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LOT 19
Magnificent, Documented, Exhibition Display, John Ulrich Factory Master Panel Scene Engraved, Antique Special Order,
Gilt and Nickel Plated Winchester Deluxe Model 1886 Lever Action Saddle Ring Carbine with Factory Letter - Serial no.
114695, 45-90 WCF cal., 22 inch round bbl., nickel/gold finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1897, this rare Winchester Model
1886 carbine is an incredible example of the “highly
finished arms” that the company were capable of
producing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
This particular example is documented as having
been a display piece for Winchester at many of the
plethora of exhibitions, expositions, and trade fairs
held throughout the world during the period. Highly
embellished pieces such as this one would have been
produced by all of the leading manufacturers during
the period to illustrate their quality and artistry to
the millions of potential buyers who attended these
popular fairs.
The included factory letter lists the serial number
applied on 3 December 1897, carbine configuration,
.45-90 caliber, half gilt and nickel finish, fancy
checkered stock, “$5.00 engraving”, and “NY Ex 98”
when received at the warehouse on 6 January 1898.
The letter also lists multiple shipment and return
dates, which will be covered below. This combination of
special order and deluxe features is extremely rare in the Model 1886, particularly in carbines, which were often purchased
in standard configuration to be working guns. According to John T. Madl’s research on Model 1886 carbines, only three are listed as having $5.00
engraving and the half nickel-half gold plated finish. Madl notes only 13 carbines listed with a fancy checkered stock and carbine butt. Further adding to
this carbine’s rarity, Madl notes that only 941 Model 1886 carbines were chambered in the powerful .45-90 W.C.F. caliber. This carbine’s rare and ornate
configuration makes it clear that Winchester intended for it to be an eye-catching showpiece at the exhibitions it attended. Interestingly, serial number
114694, previously offered here at Rock Island Auction Company as Lot 68 in the September 2016 auction, is essentially an identical twin to this gun,
with the pair being consecutively numbered and the numbers being applied on the same day. Serial number 114694 was received in the warehouse
one year and eight months after this carbine, both showing the amount of time this level of embellishment could take, as well as the popularity this
piece must have shown during its debut in 1898. It is unclear if the third engraved, nickel and gold plated 1886 carbine listed by Madl was a match to
these two.
Though these two carbines were produced by Winchester as a matching consecutively serialized pair, it appears that they parted ways upon
completion, not sharing any shipment or receipt at warehouse dates. This makes sense from a business standpoint for Winchester, as they would have
garnered double the exposure to the public by sending these essentially identical carbines to different shows. Given the extensive list of shipment dates
for this specific carbine, it is clear that it made appearances at a plethora of fairs, with some of the likely candidates being the Trans-Mississippi and
International Exposition and Greater America Exposition in Omaha, Nebraska, the Exposition Universelle of 1900 in Paris, France, the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition/St. Louis World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, and many others that remain unknown (see factory letter).
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