EXTRAORDINARILY RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 “1 OF 100” LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

EXTRAORDINARILY RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 “1 OF 100” LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 18443. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). The first documented “1 of 100” rifle of only eight ever produced, of which, allegedly, there are only six known. This extremely famous and well known rifle is one of only two “1 of 100″ rifles produced with rnd bbl and the only one known with rnd bbl. Bbl is 24 1/4” with full magazine, half nickel front sight and orig style, short, semi-buckhorn rear sight with edges that have been hand-serrated over the orig checkering. Receiver is 1st Model, 2nd Type with mortised, impressed thumbprint dust cover and sgl set trigger. Mounted with about 2X American walnut with early style checkered forearm and straight stock with crescent steel buttplate that has a sliding trap. Left side of lower tang, under the wood, is stamped with assembly number “21”. The matching assembly number is also found in the top tang channel of the buttstock and inside the toe of the buttplate. The lever latch in the lower tang is the correct early threaded 1866-style. The bbl is very nicely engraved with foliate arabesque patterns which extend about 3-1/4″ over each side from the receiver. Top of the bbl over the chamber area is beautifully engraved in fine period script “One of One Hundred”. The muzzle end of the bbl is engraved to match on each side and fore & aft of the front sight and also has a fine chip & dot border which matches the chip & dot border at the receiver. The engraving over the chamber area, in addition to the foliate arabesque patterns, incorporates a deep relief flower blossom on each side. The bbl is without platinum or silver bands as is normally found on the 1 of 1000 rifles and some 1 of 100 rifles. This rifle is pictured in color and black & white on p. 53 of the book WINCHESTER The Golden Age of American Gun Making and the Winchester 1 of 1000, Wilson. The caption states that this rifle’s SN is “recorded in the factory ledgers as a rifle, round barrel, case hardened, XX checkered stock, set trigger, 1 of 100, received in the warehouse April 24th and shipped from the warehouse April 25th 1876” with credit to the William E. Safar Collection. This rifle is also pictured in color on pp. 113 & 114 and in further detail on pp. 168 & 169 of the book The Story of the WINCHESTER 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles, Lewis. The caption for the pictures states that this rifle is also featured in the book Steel Canvas, Wilson and Winchester’s New Model of 1873, a Tribute, Gordon. This rifle was sold by another auction house in 1998 and the catalog description at that time partially states “a better specimen of the 1 of 100 is not known”. Accompanied by a deluxe leather-bound slip cover edition of Dr. Lewis’ book. The first known Winchester offering of the 1 of 100 appeared in an 1875 company flyer for an extra $20 over a standard rifle. The first Model 1873 1 of 100, this rifle, was shipped from the factory on March 2, 1876. After the catalogs of 1875 the Models 1 of 100 and 1 of 1000 were dropped from the line but were still available with the last Model 1873 of these types, leaving the factory on April 6, 1878. Given the extremely limited production of the Model 1 of 100 (8) as compared to the number of 1 of 1000 rifles produced (132), makes this an extraordinarily rare rifle. PROVENANCE: William E. Safar Collection; David Stauble Collection; Warren Anderson Collection; Gary Robertston Collection; Paul Sorrell Collection; Dr. Edmund E. Lewis Collection. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching. This is alleged to be the finest of the Model 1873 1 of 100 rifles. Bbl retains about 90% orig blue, slightly dulled, showing wear on each side at the muzzle and thinning over the chamber area carry point; magazine tube is a blue/brown patina with some thinning on each side; receiver retains traces of faded case colors in the most sheltered areas, having mostly turned silver to brown patina; lever & hammer also retain smoky case colors faded to silver to brown on outer faces; buttplate retains a brown patina with spots of rust on the tang; stock has a hairline back of the top tang and another back of bottom tang and the forend is missing a sliver by the right front edge of bbl channel, otherwise wood is sound showing light to moderate diamond point wear on the checkering with light nicks & scratches and retains a dark hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-44928 JR490 (150,000-200,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	2210	$316,250.00	EXTRAORDINARILY RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 “1 OF 100” LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 18443. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). The first documented “1 of 100” rifle of only eight ever produced, of which, allegedly, there are only six known. This extremely famous and well known rifle is one of only two “1 of 100″ rifles produced with rnd bbl and the only one known with rnd bbl. Bbl is 24 1/4” with full magazine, half nickel front sight and orig style, short, semi-buckhorn rear sight with edges that have been hand-serrated over the orig checkering. Receiver is 1st Model, 2nd Type with mortised, impressed thumbprint dust cover and sgl set trigger. Mounted with about 2X American walnut with early style checkered forearm and straight stock with crescent steel buttplate that has a sliding trap. Left side of lower tang, under the wood, is stamped with assembly number “21”. The matching assembly number is also found in the top tang channel of the buttstock and inside the toe of the buttplate. The lever latch in the lower tang is the correct early threaded 1866-style. The bbl is very nicely engraved with foliate arabesque patterns which extend about 3-1/4″ over each side from the receiver. Top of the bbl over the chamber area is beautifully engraved in fine period script “One of One Hundred”. The muzzle end of the bbl is engraved to match on each side and fore & aft of the front sight and also has a fine chip & dot border which matches the chip & dot border at the receiver. The engraving over the chamber area, in addition to the foliate arabesque patterns, incorporates a deep relief flower blossom on each side. The bbl is without platinum or silver bands as is normally found on the 1 of 1000 rifles and some 1 of 100 rifles. This rifle is pictured in color and black & white on p. 53 of the book WINCHESTER The Golden Age of American Gun Making and the Winchester 1 of 1000, Wilson. The caption states that this rifle’s SN is “recorded in the factory ledgers as a rifle, round barrel, case hardened, XX checkered stock, set trigger, 1 of 100, received in the warehouse April 24th and shipped from the warehouse April 25th 1876” with credit to the William E. Safar Collection. This rifle is also pictured in color on pp. 113 & 114 and in further detail on pp. 168 & 169 of the book The Story of the WINCHESTER 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles, Lewis. The caption for the pictures states that this rifle is also featured in the book Steel Canvas, Wilson and Winchester’s New Model of 1873, a Tribute, Gordon. This rifle was sold by another auction house in 1998 and the catalog description at that time partially states “a better specimen of the 1 of 100 is not known”. Accompanied by a deluxe leather-bound slip cover edition of Dr. Lewis’ book. The first known Winchester offering of the 1 of 100 appeared in an 1875 company flyer for an extra $20 over a standard rifle. The first Model 1873 1 of 100, this rifle, was shipped from the factory on March 2, 1876. After the catalogs of 1875 the Models 1 of 100 and 1 of 1000 were dropped from the line but were still available with the last Model 1873 of these types, leaving the factory on April 6, 1878. Given the extremely limited production of the Model 1 of 100 (8) as compared to the number of 1 of 1000 rifles produced (132), makes this an extraordinarily rare rifle. PROVENANCE: William E. Safar Collection; David Stauble Collection; Warren Anderson Collection; Gary Robertston Collection; Paul Sorrell Collection; Dr. Edmund E. Lewis Collection. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching. This is alleged to be the finest of the Model 1873 1 of 100 rifles. Bbl retains about 90% orig blue, slightly dulled, showing wear on each side at the muzzle and thinning over the chamber area carry point; magazine tube is a blue/brown patina with some thinning on each side; receiver retains traces of faded case colors in the most sheltered areas, having mostly turned silver to brown patina; lever & hammer also retain smoky case colors faded to silver to brown on outer faces; buttplate retains a brown patina with spots of rust on the tang; stock has a hairline back of the top tang and another back of bottom tang and the forend is missing a sliver by the right front edge of bbl channel, otherwise wood is sound showing light to moderate diamond point wear on the checkering with light nicks & scratches and retains a dark hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-44928 JR490 (150,000-200,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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