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LOT 15
Rare, Documented, Special Order Silver Plated Antique Winchester Deluxe First Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 18269, 44-40 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue/silver finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1876, this is a scarce special order example of a silver “trimmed”, deluxe Winchester first Model 1873 Rifle. The first model receiver has the integral dust cover guides on either side of the ejection port and the dust cover with the flush, checkered “thumbprint” grip area. According to James D. Gordon’s survey of first Model 1873s on p. 349 of “Winchester’s New Model of 1873 A Tribute Vol. II”, around 5% of first model production received a plated finish. On p. 201 of “Vol. I” of the previously mentioned books by Gordon, he notes that of the Model 1873s with plated finishes, “... the large majority were nickeled. Silver and gold plating were very uncommon.”The included factory letter lists this rifle with a round barrel, set trigger, “XXX stock, checkered”, and silver when received at the warehouse on 21 April 1876 and shipped from the warehouse on 29 June 1876 in order number 6325. The barrel is octagon and appears to have been paired with the rifle originally; the factory ledger notation quite possibly is an error. The set trigger components are now absent. The top flat of the barrel is marked with the two-line address and King’s patent marking and correctly lacks caliber markings as .44-40 W.C.F. was initially the only caliber offered. The upper tang is marked with the model designation and the early serial number is on the lower tang. The left side of the lower tang is marked “XXX 4739”, with “4739” repeated in the stock inlet and inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a set of “sporting” sights including a German silver blade front and elevation adjustable buckhorn rear. It is mounted with a dark, nicely figured, checkered forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate containing a three-piece cleaning rod. CONDITION: Fine, the barrel and magazine showing a mix of dark brown patina and bright polished areas as well as extensive scattered moderate pitting. 80% of the original silver plating remains on the receiver and forearm cap with some scattered patches of dark oxidation and flaking. There are traces of original silver on the mostly dark, lightly pitted buttplate. The wood is fine with some scattered minor handling marks, light crazing, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A rare, documented, special order silver plated Winchester deluxe first Model 1873 lever action rifle! Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
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