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arms.”The accompanying factory letter lists this rifle with a 30 inch octagon barrel in .45-60 caliber and set trigger when received in the warehouse on August 14, 1885 and shipped the same day with 55 other Model 1876s. The rifle is fitted with a dovetail blade front sight, a folding ladder rear sight marked “1876”, and folding tang peep sight. The top barrel flat has the two-line
address/patent dates marking ahead of the rear sight and “CAL. 45-60” at the breech. “45-60” is marked on the cartridge elevator. The receiver is fitted with a factory set trigger, and the buttstock is fitted with a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included). Nicely figured plain walnut forearm and straight grip stock. Madis believed that the wood had “some deluxe grain, and the fit
and finish as well as the grain of the wood indicate Winchester ‘extra finish’ walnut.”
CONDITION: Fine. The barrel, forend cap, and receiver retain 70% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. The magazine tube retains 30% original blue finish with a smooth brown
patina on the balance. 30% original nitre blue remains on the loading gate. 80% original case colors remain on the hammer. Traces of original case colors remain on the lever. The re-oiled wood is also fine with some scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. A fine, well-documented special order Winchester Model 1876 rifle with desirable extra length 30 inch barrel and set trigger.
Provenance: The Tom Selleck Collection.
38 Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
smooth straight grip stock is fitted with a trapdoor cresce included in the butt.
LOT 19
Exceptional Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 261536B, 44 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Model 1873 is one of the most famous of all American firearms and has been popularly known as “the Gun that
Won the West” due to its popularity with pioneers. Today the Model 1873 holds a special place for modern collectors, especially those in high condition like this example. The accompanying factory letter confirms the octagon barrel in .44 caliber and plain trigger as well as the rifle received in the warehouse on April 12, 1888, and shipped on May 15. The rifle has a third model receiver
with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated rear edge as well as dovetail blade and elevation adjustable sights. The top barrel flat is stamped with the two-line address/patent dates legend ahead of the rear sight and “44 W.C.F.” at the breech. “44 CAL” is marked on the cartridge elevator. The lower tang has the serial number, and the upper tang is marked “MODEL/1873.” The
nt buttplate. A four piece cleaning rod is
LOT 20
Documented Special Order Winchester Model 1876 Lever Action Rifle with Extra Length Barrel, Factory Letter and George Madis Letter - Serial no. 45660, 45-60 cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1885 as a third model with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrations at the rear. This rifle has a highly sought after special order 30 inch extra length barrel in .45-60 caliber. The rarity of the 30 inch barrel in .45-60 caliber is highlighted in the included George Madis Letter: “Special length barrels were available for the 1876 model, but comparatively few were ordered. In a count of total production
it was found that only one of each 1200 rifles had barrels longer than standard. For this model twenty-eight inch barrels were standard; the thirty-inch barrel length is very rare. In the ‘76, while .45-75 WCF was standard;
the cartridge chambered for this rifle, the .45-60, was ordered in very limited numbers.” The set trigger is an additional rarity: “Only one of each fourteen rifles in this model had set triggers, as seen on this gun.” In his letter Madis also states, “I have carefully examined this rare Winchester inside and out, and have
determined it all original as made by Winchester...This is a rare and fine Winchester with its unusually fine condition, rarity and age of over a century, it will be a star in any collection of rare