Page 60 - 4095-BOOK3

LOT 3057
Exceptional, Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model
1873 Lever Action Rifle with Rare Documented Vernier
Tang and Wind Gauge Sights and Factory Letter -
Serial no. 251559, 38 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, deluxe walnut checkered stock. This
deluxe Winchester Model 1873 rifle with factory letter states
this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on
October 22, 1887. The letter describes the rifle as 38 caliber
with octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered stock, pistol
grip, Mid-range Vernier and wind gauge sights. The rifle
has a Third Model frame with integral dust cover rail and
dust cover with serrated edges. The full octagon barrel,
full length magazine, dust cover and loading gate are
blued. The forearm cap, frame, hammer, lever and crescent
buttplate have a color casehardened finish. The stock and
forearm are highly figured, “fancy grain” walnut with “Style
H” checkering and a high polish, “piano” finish. The pistol
grip has an ebony insert. The crescent buttplate has a brass
trap door. The barrel has a dovetail mounted wind gauge
front sight with spirit level and a sporting style rear sight
with serrated edges. A Vernier rear sight with large peep
is mounted on the upper tang. The top barrel flat is roll-
stamped “WINCHESTER’S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN.
CONN. U.S.A./- KING’S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH
29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860-” in two lines ahead of the rear
sight. The caliber, “38 W.C.F.”, is roll-stamped on the top
barrel flat between the rear sight and the frame.
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