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Stunning John Weyerts Master Engraved Roger Kurtz Deluxe Upgraded Cased Two Barrel Set Winchester Model
1886 Lever Action Takedown Rifle in .45-90 W.C.F. with Extra Barrel in .45-70 W.C.F., Deluxe Takedown Case, and Tom
Selleck Letter - Serial no. 154952A, 45-90 WCF cal., 26 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Originally
manufactured in 1916, this once “well-used” Winchester Model 1886 takedown rifle was saved for posterity by the legendary
American actor Tom Selleck, who sent the rifle to Roger Kurtz to be given a second life so it could become one of Selleck’s
treasured personal hunting rifles. A letter from Tom Selleck is included with the rifle in which he notes that Rock Island Auction
Company customers have likely come to know by now that he is an admirer of the restoration work done by Kurtz and that he
is proud to say that because of this company, his genius work is finally better known. We here at Rock Island Auction Company
certainly agree with Mr. Selleck’s assessment, the restoration work of Mr. Kurtz is truly a testament to the mastery of his craft, and
it’s truly rare that we see Winchester firearms restored and preserved in such a beautiful and tasteful way, while remaining true
to the original work done by the craftsmen at Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Selleck notes in his letter that Kurtz would
never do anything that the Winchester factory wouldn’t have done, and this rifle is no exception. He states that everything on
this rifle is correct right down to the twist rate in the newly made barrels, that the rifle was engraved by Master Engraver John
Weyerts, and that the pattern was inspired by the factory engraved Model 1886 pictured on p. 237 of “Winchester Engraving” by
R.L. Wilson. The main difference in the engraving being the game scene on the left of the receiver, which on this rifle features a
bear that was heavily inspired by the bear engraved on the stock plate on Teddy Roosevelt’s personal Model 1876 rifle, which is on
display at the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in New York. Selleck notes that he hunted with this rifle for several years, taking
a Rock Mountain elk, as well as two mule deer, one with each of the barrels, and that he hopes the new owner will treasure this
masterfully preserved rifle as much as he has.
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