EXTREMELY RARE INSCRIBED WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE ENGRAVED LIKE 1 OF 1000.

SN 115119. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Early 3rd model rifle with special order 26″ oct bbl, full magazine, gold washed, Beach’s combination front sight and an 1873 marked ladder rear sight. Receiver is color case hardened with single set trigger. Mounted with about 3X, center crotch, flame grain American walnut with H-style checkered forearm and fleur-de-lis insert, serpentine grip buttstock that has crescent buttplate with trap containing five pieces of an orig brass & iron cleaning rod. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number “878”, “XX” and “S”. Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock. Inside toe of buttplate has assembly number “5589”. Left side plate is factory engraved in script “G. Loomis / San Francisco”. Bbl is engraved over the chamber area and around the muzzle in foliate arabesque patterns identical to the 1 of 1000 rifles and has a silver band at the receiver with another around the muzzle. George Loomis was a successful San Francisco entrepreneur who, along with two other area businessmen in Sep. 1879 formed the Pacific Coast Oil Co. and acquired the assets of the Star Oil Co. who had discovered oil in Pico Canyon, CA in 1876. They continued in business becoming very successful, eventually becoming the largest oil interest in CA. The company was acquired by Standard Oil for $761,000 and merged with that company in 1906 to become Standard Oil of California. Accompanied by a Cody Firearm Museum research request letter which identifies this rifle with 26″ oct bbl, set trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, with peep & globe sights and shotgun butt. It shows that it was case hardened, “engraved” and “engraved barrel”, received in warehouse Feb. 6, 1883 and shipped two days later to order number 2295-1/2. Although the records list the stock with shotgun butt it is readily apparent that the currently mounted buttstock with crescent buttplate is orig to this rifle, obviously assemblers and shipping clerk’s error. The buttplate however, has been changed but the stock not altered. This rifle was produced in 1883 probably at a time when Mr. Loomis was earning vast amounts of money from his oil interests and other businesses in the San Francisco area. Only very few of these rifles were ordered engraved in this manner and very few are known today. CONDITION: Fine, all matching except buttplate as noted. Bbl & magazine tube retain about 90% dull orig blue turning a little plum; receiver & side plates retain 30-40% thin orig case colors with the balance having turned silver; hammer retains strong case colors and the lever case colors on the sides. Wood is sound with usual nicks & scratches, with dark oil staining around the wrist and the buttstock showing about 85% strong orig piano varnish finish; forearm shows heavy wear on the checkering with a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine; bright shiny bore. Cleaning rod is fine. 4-51998 JR107 (25,000-35,000) – Lot 2030

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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
	2030	$29,900.00	EXTREMELY RARE INSCRIBED WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE ENGRAVED LIKE 1 OF 1000. SN 115119. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Early 3rd model rifle with special order 26″ oct bbl, full magazine, gold washed, Beach’s combination front sight and an 1873 marked ladder rear sight. Receiver is color case hardened with single set trigger. Mounted with about 3X, center crotch, flame grain American walnut with H-style checkered forearm and fleur-de-lis insert, serpentine grip buttstock that has crescent buttplate with trap containing five pieces of an orig brass & iron cleaning rod. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number “878”, “XX” and “S”. Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock. Inside toe of buttplate has assembly number “5589”. Left side plate is factory engraved in script “G. Loomis / San Francisco”. Bbl is engraved over the chamber area and around the muzzle in foliate arabesque patterns identical to the 1 of 1000 rifles and has a silver band at the receiver with another around the muzzle. George Loomis was a successful San Francisco entrepreneur who, along with two other area businessmen in Sep. 1879 formed the Pacific Coast Oil Co. and acquired the assets of the Star Oil Co. who had discovered oil in Pico Canyon, CA in 1876. They continued in business becoming very successful, eventually becoming the largest oil interest in CA. The company was acquired by Standard Oil for $761,000 and merged with that company in 1906 to become Standard Oil of California. Accompanied by a Cody Firearm Museum research request letter which identifies this rifle with 26″ oct bbl, set trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, with peep & globe sights and shotgun butt. It shows that it was case hardened, “engraved” and “engraved barrel”, received in warehouse Feb. 6, 1883 and shipped two days later to order number 2295-1/2. Although the records list the stock with shotgun butt it is readily apparent that the currently mounted buttstock with crescent buttplate is orig to this rifle, obviously assemblers and shipping clerk’s error. The buttplate however, has been changed but the stock not altered. This rifle was produced in 1883 probably at a time when Mr. Loomis was earning vast amounts of money from his oil interests and other businesses in the San Francisco area. Only very few of these rifles were ordered engraved in this manner and very few are known today. CONDITION: Fine, all matching except buttplate as noted. Bbl & magazine tube retain about 90% dull orig blue turning a little plum; receiver & side plates retain 30-40% thin orig case colors with the balance having turned silver; hammer retains strong case colors and the lever case colors on the sides. Wood is sound with usual nicks & scratches, with dark oil staining around the wrist and the buttstock showing about 85% strong orig piano varnish finish; forearm shows heavy wear on the checkering with a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine; bright shiny bore. Cleaning rod is fine. 4-51998 JR107 (25,000-35,000) – Lot 2030 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 INSCRIBED WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE ENGRAVED LIKE 1 OF 1000.