RARE JOHN ULRICH ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

Revised: 9/13/2013

Correction: Estimate should read: 15,000-25,000

RARE JOHN ULRICH ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 38035. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Rare Ulrich engraved ’66 with 24-1/4′ oct bbl, full magazine, unusual Rocky Mountain style front sight with brass base in the dovetail, and a reproduction Henry ladder rear sight missing its slide. It has 2-line Winchester & King’s Patent address. Mounted with uncheckered American walnut with about 2 to 3X figured forearm and straight grain uncheckered buttstock with straight grip and crescent brass buttplate with trap. Left side of lower tang, under the wood, is marked “XXX” and “GO” Left side of upper tang, under the wood, is engraved “J.U.” the signature of Winchester chief master engraver John Ulrich. Bottom of the stock and forend cap have factory sling swivels. Receiver, forend cap and buttplate tang are beautifully engraved in Mr. Ulrich’s very distinctive patterns which consist of deep intertwined foliate arabesque patterns that has very fine pearled background. Left side plate is engraved with a mythical wolf’s head and the right side incorporates an eagles head and a flower blossom. Left side plate has an open scalloped-edge panel and the right side, an open rnd panel. Both front side flats are beautifully engraved in matching geometric patterns and all engraving has dbl borders. Various engraving patterns extend over the top & bottom of the receiver & top tang with matching patterns on the forend cap and buttplate tang. Very few John Ulrich engraved firearms were signed in this manner, most known examples were signed, either on the bottom tang in tiny stamped letters. The engraving patterns on this rifle are very similar to another 1866 rifle being sold elsewhere in this auction. That rifle also has the unusual signature on the top tang. Accompanied by a letter from Winchester Custom shop engraver, Pauline Muerrle, where-in she authenticates the engraving as being by John Ulrich, and states that it is unusual to have a signed piece of his work and that it is also an excellent example. CONDITION: Poor to fair. Buttplate could not be removed to check for matching numbers. Any number that may have been in the top tang channel of the buttstock has been obliterated. Bbl and magazine tube retain traces of orig blue, being mostly a worn, mottled, plummy-brown patina with scattered fine pitting. Receiver shows heavy edge wear with a few light nicks & scratches, has tight side plates and overall retains a dark mustard patina. Buttplate and forend cap have matching patina. Lever and hammer are a dark brown patina. Buttstock has a crack behind the top tang, another small crack in left side of wrist, a couple long scratches on the left side and shows heavy wear and battering, a dark hand worn patina and heavily rusted sling swivel. Forend cap sling swivel is also rusted. Forearm has a crack on the left side and is missing sections on each side of the bbl channel and shows very heavy wear with hand worn patina. Old replacement rear sight is loose in the base and shows heavy rust. Mechanics are fine, worn dark bore with good rifling. 4-49364 JR287 (7,500-12,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013

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
	1091	$13,800.00	Revised: 9/13/2013 Correction: Estimate should read: 15,000-25,000 RARE JOHN ULRICH ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 38035. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Rare Ulrich engraved ’66 with 24-1/4′ oct bbl, full magazine, unusual Rocky Mountain style front sight with brass base in the dovetail, and a reproduction Henry ladder rear sight missing its slide. It has 2-line Winchester & King’s Patent address. Mounted with uncheckered American walnut with about 2 to 3X figured forearm and straight grain uncheckered buttstock with straight grip and crescent brass buttplate with trap. Left side of lower tang, under the wood, is marked “XXX” and “GO” Left side of upper tang, under the wood, is engraved “J.U.” the signature of Winchester chief master engraver John Ulrich. Bottom of the stock and forend cap have factory sling swivels. Receiver, forend cap and buttplate tang are beautifully engraved in Mr. Ulrich’s very distinctive patterns which consist of deep intertwined foliate arabesque patterns that has very fine pearled background. Left side plate is engraved with a mythical wolf’s head and the right side incorporates an eagles head and a flower blossom. Left side plate has an open scalloped-edge panel and the right side, an open rnd panel. Both front side flats are beautifully engraved in matching geometric patterns and all engraving has dbl borders. Various engraving patterns extend over the top & bottom of the receiver & top tang with matching patterns on the forend cap and buttplate tang. Very few John Ulrich engraved firearms were signed in this manner, most known examples were signed, either on the bottom tang in tiny stamped letters. The engraving patterns on this rifle are very similar to another 1866 rifle being sold elsewhere in this auction. That rifle also has the unusual signature on the top tang. Accompanied by a letter from Winchester Custom shop engraver, Pauline Muerrle, where-in she authenticates the engraving as being by John Ulrich, and states that it is unusual to have a signed piece of his work and that it is also an excellent example. CONDITION: Poor to fair. Buttplate could not be removed to check for matching numbers. Any number that may have been in the top tang channel of the buttstock has been obliterated. Bbl and magazine tube retain traces of orig blue, being mostly a worn, mottled, plummy-brown patina with scattered fine pitting. Receiver shows heavy edge wear with a few light nicks & scratches, has tight side plates and overall retains a dark mustard patina. Buttplate and forend cap have matching patina. Lever and hammer are a dark brown patina. Buttstock has a crack behind the top tang, another small crack in left side of wrist, a couple long scratches on the left side and shows heavy wear and battering, a dark hand worn patina and heavily rusted sling swivel. Forend cap sling swivel is also rusted. Forearm has a crack on the left side and is missing sections on each side of the bbl channel and shows very heavy wear with hand worn patina. Old replacement rear sight is loose in the base and shows heavy rust. Mechanics are fine, worn dark bore with good rifling. 4-49364 JR287 (7,500-12,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013 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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