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LOT 1009
Exceptional Winchester Deluxe Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle with
Historic Documented Factory Montgomery Ward Founder Inscription - Serial no. 11970,
38-56 WCF cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, deluxe walnut checkered stock.
The included factory letter states that this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse
on December 21, 1887 and was factory engraved with the inscription “A.M. Ward”. The letter
further states that the rifle was in “38/56 caliber” with an octagon barrel, plain trigger and
“checkered stock with pistol grip”. The rifle has a blued barrel and magazine, casehardened
forearm cap, receiver, hammer, loading lever and crescent steel buttplate. The bolt and loading
gate are blued. The deluxe, highly figured, walnut forearm and pistol grip stock are checkered
with a high-polish, ‘piano’ finish. The pistol grip has an ebony inlay. The barrel is fitted with
a Winchester Express front sight with ivory bead and a sporting style rear sight. A folding
combination rear sight is fitted to the receiver tang. The left side of the receiver is engraved:
“A.M. WARD” in script letters. A.M. Ward” was Aaron Montgomery Ward who established the first
successful retail catalog business, “Montgomery Ward” in Chicago, Illinois, in 1872. The top barrel
flat is roll-stamped with two-line legend: “-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING
ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN CONN.U.S.A.-” ahead of the rear sight. The caliber, “38-56 W.C.F.” is
stamped between the rear sight and the receiver. The 1884 and 1885 patent dates are stamped
on the lower receiver tang behind the trigger and the serial number is stamped
between the tang screws.
Aaron
Montgomery
Ward
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