SCARCE DELUXE WINCHESTER 1ST MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

SCARCE DELUXE WINCHESTER 1ST MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 16140. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Scarce 1st Model 2nd Type ’73 deluxe special order rifle with 24-1/4″ rnd bbl, button magazine, half nickel front sight and short semi-buckhorn rear sight with serrated edges. Receiver is 2nd type with mortised impressed thumb-print dust cover. Receiver, forend cap & buttplate are color case hardened and it has a sgl-set trigger. Mounted with nicely figured, about 2-3X, center-crotch flame grain American walnut with early style checkered forearm and straight stock with crescent buttplate with trap. Left side of lower tang is marked with assembly number “3038” and “XX”. Top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate have matching assembly numbers. Deluxe 1st model ’73s are very rare and finding one with high orig finish is a great rarity. Accompanied by a fine green felt lined distributor type mahogany casing about 45-1/2″ long x 10-1/4″ wide x 2-1/2″ deep with an empty brass shield in the lid. Interior is compartmented for the rifle with four uncovered compartments, one of which contains an orig 4-pc brass & iron cleaning rod, a small metal oiler and 5-rds of ammunition. Left front half of case has a cartridge block containing 230-rds of orig WRACO ammunition. Also accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum Letter which identifies this rifle with round bbl, plain trigger (set is crossed out), XXX checkered stock, short magazine, casehardened, “1 of 1000” is crossed out, received in the warehouse Apr 19, 1876 and shipped Apr 2, 1878 to order 11497. PROVENANCE: Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl retains about 98% strong orig blue with only slight muzzle edge wear and one small rub area just over forend cap; receiver & sideplates retain about 75-80% orig case colors, stronger on left side and over the top with the bottom mostly faded to silver & the right side thinning to silver on both front & back flats; lever & hammer retain faded case colors, bright on left side of lever. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig hand rubbed oil finish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. Case has a grain check most of the length of the lid, otherwise is sound with usual handling & storage nicks & scratches and overall retains about 80% of its orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded in the lid, moderately faded in bottom with light soil; contents are fine. 4-44561 JR68 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

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.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1004	$57,500.00	SCARCE DELUXE WINCHESTER 1ST MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 16140. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Scarce 1st Model 2nd Type ’73 deluxe special order rifle with 24-1/4″ rnd bbl, button magazine, half nickel front sight and short semi-buckhorn rear sight with serrated edges. Receiver is 2nd type with mortised impressed thumb-print dust cover. Receiver, forend cap & buttplate are color case hardened and it has a sgl-set trigger. Mounted with nicely figured, about 2-3X, center-crotch flame grain American walnut with early style checkered forearm and straight stock with crescent buttplate with trap. Left side of lower tang is marked with assembly number “3038” and “XX”. Top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate have matching assembly numbers. Deluxe 1st model ’73s are very rare and finding one with high orig finish is a great rarity. Accompanied by a fine green felt lined distributor type mahogany casing about 45-1/2″ long x 10-1/4″ wide x 2-1/2″ deep with an empty brass shield in the lid. Interior is compartmented for the rifle with four uncovered compartments, one of which contains an orig 4-pc brass & iron cleaning rod, a small metal oiler and 5-rds of ammunition. Left front half of case has a cartridge block containing 230-rds of orig WRACO ammunition. Also accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum Letter which identifies this rifle with round bbl, plain trigger (set is crossed out), XXX checkered stock, short magazine, casehardened, “1 of 1000” is crossed out, received in the warehouse Apr 19, 1876 and shipped Apr 2, 1878 to order 11497. PROVENANCE: Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl retains about 98% strong orig blue with only slight muzzle edge wear and one small rub area just over forend cap; receiver & sideplates retain about 75-80% orig case colors, stronger on left side and over the top with the bottom mostly faded to silver & the right side thinning to silver on both front & back flats; lever & hammer retain faded case colors, bright on left side of lever. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig hand rubbed oil finish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. Case has a grain check most of the length of the lid, otherwise is sound with usual handling & storage nicks & scratches and overall retains about 80% of its orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded in the lid, moderately faded in bottom with light soil; contents are fine. 4-44561 JR68 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 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.

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