Page 6 - 4095-BOOK2

LOT 1001
Antique Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with
Rare Stainless Steel Barrel - Serial no. 245303, 38-40 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon
bbl., blue/black finish, walnut stock. Originally manufactured in 1887 as a deluxe Model
1873 with a casehardened frame, before it was subsequently
returned to the factory for refurbishment. There
are Winchester factory oval proofs on the factory replacement,
stainless steel barrel and on top of the receiver ring. The two-line Winchester address and
King’s patent marking, stainless steel marking, and caliber marking are all on the upper left barrel
flat. The caliber marking 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. The left side of the lower tang is
marked “179 356 XX 38”, with “356” crossed out. It is fitted with a Lyman beaded blade front sight
and elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sight. It is mounted with a nicely figured, H-pattern checkered
forearm and pistol grip stock with a hard rubber insert at the base of the grip, a blank silver escutcheon inlaid on the right, and a
replacement smooth hard rubber buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine, with 95% plus of the factory refurbished blue
finish with some scattered light handling marks. The stainless steel barrel
retains 97% of the original “Japanned black” finish. The wood is also very fine with
mild wear, scattered minor dings and scratches, and well-defined checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 1000
Antique Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1894 Extra Lightweight Lever
Action Short Rifle in Desirable .38-55 W.C.F. with Factory Letter - Serial no. 51369, 38-55 WCF cal., 22 inch lightweight part octagon bbl., blue
finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1898, this is a scarce example of a special ordered antique Winchester deluxe extra lightweight Model 1894 rifle. The
included factory letter lists that the serial number was applied on 15 November 1898 and that the rifle was in .38-55 caliber with a 22 inch half octagon nickel
steel barrel, extra light, plain trigger, “magazine 1 1/2 in. beyond tip”, Lyman front and rear sights, and a checkered pistol grip stock. The letter goes on to state that the rifle
was received at the warehouse on 3 July 1899 and shipped the same day in order number 29272, and there
is a repair and return date of 12 November 1909. According to the research conducted by Oswalt and Hawk
published in “Armax Vol. V” out of the first 353,999 Model 1894s produced, 17,768 were fitted with shotgun
butts, 515 had a 2/3 magazine like this example has now, and one out of every 39 rifles had a shorter than
standard barrel. There are Winchester factory oval “WP” proofs on the barrel and receiver at the breech, which
were applied when the rifle returned to the factory in 1909. The top barrel flat has the two-line address and
the caliber marking at the breech, and the nickel steel marking is on the upper left flat. The three-line model,
trademark, and patent information is on the upper tang, and the serial number is marked on the bottom of the receiver. The left side of the lower tang is marked “52 6781 XXX RB”, with “6781”
repeated in the stock inlet, and the “52” likely added at the time of return to the factory. The left side of the upper tang is stamped “J.P.P.” for James P. Parker, indicating that some barrel work was
done when the rifle returned to the factory. The barrel appears to the writer to be original, and it is possible that Parker simply fitted the current, factory replacement, 2/3 length magazine to the
original barrel, leading to his marking being present on the tang. It is fitted with a Lyman beaded blade (bead and portion of blade absent) front sight fitted on the typical ramped base, a D.W.
King folding leaf rear sight, and a Lyman D-DA type peep sight mounted on the left of the receiver. It is mounted with a finely figured, “narrow configuration” H-pattern checkered forearm and
pistol grip stock with a hard rubber grip cap and checkered hard rubber shotgun buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine as factory restored, retains 90% plus of the blue finish, 80% of the vibrant case colors on the hammer and lever, and 95% of the nitre blue on the loading gate with some scattered light handling marks and a
few small patches of light spotting along edges. The wood is also very fine with some scattered minor handling marks, a minor chip absent from the toe buttplate, and well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent. An attractive,
antique example of a special ordered Winchester deluxe extra lightweight Model 1894 short rifle!
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
4 4