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LOT 3001
Excellent Special Order Winchester Model 1894 Lever Action Takedown Rifle
with Factory Letter - Serial no. 183437, 32 W.S. cal., 26 inch part octagon bbl., blue
finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1903, this is an outstanding example of a special
ordered Winchester Model 1894 takedown rifle in a very attractive configuration.
The included factory letter lists the rifle in .32 W.S. caliber with a half
octagon barrel, plain trigger, Lyman combination front
sight, half magazine, shotgun butt, and in takedown
configuration when received at the warehouse on
19 June 1903 and shipped on 23 June 1903 in order
number 188925. The top barrel flat is marked with the
two-line address and the caliber marking at the breech, while the upper left flat has the nickel steel marking.
The three-line model, trademark, and patent marking is on the upper tang, and the serial number is marked
on the bottom of the receiver. It has a special order half octagon barrel, half magazine, and a smooth steel
shotgun buttplate. It is fitted with a combination front sight
and the special “SMOKELESS/-.32W.S.-M.’94-” marked elevation
adjustable rear sight. It is mounted with a nicely figured smooth
forearm and straight grip stock with a smooth shotgun buttplate.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 90% plus of the original blue finish, 75% of
the vibrant case colors on the hammer and lever, and 80% plus of the original nitre blue
on the loading gate with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, most noticeably on
top of the receiver ring and the buttplate, and a few very light spots of pitting where the takedown collar meets
the receiver. The wood is also excellent with a few scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 3000
Fine Antique Special Ordered Casehardened Winchester Deluxe Model
1873 Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 153359A, 44 WCF cal., 24
inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1884,
this is a fine representative example of an antique, special ordered, Winchester deluxe Model
1873 rifle. The included factory letter lists the rifle in “Model 1873” caliber
(meaning .44-40 W.C.F.) with an octagon barrel, plain trigger,
checkered pistol grip stock, and casehardened finish when
received at the warehouse on 6 September 1884 and shipped on
8 September 1884 in order number 14983. According to noted
Winchester historian and author George Madis, approximately one in every 600
Model 1873s was ordered with special wood and one in every 700 had checkering. Madis does not list the rarity
of casehardened finishes, but they are comparatively quite scarce. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard
two-line address and King’s patent marking, as well as the caliber marking at the breech. The caliber marking is repeated on the bottom
of the cartridge elevator. The model marking is on the upper tang and the serial is marked on the lower tang. The left side of the lower tang is marked “5408 XXX R”,
with “5408” repeated in the stock inlet and inside the buttplate. Additionally, the butt of the stock is marked “2586”, the meaning of which is unknown. It is fitted with a
gold washed combination front sight, elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sight, and there is a rare Winchester 62-B peep sight mounted on the upper tang including the stud
for the sight to engage with when in the down position. It is mounted with a very finely figured, H-pattern checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with a hard rubber grip cap and a
trapdoor crescent buttplate containing an included four-piece cleaning rod. Also included are two pins.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% of the original blue finish and 70% of the vibrant original case colors with the balance mostly a grey patina, a few scattered spots of light pitting, numerous patches of mild
pitting/oxidation on the left below the ejection port and right of barrel, and scattered patches of brown freckling. The buttstock is very fine while the otherwise fine forearm is damaged with a large chip/gouge absent
from the top right side of the forearm, some scattered minor handling marks, and mostly crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000