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LOT 29
Attractive, Rugged Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action
Carbine with Frontier Repairs and Native American Style
Tack Decoration - Serial no. 143650A, 44-40 WCF cal., 20 inch
round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1883 as a Second Model, this carbine originally had the dust cover
guide retained with two screws, and likely a dust cover with the “thumbprint” grip section, both of which are now absent. These carbines were
incredibly popular in the American West due to their incredible firepower in a small, light, and mobile package. Carbines such as this were a favorite weapon of
outlaw, ranchers, lawmen, settlers, and Native Americans for many decades, both for self protection and sustenance. This example certainly has the look of a gun that spent
much of its life on the rugged frontier through its scars and makeshift repairs. The barrel has the two-line address and King’s patent marking, with the caliber marking at the breech.
The serial number is marked on the lower tang. It has a block blade front sight, and the rear sight dovetail is empty. The magazine plug is absent, with the end of the magazine showing signs
of a potential incidental discharge of a round inside. There is a frontier style rawhide repair around the wrist, retaining the damaged stock to the receiver tangs. The original saddle ring staple is
absent from the receiver with filler screws in the holes, and a new saddle ring and staple has been added to the stock at the base of the wrist. A rawhide sling has been tied to that and is retained
on the forearm with another tightly wrapped band of rawhide. There are Native American style brass tacks decorating the stock throughout, all of which show the same weathered look as the rifle, and
there are small brands stamped into both sides of the buttstock. The forearm has an interesting divot worn into the bottom side, a wear pattern that is often associated with guns that spent many years and miles rubbing against a saddle. Overall the carbine shows aging, wear, and repairs consistent with a gun that was used hard on the frontier for many years.
CONDITION: Good, showing the look of a rugged survivor of the American frontier, wearing the scars of its many years of service with pride. The metal shows mostly a dark brown patina with some mild pitting, particularly on the sideplates of the receiver. It shows the many makeshift repairs of a gun that was required to stay in service and performed that task admirably. The wood shows the wear of many miles on the frontier and a similar “never say die” spirit that its original owner also likely possessed. The hammer does not hold at full cock, but otherwise mechanically operable. It would be difficult to find a Winchester Model 1873 carbine with more frontier character or spirit of the American West than this example!
Provenance: The Brandhorst Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000
LOT 30
Rugged Frontier Used Sharps Model 1874 Single Shot Sporting Rifle -
Serial no. 156483, 40-70 cal., 32 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. These Sharps Model 1874 rifles were a highly valued arm
on the frontier, not only due to their firepower but also their long range accuracy. These rifles were popular for both protection and hunting and saw widespread use
throughout the turbulent American west. This specific example certainly has the “been there, done that” look of a western working gun. The top flat of the barrel has
the “Old Reliable” marking, the Sharps Bridgeport address, and the caliber marking. The bottom of the barrel is marked with “4” and “12/16”, and the serial number, which
is also partially (“6483”) inside the forearm. The left side of the receiver has the two-line Sharps patent marking. The main serial number on the upper tang is obscured. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and R.S. Lawrence folding ladder rear sight. It is mounted with a checkered Schnabel tip forearm
and pistol grip stock. There is a period rawhide repair around the wrist area that appears to have been used to mend a large crack in
the wrist that had temporarily put the rifle out of action. The buttplate is now also absent with some significant deformation on the
buttstock, suggesting that the damage to the buttstock and crack in the wrist may have been due to the same impact.
CONDITION: Good, showing all the grit and rugged toughness of the American west, retaining faint traces of the original finish with
the balance mostly a grey or plum brown patina with some scattered light pitting. The wood is also good as frontier repaired (see
above) with cracks and chips in the wrist, extensive wear and a large aged chip absent from the bottom of the buttstock, all having
the appearance of having occurred during the gun’s working life. Mechanically excellent. An interesting Sharps Model 1874 sporting rifle that is full of frontier character.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 31
Desirable Documented New Mexico Territory Shipped Acid Etched Panel Frontier Six Shooter Antique Black Powder Frame Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 121859, 44-40 cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. The factory letter lists this revolver in .44-40 with a 4 3/4 inch barrel, blue finish, and wood stocks when shipped to Manzanares & Company in Las Vegas, Territory of New Mexico, on June 18, 1887, in a shipment of 100 guns of this type. Browne, Manzanares & Co. had stores in Las Vegas and Socorro, New Mexico, in 1887. Francisco Antonio Manzanares (1843- 1904) was an influential figure in territorial New Mexico in the late 19th century and was also the founder of the First National Banks in Las Vegas, Santa Fe, and Raton and represented the territory in Congress in March 1884-March 1885. 100 revolvers is a large shipment for what is still a rather small city today, but it was a rather lawless town in the 1870s and 1880s. Historian Ralph Emerson Twitchell wrote, “Without exception, there was no town that harbored a more disreputable gang of desperadoes and outlaws than did Las Vegas.” It was also home to twenty-one of Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. The revolver has a blade front sight, the smaller dished ejector rod button, “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” etched on the left side of the barrel, the two-line “COLTS PT. F. A. MFG. Co/HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.” on top of the barrel, the three-line patent marking on the left side of the “black powder” frame, “44 CAL” on the left side of the trigger guard, assembly number “698” on the loading gate, and matching serial numbers visible on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. CONDITION: Very good with traces of original blue finish and traces of case colors visible in some of the protected areas, the balance mostly silvered out, otherwise mainly mottled gray and brown patina, faint but legible etched panel, light pitting, and general mild overall wear. The grip is also very good and has moderate lower edge wear, handling wear, around half of the original varnish remaining, and some scratches and dents. Mechanically excellent. This is a very attractive Colt Frontier Six Shooter from the American Southwest in the 1880s. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 32
Rinaldo A. Carr Inspected U.S. Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 134285, 45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. The included factory letter states that this revolver was originally shipped to the U.S. government inspector at the Colt plant on 3 July 1890. Having escaped conversion to Artillery Model onfiguration and considering its look, one can easily theorize that this particular revolver may have been “liberated” from government stores by a deserter. The barrel has the one-line Hartford address (faint). The frame has the three-line patent dates marking followed by “US.” Matching serial numbers are on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, barrel, and faintly on the cylinder. Rinaldo Carr’s inspector initials “R.A.C.” are on the barrel, frame, and cylinder. A “K” is below the serial number on the back strap and trigger guard. There is a very faint partial outline of a cartouche on the right of the grip, which has also been hand carved with initials that appear to be “WH”. It was not uncommon in the American west for these desirable revolvers to be carried off by cavalry troopers who had decided to seek their fortunes elsewhere, and this example certainly has the look! CONDITION: Good, retains traces of the original blue finish with the balance primarily a plum brown patina and light pitting, with a few scattered patches of deeper pitting, mostly near the muzzle. The grip is also good with moderate wear and some minor dings. The cylinder doesn’t lock at full cock, otherwise mechanically functions.
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Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500 35