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LOT 1024
Incredibly Rare, One-of-a-Kind H.H. Schulte, Pittsburgh, Marked Early Production Documented Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle Inscribed to Joel Fink
in 1875 with Factory Letter - Serial no. 7043, 38 cal., 27 inch octagon bbl., brown/blue/nickel finish, deluxe walnut stock. This is an incredibly unusual and fascinating First Model Winchester Model
1873 rifle that was special ordered from the factory so that it could be completed by a gunsmith in Pittsburgh in 1875, and it features a rare 1875 dated inscription. The factory records indicates this rifle was ordered with an octagon “Bennington twist barrel” (miss-reading of Remington), a set trigger, and no sights or stock and indicates it was received in the warehouse on August 18, 1875, and shipped the same day in order 3583. The rifle has a browned Damascus barrel with partially visible “REMINGTON/ TWISTED” marking on the left at the breech, dovetailed blade front and adjustable sporting rear sight, “H.H. SCHULTE/PITTSBURGH” marked on top at the breech, and a blued full-length magazine tube fitted underneath. The first model action is nickel plated and has a blued dust cover riding in the slots in the frame and is equipped with a single set trigger. Serial number “7043” is in script on the lower tang, and the upper tang has “MODEL. 1873.” in fancy script. The forearm is smooth walnut and is fitted with an ornate nickel-silver wear plate with scroll engraving. The highly figured straight wrist buttstock has a checkered wrist, a nicely sculpted cheekpiece with an escutcheon neatly inscribed “Joel Fink/ Sept. 14th 1875.” and nickel-silver furniture with scroll engraving, including a small “cap box” on the right and an ornate toe plate.
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