EXTRAORDINARILY RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 DELUXE TAKEDOWN SMALL BORE LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

SN 186221. Cal. 22 Short. Exceedingly rare rifle, one of only a few known, with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Receiver is color case hardened and has sgl set trigger with the tapered pin takedown feature. Mounted with 2-3X center crotch, flame grain American walnut with H-style checkered forearm and horn fleur-de-lis insert serpentine grip buttstock that has crescent buttplate without trap, although the buttstock is drilled for a trap. Left side of lower tang is marked with assembly number “481”, “XXX” and “22”. Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in caliber 22 with oct bbl, set trigger, checkered stock with pistol grip and case hardened, received in warehouse July 29, 1885 and shipped same day to Order #19471. Although the takedown feature is not mentioned in the letter there is no doubt that this is an authentic takedown rifle. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms there were only 19,552 of these scarce small bore ’73 rifles produced in the period 1884-1904. Deluxe versions of this rifle are so rare that they are not even mentioned by Mr. Flayderman and The Winchester Book, Madis, only briefly mentions deluxe & takedown versions. It is this cataloger’s contention that there are only a small handful of deluxe color case hardened takedown ’73 small bore rifles extant. The ’73 rifles in caliber 22, being rare to begin with, were, in their period of use, considered to be a lady’s or boy’s rifle and usually saw very hard service with little care or maintenance and are rarely found today with any orig finish or shootable bore. PROVENANCE: Tommy Rholes Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain 96-97% strong orig blue with faint sharp edge wear and some minor spots of surface discoloration; inside magazine tube is extremely fine and appears to be original; receiver retains about 80-85% orig case colors, moderately faded on sides with some light chemical spotting, strong colors in sheltered areas especially on left side; top & bottom edges have turned dark; hammer retains strong, bright case colors and the lever faded colors on sides, turned silver to dark on outer faces; buttplate retains mottled silver patina. Stock has a hairline in the wrist adjacent to the tang screw, otherwise wood is sound with numerous small nicks & scratches, a couple of small bruises in the checkering and overall retains most of its orig piano varnish finish, turned dark from hand wear at carry point on forearm. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. These small bore ’73s are rarely ever found with bright bores. This rifle is suited for the most advanced collection or museum exhibit. 4-50548 JR22 (35,000-50,000) – Lot 1013

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014

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
	1013	$28,750.00	EXTRAORDINARILY RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 DELUXE TAKEDOWN SMALL BORE LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 186221. Cal. 22 Short. Exceedingly rare rifle, one of only a few known, with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Receiver is color case hardened and has sgl set trigger with the tapered pin takedown feature. Mounted with 2-3X center crotch, flame grain American walnut with H-style checkered forearm and horn fleur-de-lis insert serpentine grip buttstock that has crescent buttplate without trap, although the buttstock is drilled for a trap. Left side of lower tang is marked with assembly number “481”, “XXX” and “22”. Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in caliber 22 with oct bbl, set trigger, checkered stock with pistol grip and case hardened, received in warehouse July 29, 1885 and shipped same day to Order #19471. Although the takedown feature is not mentioned in the letter there is no doubt that this is an authentic takedown rifle. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms there were only 19,552 of these scarce small bore ’73 rifles produced in the period 1884-1904. Deluxe versions of this rifle are so rare that they are not even mentioned by Mr. Flayderman and The Winchester Book, Madis, only briefly mentions deluxe & takedown versions. It is this cataloger’s contention that there are only a small handful of deluxe color case hardened takedown ’73 small bore rifles extant. The ’73 rifles in caliber 22, being rare to begin with, were, in their period of use, considered to be a lady’s or boy’s rifle and usually saw very hard service with little care or maintenance and are rarely found today with any orig finish or shootable bore. PROVENANCE: Tommy Rholes Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain 96-97% strong orig blue with faint sharp edge wear and some minor spots of surface discoloration; inside magazine tube is extremely fine and appears to be original; receiver retains about 80-85% orig case colors, moderately faded on sides with some light chemical spotting, strong colors in sheltered areas especially on left side; top & bottom edges have turned dark; hammer retains strong, bright case colors and the lever faded colors on sides, turned silver to dark on outer faces; buttplate retains mottled silver patina. Stock has a hairline in the wrist adjacent to the tang screw, otherwise wood is sound with numerous small nicks & scratches, a couple of small bruises in the checkering and overall retains most of its orig piano varnish finish, turned dark from hand wear at carry point on forearm. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. These small bore ’73s are rarely ever found with bright bores. This rifle is suited for the most advanced collection or museum exhibit. 4-50548 JR22 (35,000-50,000) – Lot 1013 Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014 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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EXTRAORDINARILY RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 DELUXE TAKEDOWN SMALL BORE LEVER ACTION RIFLE.