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LOT 27
Very Fine Winchester Model 1894 Lever Action
Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 158239, 32 W.S. cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The
factory letter lists the serial number as applied on October 9, 1902, and lists the rifle in .32 W.S. with an octagon barrel and plain trigger and indicates it was received
in the warehouse on October 18, 1902, and shipped on October 21, 1902, in order 164190. This is a very fine example of Winchester’s Model 1894 chambered in .32
Winchester Special. This cartridge, like the slightly earlier .30-30 W.C.F., was designed with sportsmen in mind and is based on the necked down .38-55 W.C.F. In .32 W.S.
rifles, the rate of twist was slowed in an attempt to reduce fouling for sportsmen reloading their own cartridges with black powder. The top of the barrel has the standard two-line
address and caliber marking, three-line model and trademark information on the upper tang, and serial number on the bottom of the receiver. It is fitted with a No. 21 German silver blade front sight
and the special .32 W.S. marked, elevation adjustable notch rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% of the original blue finish and 40% of the original case colors on the hammer and lever with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina. The wood is
also very fine with some scattered light scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 26
Antique Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action
Rifle in Very Scarce .38-70 W.C.F. - Serial no. 99667, 38-70 WCF cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1895, this is a solid example of a Winchester Model 1886 in the rarely encountered .38-70 W.C.F. According to knowledgeable
collectors, as well as research conducted by John T. Madl, only around 830 Model 1886s were chambered for the cartridge. The ‘86 was only produced in this caliber
for a few years, as its popularity seemed to suffer from being both too similar to .38-56 and not differing enough from the popular .40 caliber offerings. Due to its lack
of popularity at the time and small production numbers, few are available in any condition, leaving them very desirable on the collectors market. This example has the desirable
casehardened receiver, which was standard on the ‘86 until around 1901. The top flat of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address and the caliber marking at the breech. The upper tang has
the model designation while the lower tang has the two-line patent dates and the serial number. It is fitted with a Lyman beaded blade front sight and an elevation adjustable No. 24 notch “Sporting” rear sight. It is
mounted with a smooth forearm, which has a period added diamond panel of stippling on the bottom, as well as a straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Good, retains strong traces of the original blue finish in sheltered areas and faint patterns of the original case colors with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina. Vertical portion of the rear sight is bent slightly
forward. The revarnished wood is good a few hairline cracks, a repaired chip near the right of the upper tang, and some scattered light handling marks. Mechanically excellent. A rarely seen caliber in the Model 1886!
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 25
Attractive Antique Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action
Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 69391, 38 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon
bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1881, this is a fine example of a special
ordered Winchester Model 1873, “the gun that won the West”. These ‘73 rifles and carbines were extremely
desirable in the American West due to sharing a range of calibers with Colt’s prolific Single Action Army
revolver, allowing one to pair a long gun and sidearm that used the same ammunition. The included factory
letter lists the rifle in .38 caliber with an octagon barrel and set trigger when received at the warehouse on 23 March 1881, and shipped the next day in
order number 24813. This example has the Second Model receiver with the dust cover retained by two screws and the dust cover having the grip serrations at
the rear. The top barrel flat is marked with the standard 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 upper tang has the model designation and the serial number is on the lower tang. the assembly number “1944” is marked on the left of the lower tang,
in the stock inlet, and inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a German silver No. 21 “Sporting” blade front sight, an elevation adjustable No. 22 “Sporting” notch rear sight, and a special ordered set
trigger. It is mounted with smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a special order, smooth steel, shotgun buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus of the original blue finish with a few patches of polished light pitting on the receiver, some spiral scratches on the magazine tube, and the balance having thinned
to mostly brown patina. 50% plus of the original case colors remain on the hammer/lever and 50% of the original nitre blue remains on the loading gate. The reoiled wood is fine with some scattered minor dings and
scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 24
Fine Antique Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle in Very Scarce .40-70
W.C.F. - Serial no. 103530, 40-70 cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut stock. Manufactured in 1895, this is a fine example of a Winchester Model 1886
rifle chambered in the very scarce .40-70 W.C.F. cartridge. These robust rifles and carbines designed by
the legendary John Moses Browning were highly valued in the American West, even long after much of the frontier had been
tamed. The 1886 was Browning’s first repeating design for Winchester and spawned a line of very successful and rugged lever actions for
the company. According to research on the Model 1886 conducted by John T. Madl, only 862 of the model were produced in .40-70 W.C.F., making
it a considerably rare caliber for collectors to get their hands on. It has the desirable casehardened finish, which was only standard on the ‘86 until around 1901. The top of the barrel is marked
with the standard two-line address along with the caliber marking at the breech. The upper tang is marked with the model designation and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a
German silver No. 21 “Sporting” blade front sight and an elevation adjustable No. 24 notch rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% of the slightly thinned, original blue finish, 30% of the original case colors, which are most vibrant on the right of the receiver, and 30% of the original nitre blue on the
loading gate, with mild handling wear typical of a frontier used rifle. The wood is also fine with some scattered minor dings and scratches. There are traces of a thin coat of protective varnish overall.
Mechanically excellent. A fine representative example of a Model 1886 in one of the more difficult to find calibers!
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500