LOT OF WINCHESTER 1ST MODEL 1873 RIFLE & COLT MODEL 1878 DA FRONTIER REVOLVER & BUCKSKIN RIFLE SCABBARD ASSOCIATED WITH CUSTER’S FIGHT AT THE LITTLE BIG HORN.

LOT OF WINCHESTER 1ST MODEL 1873 RIFLE & COLT MODEL 1878 DA FRONTIER REVOLVER & BUCKSKIN RIFLE SCABBARD ASSOCIATED WITH CUSTER’S FIGHT AT THE LITTLE BIG HORN. SN AS NOTED. 1)Winchester Model 1873. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). SN 4751. 1st Model ’73 with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, half nickel front sight and “1873” marked ladder rear sight. It has sgl set trigger & is mounted with uncheckered American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate with trap. The serial number is hand engraved on bottom tang and top tang is roll marked “MODEL 1873″ with two holes for tang sight. 2) Colt Model 1878 DA Frontier revolver. Cal. 45 Colt. SN 1034. Nickel finish with 5-1/2” bbl & 1-line Pall Mall London address. It has slightly altered front sight with checkered wood grips & a lanyard loop in the butt. Left front web of trigger guard is marked “45 CAL /B” signifying 45 Boxer caliber but in fact the chambers in the cylinder have been extended to accept 45 Colt. Accompanied by a sgl loop holster that has been completely restitched and most of top part cut away for access to trigger guard. Possibly made from an old cavalry holster. 3) Indian made, brain tanned deer skin sheath made of two pieces, overall about 44″ with a sinew sewn seam down entire bottom edge and at the joint in the middle. Both bottom seam & joint seam have 3″ fringe. This lot is accompanied by a large packet of information relating to Moses A. Welch who served in the Civil War until July 1865 when he was mustered out as a Corporal. Next reference in this material relating to Mr. Welch are copies of a series of letters dating from 1866 into 1873 from Mr. Welch to his family discussing finances & life at the Blackfoot Indian Agency in Montana Territory. In addition there is an undated typewritten letter addressed to The Museum of the Coos & Curry Co. Pioneer & History Association of Coquille, Oregon. Body of letter is transferring photographs of Indian Chiefs and a “gun that was shot at the Battle of Little Big Horn”. Letter further states that “They belonged to my father’s brother, Moses A. Welch. He was a gold miner and worked at the Blackfoot Indian Reservation in Montana Territory and got the gun after it was surrendered by a Indian warrior that helped kill Gen. Custer and his men.”. He then asks that they “Please show the gun and leather sheath only in a locked cabinet as I want to pick them up by September.”. The letter is signed George G. Welch. Also accompanied by copies of discharge & pension papers for Moses Welch. Additionally accompanying is a Cody Firearms Museum letter identifying this rifle as found and showing shipment Aug. 23, 1875 to order #3931. The possibility and even probability certainly exists that this rifle was used at the Custer Fight at the Little Big Horn. The Indian made rifle scabbard certainly might support the fact that it was obtained at the Blackfoot Indian Reservation in the late 1870’s. Obviously the revolver was not involved at the Custer fight since it would have been made a year to two years after the massacre. It is, however, obviously a hard used frontier revolver that was altered to accept cartridges readily available on the frontier. Also accompanying this lot is a copy of a Winchester Factory letter which identifies this gun as having been received in the warehouse on August 19, 1875 and shipped from the warehouse on August 23, 1875 as order number “3931”. CONDITION: 1) About fine. Bbl retains about 50% orig blue, mostly in sheltered areas, with balance a blue/brown patina with a few spots of pitting. Magazine tube retains about 90% dull orig blue with a few spots of pitting. Receiver retains 15-20% orig blue in sheltered areas with balance a blue/brown patina with candy striping down both sides. Wood is sound with minor nicks & scratches and wear at carry point and retains a fine hand worn patina. Lever is slightly sprung but functions perfectly, otherwise mechanics are fine. Strong bore with light pitting. 2) Good to very good. Overall retains about 50% nickel finish with balance cleaned bare metal & dark patina. Grips are very worn but solid. Loading gate is broken away. Mechanics need attention, strong bright bore. Holster is fine. 3) Fine, slightly dry but mostly soft & flexible with a smoked dark patina showing heavy wear on the fringe with some light staining & soil. 4-35064 JR512 (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008

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
	2555	$7,475.00	LOT OF WINCHESTER 1ST MODEL 1873 RIFLE & COLT MODEL 1878 DA FRONTIER REVOLVER & BUCKSKIN RIFLE SCABBARD ASSOCIATED WITH CUSTER’S FIGHT AT THE LITTLE BIG HORN. SN AS NOTED. 1)Winchester Model 1873. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). SN 4751. 1st Model ’73 with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, half nickel front sight and “1873” marked ladder rear sight. It has sgl set trigger & is mounted with uncheckered American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate with trap. The serial number is hand engraved on bottom tang and top tang is roll marked “MODEL 1873″ with two holes for tang sight. 2) Colt Model 1878 DA Frontier revolver. Cal. 45 Colt. SN 1034. Nickel finish with 5-1/2” bbl & 1-line Pall Mall London address. It has slightly altered front sight with checkered wood grips & a lanyard loop in the butt. Left front web of trigger guard is marked “45 CAL /B” signifying 45 Boxer caliber but in fact the chambers in the cylinder have been extended to accept 45 Colt. Accompanied by a sgl loop holster that has been completely restitched and most of top part cut away for access to trigger guard. Possibly made from an old cavalry holster. 3) Indian made, brain tanned deer skin sheath made of two pieces, overall about 44″ with a sinew sewn seam down entire bottom edge and at the joint in the middle. Both bottom seam & joint seam have 3″ fringe. This lot is accompanied by a large packet of information relating to Moses A. Welch who served in the Civil War until July 1865 when he was mustered out as a Corporal. Next reference in this material relating to Mr. Welch are copies of a series of letters dating from 1866 into 1873 from Mr. Welch to his family discussing finances & life at the Blackfoot Indian Agency in Montana Territory. In addition there is an undated typewritten letter addressed to The Museum of the Coos & Curry Co. Pioneer & History Association of Coquille, Oregon. Body of letter is transferring photographs of Indian Chiefs and a “gun that was shot at the Battle of Little Big Horn”. Letter further states that “They belonged to my father’s brother, Moses A. Welch. He was a gold miner and worked at the Blackfoot Indian Reservation in Montana Territory and got the gun after it was surrendered by a Indian warrior that helped kill Gen. Custer and his men.”. He then asks that they “Please show the gun and leather sheath only in a locked cabinet as I want to pick them up by September.”. The letter is signed George G. Welch. Also accompanied by copies of discharge & pension papers for Moses Welch. Additionally accompanying is a Cody Firearms Museum letter identifying this rifle as found and showing shipment Aug. 23, 1875 to order #3931. The possibility and even probability certainly exists that this rifle was used at the Custer Fight at the Little Big Horn. The Indian made rifle scabbard certainly might support the fact that it was obtained at the Blackfoot Indian Reservation in the late 1870’s. Obviously the revolver was not involved at the Custer fight since it would have been made a year to two years after the massacre. It is, however, obviously a hard used frontier revolver that was altered to accept cartridges readily available on the frontier. Also accompanying this lot is a copy of a Winchester Factory letter which identifies this gun as having been received in the warehouse on August 19, 1875 and shipped from the warehouse on August 23, 1875 as order number “3931”. CONDITION: 1) About fine. Bbl retains about 50% orig blue, mostly in sheltered areas, with balance a blue/brown patina with a few spots of pitting. Magazine tube retains about 90% dull orig blue with a few spots of pitting. Receiver retains 15-20% orig blue in sheltered areas with balance a blue/brown patina with candy striping down both sides. Wood is sound with minor nicks & scratches and wear at carry point and retains a fine hand worn patina. Lever is slightly sprung but functions perfectly, otherwise mechanics are fine. Strong bore with light pitting. 2) Good to very good. Overall retains about 50% nickel finish with balance cleaned bare metal & dark patina. Grips are very worn but solid. Loading gate is broken away. Mechanics need attention, strong bright bore. Holster is fine. 3) Fine, slightly dry but mostly soft & flexible with a smoked dark patina showing heavy wear on the fringe with some light staining & soil. 4-35064 JR512 (10,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008 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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