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LOT 3000
Scarce Legion of Frontiersmen Marked Winchester Model 1876 Lever Action North-West Mounted Police Carbine with Factory Letter - Serial no. 44145, 45-75 cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This is an interesting example of a Winchester Model 1876 carbine manufactured in 1885. It has a “N.W.M.P.” banner stamped on the right side of the butt indicating it was one of around 750 Model 1876 “Mountie” carbines purchased to arm the Canadian North-West Mounted Police in the 1880s. The bottom of the buttstock, to the rear of the lower tang is also marked “LOF.101.”, indicating this carbine saw use by the “Legion of the Frontiersmen”. The LOF was a paramilitary group formed by former North-West Mounted Policeman and Boer War veteran Roger Pocock in 1905 to prepare the British Empire for a feared invasion. The group established local chapters throughout the empire and helped fill the ranks of many units during the First World War. One
of the organization pages proudly proclaims that, “Frontiersmen were among the very first Britons to go into battle against Germany in 1914.”The Frontiersmen unit the 25th Service Battalion Royal Fusiliers based from London served in North Africa and was mainly made up of middle aged or older men of various backgrounds including a circus clown, millionaire, big game hunters and even some American cowboys. The organization remains active as a non-profit disaster relief organization. The top of the barrel has the standard two-line address/King’s patent marking as well as the caliber marking, which is repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The model designation is on the upper tang while the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a block blade front sight, folding ladder rear sight, and a saddle ring on the left of the receiver. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a carbine buttplate. The included factory letter lists receipt at the warehouse on 27 March 1885 and shipment the next day in order number 19589. CONDITION: Very good plus, retains 30% of the original blue finish with the balance showing mostly a smooth grey patina and some minor dings scattered throughout. The wood is very good with numerous minor dings scattered throughout. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
LOT 3001
Winchester Model 1866 Lever
Action Saddle Ring Carbine with
Desirable Henry Patent Barrel Marking - Serial
no. 17324, 44 RF cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut stock. The ‘66 secured Winchester’s place in the annals of the West and
launched a long line of successful Winchester lever actions that remain popular to this
day and still retain the basic form of the ‘66. This carbine example was manufactured in 1868 and certainly has
the look of an Old West survivor. It is a second model with the serial number stamped on the left side of the lower tang, a single screw upper
tang and a flare at the front of the receiver to meet the forearm. The carbine is fitted with a front barrel band featuring an integral front sight, two leaf rear
sight, saddle ring on the left side of the brass receiver and trapdoor crescent brass buttplate (cleaning rod not included). The top of the barrel has the desirable early production two-line Henry’s patent/King’s patent legend marked ahead of the rear sight: “HENRY’S-PATENT-OCT. 16. 1860/KING’S-PATENT-MARCH 29. 1866”. CONDITION: Very good. The barrel, magazine tube and barrel bands have an “as found” pleasing smooth brown patina. A rear barrel band screw is half gone. The fine brass has an attractive appearance. The receiver has tight fitting side plates. The wood is also very good with numerous scattered minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. A solid representative example of a Winchester Model 1866 saddle ring carbine with highly desirable Henry patent barrel marking. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
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