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LOT 3009
Fine Documented Antique Special
Order Winchester Model 1873 Lever
Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial
no. 191459B, 38 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. The included factory letter states
the rifle was received in the warehouse on
November 2, 1885 and shipped the next
day with an octagon barrel in .38 caliber, plain trigger, shotgun butt, and
casehardened receiver. The Winchester Model 1873 is known as one of the “guns
that won the West” and was popularly paired with a Colt Single Action Army
revolver in the same caliber. This Model 1873 is a third model, with the integral
dust cover rail and dust cover with gripping serrations at the rear. The rifle is
fitted with a Lyman beaded blade front sight, an elevation adjustable rear sight and
folding peep sight. The top barrel flat is marked with the two-line address/King’s patent
marking, and the caliber is marked at the breech. The caliber marking is repeated on
the bottom of the cartridge elevator, and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is mounted with a smooth
forearm and straight grip stock with steel shotgun buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 50% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. Traces of original nitre blue remains on the loading gate. The frame, hammer, and forend
cap retain 30% original case colors with the most vivid colors in the protected areas. The wood is also fine with a number of dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 3008
Extremely Rare and Desirable Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1894 Lever Action Rifle with Nickel Trim and Bird’s Eye
Maple Stock - Serial no. 803366, 30 WCF cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue/nickel finish, maple stock. Manufactured in 1915, this is a very
good example of a special order, deluxe, Winchester Model 1894 rifle, which shows an extremely rare combination of factory features. We can quantify
the relative rarity of this rifle using the survey of existing Model 1894 records which was completed by Oswalt and Hawk, which can be found published in “ARMAX Vol. V” and
includes the first 353,999 Model 1894s manufactured. Only five examples are listed as having set triggers and only 209 with Swiss buttplates. In the records, only 117 are listed as nickel
plated or trimmed, and there are only 15 listed with maple stocks, not all of which are notated as “bird’s eye”. All of these rare features on one gun, plus being in deluxe configuration, makes for a
rifle that feels like finding the needle in the haystack of Winchester Model 1894 collecting. The upper left of the barrel has the standard two-line address, two-line nickel steel marking, and the caliber
marking at the breech. The upper tang is marked with the three-line model and trademark information, while the serial number is on the bottom of the receiver. The left side of the lower tang is
marked “20 M”, with “20” repeated on the butt of the stock and inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a unique brass blade front sight and three-leaf “express” type rear sight, as well as the scarce double
set trigger. It is mounted with very rare, bird’s eye maple, H-pattern checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with a Swiss buttplate. The buttplate has a series of non-factory notches filed in each edge,
some of which carry slightly onto the wood.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 40% of the original blue finish with some mild handling and edge wear showing a grey patina, 90% plus of the period
re-plated nickel finish on the remainder, and some scattered light handling marks. The lightly sanded and re-oiled wood has some scattered minor
handling marks and softened but visible checkering. Mechanically excellent. This Winchester Model 1894 rifle is in a truly scarce special order
configuration, don’t miss this chance!
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
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