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LOT 3027
Antique Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with
32 Inch Extra Length Barrel with Factory Letter - Serial
no. 351387B, 32 WCF cal., 32 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. As stated in the factory letter, this rifle’s serial number
was applied on August 19, 1890. The rifle is an example of a Winchester Model 1873 rifle that was apparently special ordered with an extra length, 32 inch barrel but the barrel
length was not confirmed by factory records. According to noted Winchester historian and author George Madis in “The Winchester Book”, only one in every 600 rifles was ordered
with a longer than standard barrel. In “Winchester’s New Model of 1873, A Tribute Vol II”, James D. Gordon’s data shows that out of the 2,889 rifles he surveyed, only 20 were chambered
in .32 W.C.F. and had a 32 inch barrel. Extrapolating that trend over the entire production run of the Model 1873 would indicate that less than 1% of rifles were made in this configuration. The
included factory letter lists the rifle in .32 caliber with an octagon barrel and plain trigger when received at the warehouse on 2 September 1890 and shipped on 4 September 1890 in order number
16883. The lack of a barrel length listing in the factory letter appears to be an oversight by the factory, as the writer believes the barrel was fitted before the rifle left the factory. The third model receiver
has the integral dust cover guide and dust cover with grip serrations at the rear. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address/King’s patent marking and the caliber marking at the breech,
which is repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The model marking is on the upper tang, and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a set of “sporting” sights, including a No. 21
German silver blade front sight and a No. 24 elevation adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 40% of the thin, faded original blue finish, faint traces of case color patterns on the hammer and lever, and traces of niter blue on the loading gate, with the balance mostly a plum brown patina and
some scattered small patches of light surface spotting/oxidation. The re-oiled wood is also very good with numerous scattered minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3028
Special Order Winchester Model 1894 Lever Action Takedown Rifle - Serial no. 230590, 30 WCF
cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1904, this is a very fine example of
a special ordered Winchester Model 1894 rifle. According to the survey of Model 1894s conducted by
Oswalt and Hawk, one out of every 10 rifles was in takedown configuration and one of every 13 Model 1894s had
a half magazine. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address/patent date and the caliber marking at the breech, while the
nickel steel marking is on the left. The upper tang is marked with the three-line model and trademark, and the serial number is marked on the bottom of the receiver. It
is fitted with a German silver blade front sight, a three-leaf express rear sight with platinum inlaid centerlines, and a Lyman peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a nicely figured
smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate. The wood is slightly above standard grade, which the Winchester factory was known to do on special ordered non-deluxe guns.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% of original blue finish, 60% of the original case colors on the lever and hammer, and 40% of the original nitre blue on the loading gate, with the balance having
thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily on high spots, handling areas, and the buttplate. The wood is very fine with some scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3030
Winchester Model
92 Lever Action Rifle in .25-20
W.C.F. - Serial no. 976674, 25-20
WCF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue
finish, walnut stock. Manufactured
in 1929, it has the standard Winchester factory oval
proofs on the barrel and receiver at the breech. The upper left flat of the barrel
is marked with the model, trademark, and caliber. The three-line Winchester
trademark is on the upper tang, and the serial number is marked on the bottom
of the receiver. It is fitted with a blade front sight, elevation adjustable buckhorn
rear sight, and a peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a
smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% of the original blue finish with some light edge wear, scattered
light handling marks, and some speckled oxidation/flaking on the receiver. The re-varnished wood is fine with
scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 3031
50-Count Box of American Metallic Cartridge
Company .44-100 Shot Cartridges for the
Winchester Model 1873 Rifle or Colt Frontier
Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver
- This is a rare full 50-count box of American
Metallic Cartridge Company .44-100 shot
cartridges for the Winchester Model 1873 lever
action rifle or Colt’s Frontier Six Shooter Single
Action Army revolver. The American Metallic
Cartridge Company was active between c. 1891-1898 in South Coventry, Connecticut, as the successor to
the Phoenix Metallic Cartridge Company. The shot cartridges contained inside are of the same dimensions
as the .44-40 WCF cartridge. The box is of plain cardboard construction with a top label with the American
Metallic Cartridge Company logo of an eagle, and black lettering for 50 solid head cartridges of “44-100 CAL.”
with “SWAGED BULLETS” for the WINCHESTER REPEATING RIFLE-MODEL 1873”. One of the ends of the lid also
mentions “Colts Frontier Pistol”. A few sides of the box lid read “SHOT CARTRIDGES,/Patented Sept. 9th, 1879”
in reference to Henry W. Mason’s U.S. patent 219,491 for shot cartridges.
CONDITION: Box is fine with some minor age and storage related wear, and opened seals. Cartridges are
also fine. This rare full 50-count box of .44-100 shot cartridges would make a fine accessory to accompany a
Winchester ‘73 or Colt Frontier Six Shooter!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 3029
Antique Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle in .44 W.C.F. - Serial no. 519115B, 44 WCF cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue
finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1898, the Model 1873 is one of the most famous of all American firearms and has been popularly known as “the Gun that Won the West”
due to its popularity with pioneers. This example is a third model with the integral dust cover guide and dust cover with grip serrations at the rear. The top of the barrel has the
two-line address and King’s patent marking and the caliber marking, which is repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The model marking is on the upper tang and the serial
number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight, elevation adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight, and a non-factory added Lyman peep sight mounted on
the upper tang. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% of the faded, thin original blue finish overall, faint traces of the original case colors, and 40% of the original nitre blue on the loading gate with the balance having thinned to mostly a
smooth grey patina and some scattered light surface spotting. The wood is very good with numerous scattered dings, scratches, and scuffs, most noticeable on the forearm. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,000