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LOT 51
Winchester Model 1892 Lever Action Saddle Ring Trapper’s Carbine with Highly Desirable 16 Inch Barrel in .32 W.C.F. - Serial no. 523580, 32 WCF cal., 16 inch round bbl., blue finish, gumwood stock. Manufactured in 1910, this is a rare Trapper’s Carbine with a highly desirable 16 inch barrel (no ATF exemption required). These shorter than standard carbines were highly prized in the American West for their firepower in a small and mobile package. The upper left of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address/ patent dates, as well as the caliber marking at the breech. There are Winchester factory oval proofs on the barrel and receiver at the breech. The upper tang has the standard thee-line model and trademark information, while the serial number is on the bottom of the receiver. It is fitted with a pinned German silver blade front sight, replacement three-leaf 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. CONDITION: Good, retaining traces of the original blue finish with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, a few patches of brown patina, and some scattered light pitting, typical of a gun that was worked as hard as the man that carried it. The wood is also fine with some scattered minor handling marks and an empty sling swivel hole in the bottom of the buttstock. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 52 Antique Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 131823A, 38 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Winchester Model 1873 was extremely popular with those heading to the American West, in part because they could be paired with a trusty Colt Single Action Army revolver in the same caliber. This example was manufactured in 1883 as a Third Model with integral dust cover guide and dust cover with grip serrations at the rear. The two line address and King’s patent marking are on the top barrel flat along with the caliber marking at the breech. The caliber marking is repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator, model designation on the upper tang, and serial number on the lower tang. The left side of the lower tang is marked “2333 S”, with “2333” repeated in the stock inlet and inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and elevation adjustable notch rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a smooth shotgun buttplate. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration apart from the shotgun buttplate, as well as receipt at the warehouse on 28 July 1883 and shipment two days later. While the shotgun buttplate is not listed in the letter, this in undoubtedly a factory oversight on the ledger as the assembly numbers match and carry the “S” for a shotgun buttplate. CONDITION: Very good, showing all the signs of a well cared for western working rifle, retains 30% of the original blue finish and 40% of the vibrant case colors on the hammer and lever with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina. The re-oiled wood is also very good, showing the care of an owner that depended on it, with only a few scattered minor handling marks throughout. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 53 Special Order Winchester Model 1892 Lever Action Short Rifle - Serial no. 486985, 44 WCF cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue finish, hardwood stock. Manufactured in 1909, this interestingly configured Model 1892 short rifle is very easy to imagine in the hands of an early 20th century cattle rancher in the American West, making a fantastic lightweight rifle for protecting both himself and his herd. It has Winchester factory oval proofs on the barrel and receiver at the breech. The two-line address is marked on top of the barrel, and the caliber marking is offset to the left at the breech. The left side of the lower tang is marked “6731,” and the serial number is on the bottom of the receiver. The three-line model and trademark information is on the upper tang. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and an elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and period replacement straight grip stock fitted with a carbine buttplate, which may have simply been a personal preference of the original owner. These Model 1892s with shorter than standard barrels are quite scarce, Winchester expert and author George Madis stating, “One of each 850 rifles in this model had barrels shorter than standard.” He also noted, “The short rifles are rare, since most people preferred the lighter weight carbines if they wanted a shorter gun” (The “Winchester Book,” pages 375 and 377). CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina with a few scattered patches of light pitting, exuding the look of a well-maintained working gun. The wood is also very good, the buttstock a period replacement as noted above, with some scattered minor handling marks, typical of a gun viewed as a trusted tool. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 54 Very Scarce F. C. Taylor Fur Getter Trap Gun with Spike - Serial no. 1979, 22 LR cal., 6 inch round bbl., bright finish. Manufactured by F. C. Taylor, these were originally invented by Charles D. Lovelace of San Angelo, Texas, who was granted patent number 1,098,742 on June 2nd, 1914. In Lovelace’s patent description it states, “My invention relates to that character of fire arms designed to be set in the haunts of wild animals to be fired by the animals for self destruction.” An example is photographed and described on pages 120-121 of the book “Firearms Curiosa” by Lewis Winant. To load, the pin is unscrewed, allowing removal of the barrel for loading from the rear. To cock, the striker is pulled backwards, and to fire, the hooked bait rod mounted below is pulled forward by an animal attempting to grab bait placed on the end of the hook. Marked “TAYLOR FUR GETTER./F.C. TAYLOR FUR CO. ST. LOUIS. MO.” on the left side of the frame and “PAT’D JUNE 2 1914/OTHER PAT’S PENDING” on the right side of the frame. CONDITION: Very fine, the untouched brass shows a very attractive, lightly aged patina overall with crisp markings. The iron components show an aged grey- brown patina. A small portion of the cocking rod is absent. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,750 - 5,500