Page 20 - 4094-BOOK2

As pictured & described in
Winchester: The Golden Age of
American Gunmaking and the
Winchester 1 of 1000 by Wilson
18
The included April 11, 1969, factory letter addressed to Andrew I. McCroskie states:
“The Winchester Model 1873 serial number records list number 551816 as a rifle,
caliber 44, octagon barrel, and plain trigger. It was shipped from the factory on
September 24, 1901, no other information listed” and then further states: “The above
gun is one refinished by Winchester as a ‘1 of 1000’, for use as a movie prop in the
movie, ‘Winchester ‘73’.” The rifle has distinctive panels of scroll gold highlighted
scroll engraving with punch-dot backgrounds on the sides of the barrel and frame
and is inscribed “One of One Thousand” on top of the barrel at the breech. The gold
provides stark contrast making the engraving stand out on the silver screen. The rifle
also features a German silver blade front sight with a dovetailed base, an adjustable
sporting notch rear sight, the two-line address and King’s improvement patent
marking on top of the barrel ahead of the rear sight, and “44 W.C.F.” on the upper
left followed by the oval “WP” proof. The proof is also stamped on top of the receiver
ring, and the receiver is the third model with an integral dust cover guide rail and has
“MODEL 1873/-WINCHESTER/TRADE MARK REG. IN U.S. PAT. OFF.” marked on the upper
tang and the serial number on the lower tang. The brass cartridge elevator is marked
“44 CAL.” The walnut forearm and straight wrist stock are checkered. The highly
figured buttstock displays the inlaid brass plaque noted above on the right side.