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As the story goes, the Winchester distributor and members of U.S.R.A.C.
were out to dinner at the famous Irma Hotel (built by Buffalo Bill in
1902) in Cody, Wyoming. After a few cocktails it was revealed that the
U.S.R.A.C. was disappointed with their sales and discussed a possible
promotion to sell the Ultra Grades to raise cash. It was at this dinner
where the client came up with the idea to commission this set of rifles
in order to help the cash strapped U.S.R.A.C. The basis of the set was
as follows: all rifles be a consecutive serial number set, all rifles were to
be factory engraved and gold inlaid, all rifles were to be marked “Ultra
Set” rather than "Ultra Grade", and most importantly all rifles were to
be made in a different caliber. As noted above the Ultra Grades were
only manufactured in the .270 Winchester so all rifles in the set would
be totally unique and one-of-a-kind. Some of the calibers, such as .222
Rem, .223 Rem, 22-250, and 25-06, made their debut as a Model 70 in
this set.
The client went to the U.S.R.A.C. plant in New Haven, CT, on July 30,
1984, to personally tour the custom shop and finalize the contract. In
the original contract between him and the U.S.R.A.C. the following is
discussed: That he was granted exclusive rights to any “Ultra Set” rifle
sets manufactured by U.S.R.A.C.; that the U.S.R.A.C. agreed not to
manufacture or offer for sale any similarly modified Ultras in calibers set
forth, and the work to be performed which was: engraving, “metal finish
and luster”, and barrel marked “Ultra Set”.
The original agreement called for 8 sets to be manufactured and
delivered by March 1, 1985, which is less than one year after this
contract was signed on July 31, 1984. The original order for 8 sets was
only the first batch, and the client had planned on ordering additional sets
after the initial 8 were delivered. However, the original order was not
received by the consignor until the summer of 1986! The problem cited
by the U.S.R.A.C. was the internal problem they were having at that
time. In total only 8 sets were manufactured. All delivered to this one
Winchester dealer and subsequently dispersed. Shortly after the delivery
of the Ultra Sets, U.S.R.A.C. filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
This set of rifles is remarkably similar to the twenty-gun set of Browning
Olympian Rifles Rock Island Auction sold in May of 2005 for $494,500
later known as the “Magnificent Twenty”. Much like the “Magnificent
Twenty”, all of these rifles are factory engraved, signed, gold inlaid,
consecutively serial numbered and chambered in a different and desirable
caliber, and are all finished with a hand selected deluxe American black
walnut stock.
Each of the rifles in this set was engraved at the shop of Bottega C.
Giovanelli and is signed on the top left of the receiver. The Bottega C.
Giovanelli shop is one of the most well-known and respected engraving
shops in Italy and employs no fewer than five master engravers.
To our knowledge this is the fifth time one of the eight sets have come up
for sale and been offered to the public in 36 years! This is truly a fleeting
opportunity to own one of only 8 complete sets of these collectible
Winchester Model 70s!
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