Revised: 9/15/2014

We just acquired some additional exciting information. Winchester did indeed have a salesman by the name of Thomas O’Connor. However, there was also a very skilled engraver by the name Thomas O’Connell (a rival to the reknown Nimschke). The initials on this gun, we have learned, are for the engraver, not the salesman. This is indeed great news as fine examples of his work are much scarcer than Nimschke’s. Please see online image of a copy of one of O’Connell’s business cards.

EXTREMELY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED AND INSCRIBED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 THAT BELONGED TO WINCHESTER’S MOST FAMOUS SALESMAN THOMAS O’CONNOR.

SN 43136. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Spectacular and rare 1866 rifle that belonged to the very famous Winchester salesman Thomas O’Connor. This rifle has 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine, Kentucky style Rocky Mountain front sight and 900 yd Henry ladder rear sight. Mounted with very highly figured, uncheckered American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate with trap containing a 4-pc brass & iron cleaning rod. Buttstock & forend cap have factory sling swivels containing an orig black leather sling with brass buckle. The receiver, forend cap & buttplate tang are beautifully engraved most likely by John Ulrich. Although unsigned it has many attributes of John Ulrich’s work, most notably the rosettes around the screw holes on the receiver & side plates. The engraving consists of about 60% coverage extremely fine foliate arabesque patterns with very fine pearled background. The left side plate incorporates a dogs head in one of the scrolls at the front end and a flower blossom in a scroll at the rear end. The raised panels before the front receiver flats are engraved in fine foliate patterns. Top of the receiver is engraved in foliate, geometric and arabesque patterns with feather borders around the ejection port. Bottom of the receiver, between the timing screws, is engraved in very fine foliate & arabesque with a small elliptical panel in the center engraved “T.O’C”, the initials of Thomas O’Connor. Bottom of the carrier is fully engraved in mirror image heart shaped patterns. Top & bottom tang, forend cap along with the buttplate tang are engraved to match. This rifle also has an extraordinarily rare feature of having had 7″ of the top three flats of the bbl, forward of the receiver, engraved in geometric, foliate arabesque & foliate patterns. The receiver, forend cap & buttplate are gold-washed and the lever originally silver plated. Obviously this was intended to have been a special presentation to Mr. O’Connor or a rifle that Mr. O’Conner ordered for himself. Accompanied by a copy of Mr. Yearout’s inventory card which identifies this rifle and shows that he purchased it in 1969 from someone in his hometown of Great Falls, MT. In a one page article by Mr. Yearout, which appeared in the Spring 1984 issue of the WACA Newsletter, he details how he acquired this rifle after having originally seen it at the Orr-Poindexter Ranch near Ennis, MT. At that time the owners declined to sell it but apparently in 1969 did sell it and Mr. Yearout was able to purchase it after it had passed through two other individuals. He states in the article that after he purchased the rifle he was able to employ a researcher who discovered Mr. O’Connor’s connection to Winchester. He learned that Mr. O’Conner had run away from home at age 14 and became an employee of Remington Arms, later coming to Winchester as a young man. He was soon noticed by Oliver Winchester who eventually promoted him to become Winchester’s premier outside salesman with unlimited territory. He remained employed at Winchester for the remainder of his life. This rifle is also pictured in The Winchester Book, Madis. It is additionally pictured on p.69 of The Book of Winchester Engraving, Wilson. Mr. Wilson states that it is engraved by either L.D. Nimschke or one of the Ulrich’s. Research through several engraving books disclosed that only John Ulrich regularly applied rosettes around screw holes. Careful examination disclosed no signature on the engraving. PROVENANCE: Estate Collection of Lewis & Leyton Yearout. CONDITION: Fine, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain a mottled blue/brown patina; receiver, forend cap & buttplate retain traces of orig gold wash with the balance a wonderful medium mustard patina; lever shows 15-20% silver plating with the balance a dark patina; forearm has a compression fracture on the right side top edge, otherwise wood is sound with usual nicks & scratches and three streaks of chemical staining on the forearm and otherwise retains 60-70% strong orig varnish on the forearm and about 85% orig varnish on the buttstock. Mechanics are crisp; bright shiny bore. Sling is solid and flexible. Cleaning rod is fine. 4-53808 JR16 (25,000-40,000) – Lot 2020

Click here to view provenance

Auction: Firearms - Fall 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
	2020	$27,600.00	Revised: 9/15/2014 We just acquired some additional exciting information. Winchester did indeed have a salesman by the name of Thomas O’Connor. However, there was also a very skilled engraver by the name Thomas O’Connell (a rival to the reknown Nimschke). The initials on this gun, we have learned, are for the engraver, not the salesman. This is indeed great news as fine examples of his work are much scarcer than Nimschke’s. Please see online image of a copy of one of O’Connell’s business cards. EXTREMELY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED AND INSCRIBED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 THAT BELONGED TO WINCHESTER’S MOST FAMOUS SALESMAN THOMAS O’CONNOR. SN 43136. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Spectacular and rare 1866 rifle that belonged to the very famous Winchester salesman Thomas O’Connor. This rifle has 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine, Kentucky style Rocky Mountain front sight and 900 yd Henry ladder rear sight. Mounted with very highly figured, uncheckered American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate with trap containing a 4-pc brass & iron cleaning rod. Buttstock & forend cap have factory sling swivels containing an orig black leather sling with brass buckle. The receiver, forend cap & buttplate tang are beautifully engraved most likely by John Ulrich. Although unsigned it has many attributes of John Ulrich’s work, most notably the rosettes around the screw holes on the receiver & side plates. The engraving consists of about 60% coverage extremely fine foliate arabesque patterns with very fine pearled background. The left side plate incorporates a dogs head in one of the scrolls at the front end and a flower blossom in a scroll at the rear end. The raised panels before the front receiver flats are engraved in fine foliate patterns. Top of the receiver is engraved in foliate, geometric and arabesque patterns with feather borders around the ejection port. Bottom of the receiver, between the timing screws, is engraved in very fine foliate & arabesque with a small elliptical panel in the center engraved “T.O’C”, the initials of Thomas O’Connor. Bottom of the carrier is fully engraved in mirror image heart shaped patterns. Top & bottom tang, forend cap along with the buttplate tang are engraved to match. This rifle also has an extraordinarily rare feature of having had 7″ of the top three flats of the bbl, forward of the receiver, engraved in geometric, foliate arabesque & foliate patterns. The receiver, forend cap & buttplate are gold-washed and the lever originally silver plated. Obviously this was intended to have been a special presentation to Mr. O’Connor or a rifle that Mr. O’Conner ordered for himself. Accompanied by a copy of Mr. Yearout’s inventory card which identifies this rifle and shows that he purchased it in 1969 from someone in his hometown of Great Falls, MT. In a one page article by Mr. Yearout, which appeared in the Spring 1984 issue of the WACA Newsletter, he details how he acquired this rifle after having originally seen it at the Orr-Poindexter Ranch near Ennis, MT. At that time the owners declined to sell it but apparently in 1969 did sell it and Mr. Yearout was able to purchase it after it had passed through two other individuals. He states in the article that after he purchased the rifle he was able to employ a researcher who discovered Mr. O’Connor’s connection to Winchester. He learned that Mr. O’Conner had run away from home at age 14 and became an employee of Remington Arms, later coming to Winchester as a young man. He was soon noticed by Oliver Winchester who eventually promoted him to become Winchester’s premier outside salesman with unlimited territory. He remained employed at Winchester for the remainder of his life. This rifle is also pictured in The Winchester Book, Madis. It is additionally pictured on p.69 of The Book of Winchester Engraving, Wilson. Mr. Wilson states that it is engraved by either L.D. Nimschke or one of the Ulrich’s. Research through several engraving books disclosed that only John Ulrich regularly applied rosettes around screw holes. Careful examination disclosed no signature on the engraving. PROVENANCE: Estate Collection of Lewis & Leyton Yearout. CONDITION: Fine, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain a mottled blue/brown patina; receiver, forend cap & buttplate retain traces of orig gold wash with the balance a wonderful medium mustard patina; lever shows 15-20% silver plating with the balance a dark patina; forearm has a compression fracture on the right side top edge, otherwise wood is sound with usual nicks & scratches and three streaks of chemical staining on the forearm and otherwise retains 60-70% strong orig varnish on the forearm and about 85% orig varnish on the buttstock. Mechanics are crisp; bright shiny bore. Sling is solid and flexible. Cleaning rod is fine. 4-53808 JR16 (25,000-40,000) – Lot 2020 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 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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EXTREMELY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED AND INSCRIBED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 THAT BELONGED TO WINCHESTER’S MOST FAMOUS SALESMAN THOMAS O’CONNOR.