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LOT 1003
Special Order Winchester Model 1886 Deluxe Lever Action .45-70 Rifle - Serial no. 94921, 45-70 cal., 26 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, fancy checkered pistol grip walnut stock. This is a nice example of a special order Winchester Model 1886 Fancy Sporting Rifle manufactured in 1895. The top barrel flat ahead of the rear sight is marked
“-MANUFACTURED BY THE-/-WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW
HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A.-” and “45-70” is on the top flat at the breech. The upper tang marking is
covered by a tang mounted short range peep sight. The lower tang is marked with the two line 1884/1885 patent dates and the serial number at the rear. The barrel is fitted with a blade with a bead and a folding ladder
rear sight graduated to 300 yards. Blue barrel and half magazine tube, niter blue bolt and loading gate, and casehardened remaining parts and mounted with a deluxe nicely figured multi-point checkered walnut
forearm with a steel end cap and pistol grip stock with ebony insert in the bottom of the grip and a checkered
hard rubber Winchester shotgun buttplate. This rifle will letter as, 45/70 caliber, 1/2 Octagon barrel, 1/2 magazine, “4 cartridges”, plain trigger, checkered stock with pistol
grip, shotgun butt with rubber buttplate, and that it was received in and shipped out of the warehouse to order number 6054 on January 22, 1895. CONDITION: Very fine. The barrel and magazine tube retain 95% of the original blue finish. The only discernable wear is a 1/4-inch spot of pitting on the left side of the barrel. The bolt has almost all of the original bright niter blue and the niter blue finish on the loading gate is thin on the high points. The receiver retains 40% of the original case colors. The casehardened finish on the bottom of the receiver has silvered slightly from handling and there is some silvering in the case colors along the top edges of the receiver. There is a very small (1/8-inch) spot of pitting on the left side of the receiver. The balance of the case colors on the receiver, hammer and lever are strong. The markings are crisp and clear. The highly figured re-oiled walnut buttstock and forearm are both fine. The checkered panels on the pistol grip and forearm are sharp. Handling wear is minimal and is limited to some small scratches and minor finish wear on the left side of the forearm at the junction with the receiver. The buttplate screws are slightly pitted but the buttplate is excellent. This is a very nice Deluxe Model 1886 Winchester Fancy Sporting Rifle with many special order features. Estimate: 8,500 - 12,000
Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 180268, 38 WCF cal., 24 inch part octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Known simply as “The Gun that Won the West,” the Winchester Model 1873 Rifle
stands as an icon of American firepower on the open frontier that still
resonates with modern collectors, especially those with special order features such as this example.
On this rifle there are several highly sought after special order features. The accompanying factory letter for this deluxe Model 1873 lists the half octagon barrel in .38 caliber, set trigger, checkered pistol
grip stock, half magazine that holds seven cartridges, and casehardened receiver (receiver is currently blued). As confirmed by the factory letter the rifle was received in the warehouse on July 23, 1885 and
shipped the same day. Per the Winchester 1875 catalog, the optional finish for a “fancy walnut stock” cost at least $5.00 extra. Special features
such as deluxe wood were generally considered too costly and unnecessary for the average customer looking for a reliable “working man’s gun.” Finding a deluxe Model
1873 in any condition is becoming increasingly difficult. The blued third model receiver features an integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrations at the rear. The rifle is fitted with a beaded blade Lyman front sight, a folding two leaf Lyman rear sight, a folding tang peep sight, and a single set trigger. The top barrel flat is stamped with the two-line Winchester New Haven address and King’s improvement patent dates ahead of the rear sight and “38 WCF” at the breech. The cartridge elevator is marked “38 CAL.” The buttstock is fitted with a casehardened trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod absent). Mounted on a XXX highly figured, “H” pattern checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with an ebony insert in the pistol grip. The left side of the lower tang is marked “504 XXX 38.” The assembly number “504” is repeated on the stock inlet. CONDITION: Very fine. The barrel and receiver retain 80% plus of the original blue with thinning to brown on the balance with cold blue visible on the once damaged muzzle. 40% nitre blue remains on the loading gate. 95% plus of the refinished case colors remain on the lever. The hammer retains 70% original case colors. The buttplate has a smooth gray patina. The wood is also fine with an added coat of varnish, a couple of small repairs, some scattered handling marks, and crisp recut checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
LOT 1004
Documented Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action
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