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LOT 3016
Scarce and Desirable Special Order Winchester Model 1892 Lever Action Rifle
in .38 W.C.F. with Factory Letter - Serial no. 247258, 38 WCF cal., 26 inch part octagon
bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1904, this is a fine example of a Winchester
Model 1892 rifle in a very scarce, special ordered configuration. The included factory letter lists the
rifle in .38 caliber with a 26 inch half octagon barrel, plain trigger, half magazine, and plain pistol grip
stock with a hard rubber shotgun buttplate when received at the warehouse on 22 April 1904, and shipped
on 15 June 1904 in order number 223871. Noted Winchester historian and author George Madis notes that one out of every 150 Model
1892 rifles had a part octagon barrel, one of every 670 had a special buttplate, and one of every 700 had a pistol grip, the vast majority of which
would have also been checkered deluxe wood, making this straight grain, uncheckered example relatively scarce. These rifles were highly prized in the
American West for their ability to be paired with a Colt Single Action Army revolver of the same caliber, and remained a very popular frontier long gun well into
the 20th century. With an example like this, being non-deluxe but highly optioned with special order features, it is easy to imagine a particularly discerning customer ordering exactly the rifle they
wanted, while not adding or wanting to pay for any extra, lavish frills. These special ordered, non-deluxe rifles are already scarce, but they also give off an air of having been ordered to be used, not to be
delicately admired like a high grade deluxe might be, which makes them immensely appealing among collectors. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address and patent dates, as well as the
caliber marking at the breech. The upper tang is marked with the three-line model, trademark, and patent information, and the serial number is on the bottom of the receiver. The left side of the lower
tang is marked “18785 R”, with “18785” repeated in the stock inlet. It is fitted with a Lyman “Jack” beaded blade front sight, an elevation adjustable No. 24 notch rear sight, and a Lyman combination peep
sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a straight grain, smooth forearm and pistol grip stock with a hard rubber grip cap and checkered hard rubber shotgun buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% of the original blue finish 40% of the original case colors, and 50% of the original nitre blue on the loading gate with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, most
noticeably on high spots and handling areas. The wood is also fine with scattered light scratches and dings, typical of use. Mechanically excellent. A fine example of a Winchester Model 1892 rifle in a very rare,
special ordered configuration!
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,000
LOT 3015
Highly Desirable Antique, First Year Production, Three Digit Serial
Number Winchester First Model 1894 Lever Action Rifle in .38-55 W.C.F.
with “10 O’clock” Screw Frame - Serial no. 357, 38-55 WCF cal., 26 inch octagon
bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1894, the first year of production, this is
a fine example of the very desirable Winchester First Model
1894 rifle. These early production Model 1894s often saw
hard use in the American West, much of which still remained
very “untamed” well into the 20th century, leaving very few
surviving examples available to collectors in any condition. These early First Model ‘94s laid the foundation for
what would become one of the most popular and renowned hunting rifles of all time, as well as Winchester’s
most successful sporting rifle, with over 7,500,000 produced. While the Model 1873 is remembered as “the gun
that won the west” and the Model 70 is referred to as “the rifleman’s rifle”, the Model 1894 has been given the
endearing nickname “the rifle America loves”. The receiver on this example is a “First Model” featuring an extra
screw on either side which has become know as a “10 o’clock screw” by collectors, due to its position in relation to the loading gate. These First
Model receivers are sporadically seen into as high as the 6000 serial number range, as the factory used up receivers in no particular order. The top flat of the barrel is
marked with the standard two-line address and the caliber marking at the breech. The upper tang is marked with the three-line model, trademark, and patent information, while the
early, three-digit serial number is on the bottom of the receiver. It is fitted with a No. 21 German silver “Sporting” front sight, an elevation adjustable No. 24 notch rear sight, and a Lyman
combination peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% plus of the thinned original blue finish and 40% of the original case colors on the hammer and lever with the balance mostly a grey patina and some scattered light
surface oxidation. The wood is also fine with some scattered minor dings, scratches and scuffs. Mechanically excellent. A fine example of Winchester’s First Model 1894 rifle!
Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000
Serial Number 357
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