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LOT 3027
Historically Significant Factory Gold Plated Winchester Deluxe First Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle Commissioned as a Factory Exhibition Display Piece for the Philadelphia Centennial International Exhibition of 1876 with Factory Letter - Serial no. 18273, 44-40 WCF cal., 28 inch octagon bbl., gold finish, deluxe checkered walnut stock. This extraordinary, historically significant full factory gold plated deluxe Model 1873 was manufactured in 1876. This Model 1873 was born at a time when Winchester created some of its most ambitious exhibition displays, including the famed display at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial International Exhibition. The factory records for this rifle firmly place it at the center of the most creative marketing period in Winchester’s history. For today’s collectors it is an object of eminence and historical importance that has the power to rewrite the history books. It will certainly make a grand statement in the finest public or private collection of the decorative arts.
The accompanying factory letter for this astonishing full factory gold plated deluxe Model 1873 rifle confirms the 28 inch octagon barrel, set trigger, checkered stock, and gold finish. The letter indicates that this rifle was received in the warehouse on April 19, 1876, shipped on May 6, 1878 to order number 11740, received in the warehouse on June 16, 1896, shipped on June 19, 1896 to order number 12814, received in the warehouse on March 4, 1897, received in the warehouse on April 1, 1898, and shipped on April 2, 1898 to order number 6697. A large series of entries
is typical for Winchester’s well-traveled factory exhibition pieces that were displayed at various World’s Fairs, other international exhibitions, American exhibitions, and sometimes at important dealers. This incredibly rare deluxe Model 1873 rifle was clearly a key display piece for the company and was likely seen by millions of potential customers. As such, it is an important piece of Winchester Repeating Arms Co.’s colorful history. The combination of full gold finish, deluxe stock and forearm, and interesting shipping history make this rifle a one-of-a-kind piece.
Three other Model 1873s known to us share the May 6, 1878 ship date and the order number 11740. These three Model 1873s are nos. 16139, 18264, and 18267. No. 16139 is a Gustave
Young masterpiece and was discovered by RIAC founder and CEO Patrick Hogan circa 2008
in Spain. The rifle was reported as presented to Spanish royalty and is pictured in R.L. Wilson’s “Magnificent Colt’s” on page 535. No. 18264 is the gold inlaid John Ulrich, relief engraved Marco Soto masterpiece and sold by RIAC in May 2021, Lot 10 ($718,750). No. 18267 is a “One of One Thousand” with half octagon barrel sold by RIAC in September 2012, lot 1007 from the Gateway collection ($402,000). We are now extremely honored to present a fourth Model 1873 in this very historic grouping of Winchesters.
The May 6, 1878 date listed in the ledgers for these rifles suggests they were all displayed at the Exposition Universelle of 1878, the third World’s Fair hosted by Paris, which began that month and is notable to Americans given the head of the Statue of Liberty was part of the fair’s displays. The hand and torch were displayed at the Centennial Exhibition. Additional supporting evidence which places this rifle in the historical context of highly sought after Winchester display pieces comes from a known exhibition grade Model 1866 previously cataloged by Rock Island Auction Co. In May 2022 we sold no. 96743, which included a factory letter indicating it was embellished by the factory for use as an international exhibition piece as part of a select group of the finest engraved Winchesters. This Model 1866 was “Shipped from the warehouse on May 6, 1878 along with 10 other guns one in silver, 6 in gold, 2 in bronze, and 1 full nickel; 7 with oil finish and 3 in varnish with the same specifications to the same order number.” The order number was 11739, only one digit away from order number 11740. These shipments were likely organized by model and were arms meant for exhibition. It is certainly possible that these ten Model 1866s were
also displayed at the Centennial Exhibition alongside their Model 1873 counterparts. Winchester maintained a stock of exceptional and highly decorated firearms, mostly 1866s that were easier to engrave with a brass frame and virtually obsolete with the improved models of 1873 and 1876. So while the exhibition 1866s are incredibly rare, their 1873 counterparts are extremely limited.
Model 1876 nos. 16139 and 18264 also share with this rifle (no. 18273) an April 19, 1876 received in warehouse date, which was less than one month from the opening of the Philadelphia Centennial International Exhibition of 1876. Nos. 16139 and 18264 were identified as exhibition mates to one of the most culturally significant events of 19th century America that ran from May 10 to November 10, 1876. Nos. 16139 and 18264 were pivotal in uncovering the arms Winchester used in its Centennial display as there is little surviving primary source material. We are honored to catalog another Model 1873 commissioned for the Centennial Exhibition. The serial number 18273 dates to 1876, is nine digits away from a known Centennial Exhibition Model 1873 that shares
the April 19, 1876 date, and its opulent configuration of full gold plating and deluxe stock reach the highly finished exhibition quality of arms Winchester displayed at the Centennial Exhibition. Winchester had grand plans for the Centennial display.
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