RARE HENRY MARKED NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

RARE HENRY MARKED NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 21123. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, German silver Rocky Mtn. front sight and 900 yard Henry style ladder rear sight. It has full magazine tube and is mounted with uncheckered, nicely figured, slab sawed American walnut with very highly figured tiger-striped forearm and straight stock with crescent brass buttplate. Forend cap & buttstock are mounted with factory sling swivels. Receiver is beautifully Nimschke engraved with his typical sweeping intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with punch dot background on both sides with matching empty geometric panels on each side. Left sideplate also has a bird head and a demon head incorporated into the patterns and the right side a bird head in one pattern. The transition from the sideplate, to the front scalloped areas are engraved in geometric patterns with fine punch dot centers. Carrier is engraved with an elaborate hunter’s star and bottom of receiver with a foliate arabesque pattern. Top of receiver is engraved in geometric patterns on top flat with a crown shaped pattern back of ejection port. Front receiver ring is engraved with a hunter’s star. Forend cap and buttplate tang are also engraved to match. Few examples of Nimschke’s work survive today that have the bird’s head and/or demon’s head incorporated into the engraved panels. These patterns are more often found on Nimschke engraved Colts. The SN was observed on bottom tang with the last three digits of the SN in the top tang channel of butt stock and again inside toe of buttplates. It appears that this rifle was originally gold washed as the inside of the buttplate and sides of tangs under the wood retain some gold plating. PROVENANCE: Dr. Edmund Lewis Collection CONDITION: Fine, all matching including stock & buttplate. No orig finish remains with bbl & magazine tube being a cleaned & lightly refinished gray metal patina, with areas of light surface discoloration and cloth pattern etching. There appears to be a filled dovetail in top flat just back of front sight, probably from an old scope mount. Bbl address is very faint but almost completely legible. Receiver, forearm & buttplate are fine with lightly worn edges and overall retain a medium, mellow mustard patina. Lever is a gray metal patina with some old fine pitting. Hammer retains smoky case colors, mostly faded to gray. Stock has a repaired chip by the top tang, otherwise wood is sound with light handling & use marks and retains most of an old restored finish. Mechanics are a little stiff but functional, strong sharp bore with fine pitting. 4-41308 JR102 (17,500-27,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011

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
	2028	$18,400.00	RARE HENRY MARKED NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 21123. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, German silver Rocky Mtn. front sight and 900 yard Henry style ladder rear sight. It has full magazine tube and is mounted with uncheckered, nicely figured, slab sawed American walnut with very highly figured tiger-striped forearm and straight stock with crescent brass buttplate. Forend cap & buttstock are mounted with factory sling swivels. Receiver is beautifully Nimschke engraved with his typical sweeping intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with punch dot background on both sides with matching empty geometric panels on each side. Left sideplate also has a bird head and a demon head incorporated into the patterns and the right side a bird head in one pattern. The transition from the sideplate, to the front scalloped areas are engraved in geometric patterns with fine punch dot centers. Carrier is engraved with an elaborate hunter’s star and bottom of receiver with a foliate arabesque pattern. Top of receiver is engraved in geometric patterns on top flat with a crown shaped pattern back of ejection port. Front receiver ring is engraved with a hunter’s star. Forend cap and buttplate tang are also engraved to match. Few examples of Nimschke’s work survive today that have the bird’s head and/or demon’s head incorporated into the engraved panels. These patterns are more often found on Nimschke engraved Colts. The SN was observed on bottom tang with the last three digits of the SN in the top tang channel of butt stock and again inside toe of buttplates. It appears that this rifle was originally gold washed as the inside of the buttplate and sides of tangs under the wood retain some gold plating. PROVENANCE: Dr. Edmund Lewis Collection CONDITION: Fine, all matching including stock & buttplate. No orig finish remains with bbl & magazine tube being a cleaned & lightly refinished gray metal patina, with areas of light surface discoloration and cloth pattern etching. There appears to be a filled dovetail in top flat just back of front sight, probably from an old scope mount. Bbl address is very faint but almost completely legible. Receiver, forearm & buttplate are fine with lightly worn edges and overall retain a medium, mellow mustard patina. Lever is a gray metal patina with some old fine pitting. Hammer retains smoky case colors, mostly faded to gray. Stock has a repaired chip by the top tang, otherwise wood is sound with light handling & use marks and retains most of an old restored finish. Mechanics are a little stiff but functional, strong sharp bore with fine pitting. 4-41308 JR102 (17,500-27,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011 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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