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SIMILAR EXAMPLES PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE WINCHESTER ENGRAVING BOOK BY WILSON
LOT 578
Extremely Rare Factory Engraved Winchester Deluxe
Model 1903 Semi-Automatic Rifle -
Serial no. 74730, 22 Auto cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This rifle was manufactured in 1912.
The receiver is attractively factory panel scene engraved with the left panel depicting two squirrels on a tree branch and three rabbits in
a field scene on the right panel. Both are in oval borders surrounded by floral scroll designs. The animal scene and scroll engraving is closely based on a type of engraving that appears in Winchester’s “Highly Finished Arms” catalog (see R.L. Wilson’s books “Winchester Engraving” on page 228 and “The Book of Winchester Engraving” on page 218). Other factory engraved Model 1903s with animal scenes and scrollwork have been documented in R.L. Wilson’s book “The Book of Winchester Engraving” (pages 265-267) and George Madis’ book “The Winchester Book” (pages 551-552). The engraving has been referred to as
“Style No. 8,” and similar engravings have been attributed to notable Winchester master engravers John Ulrich and Angelo Stokes. As explained in “Highly Finished Winchester Arms,”“This style of engraving is especially suitable for rifles having small frames.” Although an official production total for factory engraved Winchester 1903s is unknown, Madis pointed out the difficulty of finding a factory engraved Model 1903, explaining, “The rare customer who wanted engraving was usually content to have Winchester engrave the standard scenes offered” (page 552). The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address/patent dates ahead of the rear sight and “-WINCHESTER-TRADE MARK-/MOD. 1903 .22CAL. AUTOMATIC” at the breech. The Winchester factory oval proof is marked on top of the barrel and receiver at the breech. The rifle is equipped with a dovetailed Lyman blade front sight with bead, two folding leaf rear sight and tang mounted short range peep sight. All blue finish and mounted with a multi-point checkered, deluxe, highly figured walnut forearm with a steel forend cap and pistol grip stock with a hard rubber grip cap and crescent buttplate. CONDITION: Excellent. The rifle retains 95% plus original blue finish showing minor edge wear, a few light scratches, a rub mark on the left just behind the rear sight, and thinning on top of the receiver. The wood is also excellent with some scattered minor dings and dents and crisp checkering. The markings and engraving are crisp and clear. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000
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