EXTREMELY RARE, SPECIAL ORDER SEMI-DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 “BIG 50” LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

EXTREMELY RARE, SPECIAL ORDER SEMI-DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 “BIG 50” LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 70630. Cal. 50 Ex. (50-110). Spectacular semi-deluxe rifle with 32″ extra-heavy oct bbl, full magazine with two bands, gold washed Beach’s front sight, 3-leaf express rear sight and a thin base, short range vernier tang sight with 3″ staff. It also has sgl set trigger. Mounted with straight grain uncheckered American walnut with serpentine pistol grip stock that has a black triangle inlay and Winchester hard rubber buttplate. Left side of lower tang, under the wood, is stamped with assembly number “490” and “SOF”. Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in caliber 50-110 with oct bbl, set trigger, plain pistol grip, rubber buttplate and Lyman front & rear sights, received in warehouse Jan. 13, 1894 and shipped Jan. 18, 1894 to Order #6636. Although the extra length, extra heavy bbl is not mentioned in the Cody letter, there is little doubt that it is orig to this rifle. Also accompanied by a letter from Herb Glass, on his company letterhead, dated Nov. 6, 1986, to someone named “Don”. He states that “I was pleased to hear that you had purchased the big handsome 50 Express Model ’86, number 70630.” He states that he had known it for 16 years and considered it to be a choice rarity in the Winchester field. He mentions the unusual 32″ heavy bbl and “non-checkered” pistol grip. He further states that he discovered the rifle in 1970 and immediately sold it to Richard P. Mellon where it remained for 10 years when he reacquired it in trade and immediately resold it. He finally states that “it is 100% original”. PROVENANCE: Herb Glass, Sr.; Richard P. Mellon Collection; Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Bbl retains 97-98% strong orig factory blue with only light muzzle & sharp edge wear with a few fine freckles of pinprick surface rust and a small ding on left side about mid-point; magazine tube retains 98-99% strong orig blue with a few small spots of pitting; receiver retains 70-75% orig case colors, strong in sheltered areas and left side, faded elsewhere and turned silver on the belly; lever & hammer retain faded case colors, turned silver/gray on outer face of lever; stock has a chip by the bottom tang and a few minor nicks & scratches and overall retains most of its orig factory varnish. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore. A truly exceptional & rare rifle. 4-44483 JR432 (50,000-80,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	2061	$69,000.00	EXTREMELY RARE, SPECIAL ORDER SEMI-DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 “BIG 50” LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 70630. Cal. 50 Ex. (50-110). Spectacular semi-deluxe rifle with 32″ extra-heavy oct bbl, full magazine with two bands, gold washed Beach’s front sight, 3-leaf express rear sight and a thin base, short range vernier tang sight with 3″ staff. It also has sgl set trigger. Mounted with straight grain uncheckered American walnut with serpentine pistol grip stock that has a black triangle inlay and Winchester hard rubber buttplate. Left side of lower tang, under the wood, is stamped with assembly number “490” and “SOF”. Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in caliber 50-110 with oct bbl, set trigger, plain pistol grip, rubber buttplate and Lyman front & rear sights, received in warehouse Jan. 13, 1894 and shipped Jan. 18, 1894 to Order #6636. Although the extra length, extra heavy bbl is not mentioned in the Cody letter, there is little doubt that it is orig to this rifle. Also accompanied by a letter from Herb Glass, on his company letterhead, dated Nov. 6, 1986, to someone named “Don”. He states that “I was pleased to hear that you had purchased the big handsome 50 Express Model ’86, number 70630.” He states that he had known it for 16 years and considered it to be a choice rarity in the Winchester field. He mentions the unusual 32″ heavy bbl and “non-checkered” pistol grip. He further states that he discovered the rifle in 1970 and immediately sold it to Richard P. Mellon where it remained for 10 years when he reacquired it in trade and immediately resold it. He finally states that “it is 100% original”. PROVENANCE: Herb Glass, Sr.; Richard P. Mellon Collection; Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Bbl retains 97-98% strong orig factory blue with only light muzzle & sharp edge wear with a few fine freckles of pinprick surface rust and a small ding on left side about mid-point; magazine tube retains 98-99% strong orig blue with a few small spots of pitting; receiver retains 70-75% orig case colors, strong in sheltered areas and left side, faded elsewhere and turned silver on the belly; lever & hammer retain faded case colors, turned silver/gray on outer face of lever; stock has a chip by the bottom tang and a few minor nicks & scratches and overall retains most of its orig factory varnish. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore. A truly exceptional & rare rifle. 4-44483 JR432 (50,000-80,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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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