Hammer retains strong, bright case colors and the lever faded case colors on the sides turned silver on outer faces. Top tang roll marking is a thin strike but mostly legible. Wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and a couple of small gouges and retains 95-97% strong orig factory finish with some light oil staining at the receiver and around the top tang. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Inside magazine tube retains traces of orig blue with bright blue on the spring clip on the bottom. 51546-3 (17,500-25,000) C&R; ESA – Lot 1038 Click here to view provenance |
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1039
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$9,775.00 |
*RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 SMALL BORE LEVER ACTION RIFLE.SN 563494. Cal 22 long. Standard grade rifle with 24-3/8″ oct bbl, full magazine with orig 2nd type inside magazine, half nickel front sight with screw and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Receiver is 3rd type with integral dust cover rail & 3rd type dust cover. Receiver is small bore type with stepped top front receiver ring. Mounted with very nicely figured, uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate without trap. Top flat of bbl has standard Winchester & King address & patent dates with caliber marking over the chamber area. Bottom of carrier has the caliber marking. There was a total 720,610 Model 1873 rifles and carbines in 5 different calibers which includes 19,552 rifles (.027%) produced in 22 rimfire, both 22 short and long, with short being the predominant quantity. These rifles were only produced during the period 1884 to 1904 and were the first repeating 22 rifle made in the United States. They were offered in both 24″ and 26″ bbls with very few of the 26″ models produced. This rifle was manufactured in 1902 near the end of production. These small bore rifles were generally considered to have been garden guns or for use by ladies and young boys. They usually saw extreme hard service with little maintenance and are rarely found today with high orig finish or bright bores. The corrosive ammo of those days and lack of small bore cleaning equipment generally resulted in badly eroded bores. CONDITION: Very fine plus. Bbl & magazine tube retain 96-98% strong orig blue with fine sharp edge wear and a small cleaned area on top flat below the bbl address. Receiver retains about 88-90% strong orig blue with candy striping and some light cleaning scratches, primarily on the right side. Left side plate retains about 85% orig blue and the right plate side about 60% thin orig blue. Buttplate is mostly a mottled silver brown patina. Hammer retains about 80% bright case colors and the lever strong case colors on the right side with faded case colors on left side, turned silver on outer faces. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and retains virtually all of its orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Inside magazine is extremely fine. 51378-5 JRL (10,000-15,000) C&R – Lot 1039 |
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1040
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$23,000.00 |
VERY RARE WINCHESTER FIRST MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.SN 1617. Cal 44 WCF (44-40). Standard grade rifle with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine with 1866 style nose-plug threaded into the magazine, combination front sight having its pin mostly missing, altered orig bbl sight that has been filed flat on top and narrowed on the sides with beveled edges over the dovetail and with incised lines. Tang is mounted with a series 62B “lollypop” sight which was added at a later date, post 1881. Receiver is 1st type with mortised dust cover rails and a first type dust cover with raised checkered thumb-print. Receiver has single set trigger. Top tang has the “MODEL 1873″ marking and the bottom tang has the SN engraved. Mounted with uncheckered, nicely figured, slab sawed American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate that has a trap containing an orig 4-pc brass & iron cleaning rod. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly # 102 with matching number in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Accompanied by a Winchester Gun Museum letter which identifies this rifle with 24” oct bbl and set trigger shipped August 3, 1874. Letter is a rarely encountered original 1968 Winchester Gun Museum letter on Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation stationary and was addressed to Mr. Jack W. Dexter, Sr. of Colgate, WI. These old gun letters make for a nostalgic touch on a nice gun, as collectors did not get letters that often back in those days. Also accompanied by a 4-page letter from renowned Winchester historian and author George Madis wherein he relates most of the above information. This Model 1873 is certainly one of the last, and may be the very last verifiable gun with a George Madis letter, as supported by the accompanying original retained shipping box with a FedEx label used when George Madis shipped this gun to Scott Soles in Anchorage, Alaska, as well as a separate envelope postmarked December 10, 2003 for the Dexter letter and second Madis note. George died on December 22, 2003. He was known to be very methodical (slow) to write his wonderful handwritten letters, so it is unlikely he wrote many letters, if any, after this gun was lettered, and likely that would not be evidenced in the manner presented by this gun package. This history of George Madis is written about in a Summer 2015 The Winchester Collector in an article titled, “By George, We’ve Got It.” In addition to the above, the lower tang and serial number of this gun are pictured in the Fall 2012 The Winchester Collector and this article also has a story about serial number 1617. Few of these very early ’73s survive today. This being the first of Winchester’s center fire repeating rifles, they were immediately purchased by the public for use on the American frontier to replace the less powerful and difficult to reload rimfire cartridges. As such they usually saw continuous hard service under extreme conditions most often with little or no maintenance and are rarely found today with any orig finish and in orig configuration. CONDITION: Very fine especially for such an early ’73. Bbl retains 60-65% thin blue/brown patina with sharp edge wear. Magazine tube retains about 95% strong orig blue. Receiver & sideplates retain about 70-75% orig blue, strong in sheltered areas, thinning & turning a little patina on the front side flats and sideplates. Top of the receiver & dust cover show strong orig blue. Bottom of the receiver shows strong blue behind the carrier opening with the bottom edges and front recess in gray patina. Buttplate & forend cap show case colors turned silver. Hammer retains faded case colors, strong on left side. Lever retains faded case colors on the sides, turned silver on outer faces. Wood is sound with a few nicks, dings & scratches and shows a hand worn patina. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore. Cleaning rod is fine. 51742-4 (20,000-25,000) – Lot 1040 Click here to view provenance |
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1041
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$0.00 |
RARE SPECIAL ORDER PRESENTATION WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.SN 41559. Cal. .44WCF (44-40). Fine special order rifle with 24-1/4″ oct to rnd bbl, butt on mag, half nickel front sight and early style semi-buck horn rear sight with checkered edges. Receiver is 2nd type with attached dust cover rail and 3rd type dust cover. Mounted with a higher end grade of 1X uncheckered American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate with trap. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly # “543” and “XX”. Buttstock has the assembly # “1554” in top tang channel and inside toe of buttplate, which makes sense given the rifle letters with 1X wood, not “XX.” “1-X” guns that letter that way are extremely rare. Receiver and sideplates are color case hardened with the left side plate inscribed “Presented to / Dr. E. C. Richardson / by / Wm. W. Converse / Jan. 19th 1880”. This inscription has all the characteristics of other inscriptions engraved by renowned Winchester engraver John Ulrich. This gun is the subject of two separate Winchester articles. Accompanied by a four page article by G. Scott Soles, which appeared in the Summer Edition 2008 of The Winchester Collector magazine, which details information about this rifle with several photographs and in particular reports information about Mr. Converse. He was born in Ware, Mass. in 1834 and in 1878 was working at Winchester with a very high salary and position, being paid more than Oliver Winchester’s son, W. W. Winchester. After the deaths of Oliver and W. W. Winchester in 1880 records disclose that Mr. Converse sat on the Winchester Board of Directors, later became Treasurer, then Secretary, and finally President of the company, which appointment took place in March 1881. Additional information is about the possible relationship with Dr. Richardson is theorized, in that he was a physician and may have been the doctor treating the two Winchester men who were both deathly ill and soon both passed away, at which time Converse became President of WRACo. This article also shows the listing for this rifle in the orig Winchester ledger and identifies it in cal. 44 with half oct bbl, plain trigger, “X stock”, casehardened, received in the warehouse Jan. 17 1880 and shipped the same day to order # 18827. This rifle is pictured and described on pg. 190 of The Winchester Book , Madis, 1985 edition. It is also listed on pg. 460 of Winchester’s New Model of 1873, Gordon, wherein Mr. Gordon states there were only 59 inscribed models 1873 known at the time of publication. A second 5-page article by Mr. Soles was published in the Summer Edition 2015 of The Winchester Collector, This article updates significant details Converse not previously reported in any of the popular Winchester publications, but more importantly on Dr. Richardson. It was learned that he was a graduate of Harvard Medical School, and had, upon graduation moved to Ware, Mass. to practice medicine. Dr. Richardson served throughout the Civil War as a surgeon and presumably resumed practice at war’s end. Little else was reported regarding Dr. Richardson but it seems likely that such an elaborate gift would have stemmed from a close relationship, probably relating to the illness of both Winchester men. PROVENANCE: Paul Sorrell; Scott Soles Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 95-96% strong orig blue with light sharp edge wear and thinning around the muzzle with a few spots on the top and bottom of the round section. Receiver and side plate retains most of their orig case colors, strong & bright in sheltered areas, moderately faded and turning silver elsewhere. Hammer retains lightly to moderately faded case colors and the lever stronger case colors in sheltered areas, turning silver on outer faces. Upper and lower tang are mostly grey patina. Forend cap retains most of its orig, moderately faded case colors. Wood is sound with the buttstock having a few light nicks and scratches. Forearm is sound and retains about 50% orig oil finish with the rear 1/2 showing a hand-worn patina. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore. 51742-3 (17,500-25,000) – Lot 1041 Click here to view provenance |
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1042
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$13,225.00 |
SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE.SN 202427A. Cal 44WCF (44-40). Fine deluxe third Model 1873 with 24-1/4″ oct to rnd bbl, button magazine, half nickel front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Receiver is third type with integral dust cover rail and third type dust cover. Mounted with very nicely figured, “XX” American walnut that “H” style checkered forearm and serpentine grip buttstock with black fleur-de-lis inlay in the grip cap and smooth steel shotgun buttplate. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number “803”, “XX” and an “S”. Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. There was approximately 720,610 Model 1873 rifles, carbines and muskets produced between 1873 and 1919, of that large number only a few were special ordered with deluxe features. Special orders & deluxe wood were extra cost which the average working man & cowboy could not afford. This rifle was produced in about 1886 at a time when the west was still wild and carrying a firearm was an everyday way of life. Firearms of that era usually saw extreme hard service under very adverse conditions and are rarely found today with high orig finish. CONDITION: Fine, all matching. Bbl has a series of dings on the bottom towards the muzzle, a small ding on the edge of the muzzle and retains 80-85% strong orig blue, thinning on the rnd section, strong and bright on the oct section. Receiver & side plates retain about 50% smokey case colors with brighter colors in the most sheltered areas, strong & bright on the bottom tang. The balance has turned silver. Hammer retains about 80% fading case colors and the lever traces of case colors in sheltered areas. There is a small ding in the toe of the buttplate and adjacent wood otherwise wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches, dark staining around the wrist & carry point of the forearm and retains about 60% factory finish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with light pitting and a light ring about an inch from the muzzle that doesn’t show externally. 51378-2 JRL (15,000-20,000) – Lot 1042 |
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1043
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$16,100.00 |
RARE WINCHESTER 1873 FIRST MODEL SADDLE RING CARBINE.SN 2378. Cal 44 WCF (44-40). Standard grade carbine with 20″ bbl, full magazine, integral front band/front sight and 2-position leaf rear sight graduated to 500 yards. Standard bbl address is lightly struck but completely legible. Receiver is 1st type with mortised dust cover rails containing an orig 1st model dust cover with raised checkered thumbprint. Left side of receiver has a staple & ring. Magazine & bbl band are of the type from the Model 1866 Winchester with threaded magazine plug and thick forearm band. Lever latch is also 1866 type that is threaded into the lower tang. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with straight stock and carbine buttplate that has a trap. Left side of lower tang under the wood is marked with the assembly # 201 with matching assembly number in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Top tang is marked “MODEL 1873″ and bottom tang has the engraved serial number. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this carbine with 20” bbl received in the warehouse Sept 30, 1874 and shipped the same day to order # 2105. Also accompanied by a 3-page letter from renowned Winchester authority & author George Madis wherein he details most of the above information. Extremely few of these early first model ’73 carbines survive today. They were in great demand on the American frontier and generally saw very hard service in saddle scabbards and wagon boxes under adverse conditions usually with limited or no maintenance. Finding one today in completely orig configuration is a great rarity. CONDITION: Very good to fine, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain a lightly cleaned, mottled gray/brown patina with fine surface etching overall. Receiver & sideplates show moderate to heavy wear with a lightly cleaned gray metal patina and fine pin-prick pitting. Stock is missing a sliver by the top tang and a chip by the bottom tang with nicks, dings & scratches and shows a mostly hand worn patina with about 10% orig finish showing through. Mechanics are fine, strong sharp bore with good shine and scattered pitting. A rare opportunity to own an orig first model ’73 carbine. 51742-5 JRL (13,000-18,000) – Lot 1043 Click here to view provenance |
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1044
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$14,375.00 |
SCARCE EARLY 2ND MODEL DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.SN 31314. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Fine deluxe ’73 with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight and early style, short, heart-shaped rear sight with checkered edges. Receiver is second type with attached dust cover rail and impressed thumb print dust cover. Receiver also has single set trigger. Mounted with about 2X, early style checkered American walnut with straight grip and crescent buttplate with trap. Receiver is color case hardened. Top left flat of the bbl, over the chamber area and correspondingly on the receiver are marked with small British proofs. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number “894” and “X”. The last two numbers of the assembly number appear to be stamped over “63” or “93”. Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Bottom portion of toe of buttplate appears to have had an assembly number obliterated and the matching number stamped higher up. In the bottom tang channel of the buttstock is a vertically applied reinforcing screw to support the repaired crack in the wrist. Accompanied by copies of a 5-page letter of authentication from renowned researcher & author George Madis wherein he substantiates most of the above information. Also accompanied by a copy of a Cody Firearms Museum serial number research request sheet which identifies this rifle with oct bbl, set trigger, checkered stock and case hardened; received in warehouse March 10, 1879 and shipped same day to Order #14808. Given the extra cost features found on this rifle and the time period of its production, it seems very likely that it would have been ordered by a wealthy individual or was intended for a special presentation. CONDITION: Fine, all matching as noted above. Bbl & magazine tube retain about 80-85% thinning orig blue turning plum on the magazine tube; receiver & sideplates retain about 85% thinning orig case colors, strong & bright in sheltered areas; hammer retains about 80% strong orig case colors and the lever traces of colors in sheltered areas; forend cap & buttplate are dark patina. Stock has the aforementioned repaired crack in the wrist with some small chips missing around the tip of the crack in the checkering on the bottom, otherwise wood is sound with numerous nicks & scratches with a few light bruises and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 51772-5 JRL (12,500-17,500) – Lot 1044 Click here to view provenance |
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1045
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$12,650.00 |
FINE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.SN 202924. Cal 44 WCF (44-40). Standard grade 3rd model rifle with 24-1/4″ rnd bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate with trap. Receiver is 3rd type with integral dust cover rail and 3rd type dust cover. This rifle was produced about 1886 at a time when the west was still wild and carrying a gun was a daily way of life. These standard grade rifles were the working man’s tool and generally saw very hard service in saddle scabbards or wagon boxes and usually with limited or no maintenance. Finding one today with high orig finish is a great rarity. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Bbl retains 96-97% crisp orig blue with some slight thinning toward the muzzle and a couple small spots of surface etching. Magazine tube retains about 98% crisp orig blue. Receiver, side plates & dust cover retain about 98% glossy orig blue with faint sharp edge wear and some minor candy stripping with a couple of small scattered spots on each side. Left sideplate has a series of extremely fine scratches. Lever, hammer & buttplate retain virtually all of their orig case colors, strong & bright on the hammer and sides of lever, moderately faded on outer faces of lever. Buttplate case colors are strong on the tang, faded on the face. Wood is sound with a few light handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains virtually all of its orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, may have been fired but if so very little. 51687-5 JRL (10,000-15,000) – Lot 1045 |
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1046
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$0.00 |
SCARCE SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.SN 277383. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Standard grade 3rd Model ’73 with 24-1/4″ rnd bbl, full magazine, combination front sight, semi-buckhorn rear sight and thick base sporting tang sight with 4″ staff. Mounted with highly figured, uncheckered, streaky European walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate with trap containing an orig 4-pc all steel cleaning rod. Receiver is 3rd type with integral dust cover rail and 3rd type dust cover. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in 44 caliber with rnd bbl and plain trigger, received in warehouse Aug. 20, 1888 and shipped the next day to Order #11288. This rifle almost certainly was special ordered with the European walnut although the bottom tang and buttstock are not marked with an assembly number. Wood appears orig to this rifle as the wood to metal fit is as near perfect as one could ask and almost certainly is from the factory. PROVENANCE: Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Bbl & magazine tube retain about 98-99% strong orig factory blue with faint sharp edge wear and a very few scattered spots of light rust; receiver retains about all of its strong orig blue with faint sharp edge wear, some candy striping on both sides with light rust over top of receiver ring and dust cover along with some very fine flaking on left sideplate; hammer retains brilliant case colors; lever retains strong bright case colors, lightly to moderately faded on outer faces; buttplate retains about all of its case colors, moderately faded with some freckling on the tang. Stock has a small splinter by the right side of lower tang, otherwise wood is sound and retains most of a bright orig varnish finish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few small scattered spots of rust. Cleaning rod is fine. 51688-3 JRL (10,000-12,500) – Lot 1046 Click here to view provenance |
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1047
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$5,175.00 |
SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.SN 252302. Cal. 32 WCF (32-20). Standard grade rifle with 24-1/4″ oct to rnd bbl, full mag, half nickel front sight, fine V-notch rear sight and Lyman tang sight with Duplex aperture. Mounted with uncheckered, nicely figured American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate without trap. Receiver is small bore, 3rd type with stepped receiver ring, integral dust cover rail with 3rd type dust cover. Accompanied by Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in Cal. 32 with 1/2 oct bbl and plain trigger, received in warehouse Nov 1, 1887 and shipped Nov 3, 1887 with two other arms to order # 742. These small bore rifles of that era were usually considered to be boy’s or ladies’ small game rifles and are most often found with little or no orig finish. Seldom do we see one in this condition with the added attraction of a half octagon barrel and a full magazine combination. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about 92-93% orig blue showing sharp edge and muzzle end wear with thinning and turning brown over the chamber area and portions of the round area. Mag tube retains about 90% orig blue, thin on the bottom. Receiver and sideplates retain about 90% thinning orig blue. Dust cover is a blue-brown patina. Lever and hammer retain strong case colors, turning silver on outer faces of lever. Buttplate is a brown patina. Forearm has a small crack by the left bbl channel, otherwise wood is sound with a chemical streak down the comb of stock and down the bottom from lower tang with light nicks and scratches. Buttstock and forearm retain most finish. Dust cover, probably an old replacement does not catch the bolt on opening, otherwise mechanics are crisp. Strong bright bore with light pitting. 51742-2 (4,500-6,500) – Lot 1047 Click here to view provenance |
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1048
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$4,600.00 |
SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.SN 146168A. Cal 38 WCF (38-40). Standard grade rifle with special order 26″ oct bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Receiver is small bore type with stepped top front. Carrier appears to be gold washed. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate that has a trap. Accompanied by a box of U.S. Cartridge Co. caliber 38-40 ammunition. Box has square corners with a blue & black label marked “For Winchester Rifle Model 1873”. Box contains 48 orig rounds of ammunition and 2 new un-primed empty cases. This rifle was produced in about 1884 when the west was still wild and carrying a firearm was a daily way of life. Firearms of that era usually saw continuous hard service usually under very adverse conditions often with little or no maintenance and are rarely found today with high orig finish. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Bbl retains 85-88% orig blue, strong in sheltered areas thinning elsewhere. Magazine tube retains 75-80% orig finish turning brown. Receiver & side plates retain about 85-88% strong orig blue with some candy striping on the side plates and showing wear with thin blue over the top & bottom at the carry point. Carrier retains most of its orig gold wash. Lever & hammer retain faded case colors. Buttstock has a couple of gouges on the left side with light nicks & scratches, otherwise wood is sound and overall retains traces of orig finish being mostly a hand worn patina. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Box has had the label cut open on 3 sides with the rear side label intact. Box shows light soil with a full & complete top label. Cartridges are crisp & clean. 51570-5 (4,000-5,000) – Lot 1048 Click here to view provenance |
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1049
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$4,600.00 |
SCARCE SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.SN 30527. Cal 44 WCF (44-40). Special order standard grade rifle with 24-1/4″ oct to rnd bbl, button magazine, globe front sight and short semi-buckhorn rear sight with checkered edges. Receiver is second type with attached dust cover rail and second type dust cover with impressed thumbprint. Receiver has single set trigger. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut that has a straight stock & crescent buttplate. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number “153” with matching assembly number in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. This rifle was produced about 1879 and was likely someone’s prized hunting rifle and home defense firearm. Most firearms of that era saw continuous hard service under very adverse conditions, usually with little or no maintenance and are rarely found today with high orig finish. CONDITION: Good, all matching. Bbl retains blue in sheltered areas being mostly a thin blue brown patina with the rnd section having been cleaned showing surface discoloration and scattered rust. Receiver and side plates retain 50-60% thin orig blue, having been cleaned with a coarse material leaving scratch marks in the finish. Lever & hammer retain faded case colors with the lever having light surface rust on the outer faces. Wood is sound with a gouge in the comb and a few scattered light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig oil finish. Set trigger needs adjusting, otherwise mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of pitting. Tang sight plug screws are missing. 51165-2 JRL (3,500-5,500) – Lot 1049 |
