EXTRAORDINARILY RARE SPECIAL ORDER DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 “BIG 50” LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

EXTRAORDINARILY RARE SPECIAL ORDER DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 “BIG 50” LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 84830. Cal. 50 Ex. (50-110). Beautiful deluxe rifle with 32″ matted oct bbl, full magazine, two magazine bands, Lyman windgage front sight, semi-buckhorn rear sight and a Lyman combination tang sight. Top flat of bbl is beautifully matted and it has sgl set trigger. Mounted with highly figured, center crotch, flame grain American walnut with “H” style checkered forearm and serpentine pistol grip stock with black triangle inlay, deep cheek piece and crescent buttplate. Stock & forend cap are mounted with sling loops. Left side of lower tang is stamped with assembly number “248” and “XX”. Matching assembly number is found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. This rifle was sold through the James D. Julia Firearms Auction of March 2010 at which time it was mounted with a 36″ bbl in caliber 38-56 with a nickeled Swiss buttplate. The purchaser, in checking the records at the Cody Firearms Museum, discovered that the rifle had originally left the factory as a “Big 50″ with 32” matted bbl and special sights with no mention of the Swiss buttplate. He contracted the Doug Turnbull restoration service who fabricated the new bbl, magazine tube & forearm for this rifle which are virtually indistinguishable from orig equipment. The Turnbull Company also apparently supplied the standard crescent buttplate. Somehow the purchaser of this rifle learned the identity of the consignor to the James Julia Auction and contacted him and who turned out to be a gentleman by the name of Tim Johnson who was the grandson of Don “Buck” Johnson who had obtained this rifle in 1944 from a Dr. Oliver who had it on display in a Wild West Museum in Graceville, MN. When Dr. Oliver closed the museum he gave Mr. Johnson his choice of any item on display. Mr. Johnson chose this Model 1886. He kept the rifle above his fireplace in Rainy Lake, MN until 1952 when he became fearful over its value and removed it to storage. He passed the rifle to his son, also called Buck Johnson, who in turn gave it to his son Tim Johnson. The Johnson Family history of this rifle also relates that the rifle was made for an English nobleman to hunt big game in America. Accompanied by two Cody Firearms Museum letters and one Winchester Museum letter which identify this rifle in caliber 50-110 with 32″ oct bbl, matted, set trigger, checkered stock with pistol grip, cheek piece, Lyman rear and windgage sights and sling & swivels. Received in warehouse Dec. 23, 1893 and shipped Dec. 26, 1893 to Order #5744. In addition there are two copies of pages from the Cody Firearms Records for this rifle. Additionally accompanied by copies of two color photographs of this rifle as it appeared when it was sold at Julia’s. Although this rifle has a restored front end, it has only been returned to its orig configuration and is a spectacular and rare ’86. PROVENANCE: Don “Buck” Johnson; buck Johnson; Tim Johnson; Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl & magazine tube retain 98-99% Winchester type custom blue finish with light sharp edge wear; receiver retains 60-70% moderately faded case colors, mostly on the sides, turned silver on belly; lever & hammer retain moderately faded case colors, stronger in sheltered areas, turned silver on outer face of lever; wood is sound with the stock having a few light nicks, dings & scratches and a couple of small gouges and retains about 95% orig piano finish varnish; forearm has a couple of minor nicks & scratches, one small wear spot and retains most of its fine custom finish; buttplate retains smoky case colors. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-44525 JR330 (30,000-50,000)

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
	2069	$25,875.00	EXTRAORDINARILY RARE SPECIAL ORDER DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 “BIG 50” LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 84830. Cal. 50 Ex. (50-110). Beautiful deluxe rifle with 32″ matted oct bbl, full magazine, two magazine bands, Lyman windgage front sight, semi-buckhorn rear sight and a Lyman combination tang sight. Top flat of bbl is beautifully matted and it has sgl set trigger. Mounted with highly figured, center crotch, flame grain American walnut with “H” style checkered forearm and serpentine pistol grip stock with black triangle inlay, deep cheek piece and crescent buttplate. Stock & forend cap are mounted with sling loops. Left side of lower tang is stamped with assembly number “248” and “XX”. Matching assembly number is found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. This rifle was sold through the James D. Julia Firearms Auction of March 2010 at which time it was mounted with a 36″ bbl in caliber 38-56 with a nickeled Swiss buttplate. The purchaser, in checking the records at the Cody Firearms Museum, discovered that the rifle had originally left the factory as a “Big 50″ with 32” matted bbl and special sights with no mention of the Swiss buttplate. He contracted the Doug Turnbull restoration service who fabricated the new bbl, magazine tube & forearm for this rifle which are virtually indistinguishable from orig equipment. The Turnbull Company also apparently supplied the standard crescent buttplate. Somehow the purchaser of this rifle learned the identity of the consignor to the James Julia Auction and contacted him and who turned out to be a gentleman by the name of Tim Johnson who was the grandson of Don “Buck” Johnson who had obtained this rifle in 1944 from a Dr. Oliver who had it on display in a Wild West Museum in Graceville, MN. When Dr. Oliver closed the museum he gave Mr. Johnson his choice of any item on display. Mr. Johnson chose this Model 1886. He kept the rifle above his fireplace in Rainy Lake, MN until 1952 when he became fearful over its value and removed it to storage. He passed the rifle to his son, also called Buck Johnson, who in turn gave it to his son Tim Johnson. The Johnson Family history of this rifle also relates that the rifle was made for an English nobleman to hunt big game in America. Accompanied by two Cody Firearms Museum letters and one Winchester Museum letter which identify this rifle in caliber 50-110 with 32″ oct bbl, matted, set trigger, checkered stock with pistol grip, cheek piece, Lyman rear and windgage sights and sling & swivels. Received in warehouse Dec. 23, 1893 and shipped Dec. 26, 1893 to Order #5744. In addition there are two copies of pages from the Cody Firearms Records for this rifle. Additionally accompanied by copies of two color photographs of this rifle as it appeared when it was sold at Julia’s. Although this rifle has a restored front end, it has only been returned to its orig configuration and is a spectacular and rare ’86. PROVENANCE: Don “Buck” Johnson; buck Johnson; Tim Johnson; Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl & magazine tube retain 98-99% Winchester type custom blue finish with light sharp edge wear; receiver retains 60-70% moderately faded case colors, mostly on the sides, turned silver on belly; lever & hammer retain moderately faded case colors, stronger in sheltered areas, turned silver on outer face of lever; wood is sound with the stock having a few light nicks, dings & scratches and a couple of small gouges and retains about 95% orig piano finish varnish; forearm has a couple of minor nicks & scratches, one small wear spot and retains most of its fine custom finish; buttplate retains smoky case colors. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-44525 JR330 (30,000-50,000) 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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