VERY RARE AND WELL DOCUMENTED WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 ONE OF ONE THOUSAND LEVER ACTION RIFLE WITH FACTORY LETTER.

SN 30783. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Fine One of One Thousand rifle with rare 26″ oct bbl, full magazine, gold-washed Beach’s combination front sight and short, semi-buckhorn rear sight with fine V-notch and hand serrated edges. Receiver is 1st type with mortised dust cover rails and 2nd type dust cover with impressed, checkered thumb-print. Receiver also has single set trigger. Mounted with uncheckered, very highly figured American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate that has a trap. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly no. “732” & “XX”. Matching assembly no. is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Bbl is engraved in 4th style which consists of fine foliate arabesque patterns with pearled background over the chamber area and around the muzzle. Top flat of bbl, over the chamber area is engraved in script “One of One Thousand”. Muzzle & chamber ends of the bbl have inlaid silver bands. This was the 18th rifle identified and documented by Universal Studios in 1950 when they were doing a publicity campaign advertising the forthcoming Jimmy Stewart movie Winchester ’73. This rifle is pictured in color with an extensive write-up on pages 72 & 73 of The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 rifles, Lewis. The write up presents the information regarding the discovery of this rifle in 1950 at which time it was owned by Cmdr. T.R. Jordan, USN. The write-up also discloses that the author had located extensive correspondence between Cmdr. Jordan and Steve Hannagan Associates, who was the publicity firm for Universal Studios during the One of One Thousand search. All the information regarding One of One Thousand rifles uncovered during that 1950 search was compiled by Steve Hannagan into a hardbound book which was later published. The write-up also shows provenance to well known dealer/collector Leroy Merz with credit, at that time to the Dr. Edmund Lewis collection. This rifle, identified by serial number in the listing on page 26 of the reference publication shows that it had a 26″ oct bbl, with case hardened receiver, XX wood, set trigger and sporting leaf sight. It was received in the warehouse July 24, 1878 and shipped Aug. 2, 1878 to order no. 12415. Pages 146 and 147 of the reference publication discusses the origin of the Hannagan report and the impact that it had on the collecting of the One of One Thousand rifles. Accompanied by a copy of a notarized letter dated 30 June 1950 from Cmdr. Jordan to Universal Pictures describing his One of One Thousand rifle. He states that he bought it from a friend 3 years before. The friend reportedly had acquired it in a trade. Also accompanying are 4 pieces of correspondence between Mr. W.F. Mitchell, wherein he is advising Winchester that he had purchased this rifle and was soliciting information regarding the Model One of One Thousand. A handwritten note on one of the letters, dated June 5, 1968, states, “Purchased May 29, 1968 from Hank Vogel, Detroit, MI”. Additionally accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle with case hardened receiver, 26″ oct bbl, set trigger, XX stock, sporting leaf sight & “1 of 1000”, received in the warehouse July 24, 1878 and shipped August 2, 1878 to order #12475. Also accompanied by a copy of the ledger page for this rifle. Also accompanied by a copy of the catalog page from “ARMSFLASH” dated June 3, 1958, the catalog of the renowned dealer, F. Theodore Dexter of Burbank, CA. wherein he is advertising this rifle for sale. Further accompanied by a copy of page 1 of a Leroy Merz catalog advertising this rifle for sale. Finally accompanying is the March/April 1982 issue of Man at Arms magazine which contains a 4-page article by well known historian, researcher & author, R.L. Wilson publicizing his forthcoming book Winchester The Golden Age of American Gunmaking and the Winchester 1 of 1000. Page 4 of that article lists 50 known 1 of 1000 Model 1873 rifles. Page 93 of Mr. Wilson’s book has 3 black & white photos, reprinted from the Hannagan report, with a write-up detailing some of the above information with credit to the William F. Mitchell collection. While little is known about the early provenance, prior to 1950, from that point forward it is rock solid. This rifle is extremely unusual with a deluxe, highly figured wood that is not checkered, but ordered that way. PROVENANCE: Cmdr. T.R. Jordan, USN; F. Theodore Dexter – 1958; Hank Vogel collection – 1968; William F. Mitchell collection – 1968; Leroy Merz; Collection of Dr. Edmund Lewis. CONDITION: About good, all matching. Traces of orig finish remain on the metal, overall retaining a clean gray metal patina, with a few very minor nicks on the bbl. All of the appended metal parts are matching patina to the receiver, bbl & magazine tube. Stock has a hairline by the top tang with a replaced sliver in the forearm, otherwise wood is sound and retains a fine old restored finish. Mechanics are fine, sharp strong bore with fine pitting. 52079-2 (75,000-125,000) – Lot 1027

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Auction: Firearms - October 2017

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
	1027	$103,500.00	VERY RARE AND WELL DOCUMENTED WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 ONE OF ONE THOUSAND LEVER ACTION RIFLE WITH FACTORY LETTER. SN 30783. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Fine One of One Thousand rifle with rare 26″ oct bbl, full magazine, gold-washed Beach’s combination front sight and short, semi-buckhorn rear sight with fine V-notch and hand serrated edges. Receiver is 1st type with mortised dust cover rails and 2nd type dust cover with impressed, checkered thumb-print. Receiver also has single set trigger. Mounted with uncheckered, very highly figured American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate that has a trap. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly no. “732” & “XX”. Matching assembly no. is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Bbl is engraved in 4th style which consists of fine foliate arabesque patterns with pearled background over the chamber area and around the muzzle. Top flat of bbl, over the chamber area is engraved in script “One of One Thousand”. Muzzle & chamber ends of the bbl have inlaid silver bands. This was the 18th rifle identified and documented by Universal Studios in 1950 when they were doing a publicity campaign advertising the forthcoming Jimmy Stewart movie Winchester ’73. This rifle is pictured in color with an extensive write-up on pages 72 & 73 of The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 rifles, Lewis. The write up presents the information regarding the discovery of this rifle in 1950 at which time it was owned by Cmdr. T.R. Jordan, USN. The write-up also discloses that the author had located extensive correspondence between Cmdr. Jordan and Steve Hannagan Associates, who was the publicity firm for Universal Studios during the One of One Thousand search. All the information regarding One of One Thousand rifles uncovered during that 1950 search was compiled by Steve Hannagan into a hardbound book which was later published. The write-up also shows provenance to well known dealer/collector Leroy Merz with credit, at that time to the Dr. Edmund Lewis collection. This rifle, identified by serial number in the listing on page 26 of the reference publication shows that it had a 26″ oct bbl, with case hardened receiver, XX wood, set trigger and sporting leaf sight. It was received in the warehouse July 24, 1878 and shipped Aug. 2, 1878 to order no. 12415. Pages 146 and 147 of the reference publication discusses the origin of the Hannagan report and the impact that it had on the collecting of the One of One Thousand rifles. Accompanied by a copy of a notarized letter dated 30 June 1950 from Cmdr. Jordan to Universal Pictures describing his One of One Thousand rifle. He states that he bought it from a friend 3 years before. The friend reportedly had acquired it in a trade. Also accompanying are 4 pieces of correspondence between Mr. W.F. Mitchell, wherein he is advising Winchester that he had purchased this rifle and was soliciting information regarding the Model One of One Thousand. A handwritten note on one of the letters, dated June 5, 1968, states, “Purchased May 29, 1968 from Hank Vogel, Detroit, MI”. Additionally accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle with case hardened receiver, 26″ oct bbl, set trigger, XX stock, sporting leaf sight & “1 of 1000”, received in the warehouse July 24, 1878 and shipped August 2, 1878 to order #12475. Also accompanied by a copy of the ledger page for this rifle. Also accompanied by a copy of the catalog page from “ARMSFLASH” dated June 3, 1958, the catalog of the renowned dealer, F. Theodore Dexter of Burbank, CA. wherein he is advertising this rifle for sale. Further accompanied by a copy of page 1 of a Leroy Merz catalog advertising this rifle for sale. Finally accompanying is the March/April 1982 issue of Man at Arms magazine which contains a 4-page article by well known historian, researcher & author, R.L. Wilson publicizing his forthcoming book Winchester The Golden Age of American Gunmaking and the Winchester 1 of 1000. Page 4 of that article lists 50 known 1 of 1000 Model 1873 rifles. Page 93 of Mr. Wilson’s book has 3 black & white photos, reprinted from the Hannagan report, with a write-up detailing some of the above information with credit to the William F. Mitchell collection. While little is known about the early provenance, prior to 1950, from that point forward it is rock solid. This rifle is extremely unusual with a deluxe, highly figured wood that is not checkered, but ordered that way. PROVENANCE: Cmdr. T.R. Jordan, USN; F. Theodore Dexter – 1958; Hank Vogel collection – 1968; William F. Mitchell collection – 1968; Leroy Merz; Collection of Dr. Edmund Lewis. CONDITION: About good, all matching. Traces of orig finish remain on the metal, overall retaining a clean gray metal patina, with a few very minor nicks on the bbl. All of the appended metal parts are matching patina to the receiver, bbl & magazine tube. Stock has a hairline by the top tang with a replaced sliver in the forearm, otherwise wood is sound and retains a fine old restored finish. Mechanics are fine, sharp strong bore with fine pitting. 52079-2 (75,000-125,000) – Lot 1027 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - October 2017 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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VERY RARE AND WELL DOCUMENTED WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 ONE OF ONE THOUSAND LEVER ACTION RIFLE WITH FACTORY LETTER.