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LOT 25
Documented Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action .44-40 Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 143143A, 44-40 WCF cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Model 1873 is one of the most famous of all American firearms and has been popularly known as “the Gun that Won the West” due to its popularity with pioneers. It was often paired with a Colt Single
to be ready to defend themselves against man or beast in a variety of tough situations. Offered here
is a high condition special order antique Model 1873. The factory letter states the rifle originally had a plain trigger and octagon barrel when received in the warehouse on December 13, 1883 but returned to
the factory and changed to a rifle with round barrel, plain trigger, 1/2 magazine on March 15, 1884, and then returned to
the warehouse and shipped on March 15, 1884, with nine others to the order number 11247. The rifle is fitted with a dovetail front sight and a buckhorn elevation adjustable rear sight. The half magazine is a special order feature. The third model receiver has an integral dust cover rail and dust cover with grip
serrations at the rear. The rifle correctly lacks a caliber designation. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1873.” The lower tang has the serial number. The forearm and straight grip
stock are plain walnut. The buttstock is fitted with a trapdoor buttplate (cleaning rod not included).
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 80% plus original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. 70% original nitre blue remains on the loading gate. The hammer and lever retain
70% original case colors. The buttplate has a smooth brown patina. The wood is also very fine with some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. A very attractive high condition special order Winchester Model 1873 rifle in desirable .44-40 WCF.
Action Army or other revolver chambered for the popular .44- 40 W.C.F. cartridges. This made carrying ammunition for both your rifle and your revolver simple and allowed an individual
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 26 Fine Winchester Model 1876 Lever Action Rifle - Serial no.
29181, 45-60 WCF cal., 28 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1882, the larger caliber Model 1876 was popular among those in the West who believed .44-40 wasn’t quite
enough stopping power for whatever they might encounter. This example is
a Third Model, with integral dust cover guide and a dust cover with grip serrations at the rear. The barrel is
marked with the two-line Winchester address/King’s patent marking and the caliber marking at the breech, which
is repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The upper tang is marked with the model designation, and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and “1876” marked folding ladder rear sight. It
is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included).
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a plum-brown patina and a few scattered patches of light surface pitting. The
wood is also fine with a few scattered light handling marks throughout. Mechanically excellent.
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Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 27 Desirable Antique Early Production Three-Digit Serial Number Winchester Model 1895 Flat Side Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 308, 30-40 Krag
cal., 28 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1896, the first year of production, this is a fine example of a “flat side” Model 1895, which is only seen on the approximately first 5,000 made. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address and the caliber marking “30 U.S.” at the breech. The upper tang is marked with the two-line trademark and model designation, early three-digit serial number on the lower tang, and the two-line patent dates on the trigger plate. It is fitted with a pinned German silver blade front sight and an elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth Schnabel tip forearm with ebony insert and a smooth straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate. CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% of the original blue finish and strong traces of the case colors on the hammer with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and some scattered small patches of light surface pitting. The wood is very good with numerous scattered dings, dents, and scratches. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000