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LOT 63
Documented Antique Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Desirable Casehardened Receiver and Factory Letter - Serial no. 72969, 38 WCF cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Winchester Model 1873 rifle stands as an icon of American firepower on the open frontier that still resonates with modern collectors. These rifles were incredibly popular on the frontier not only due to their impressive firepower, but also because they could be paired with a Colt “six shooter” of the same caliber, thus only having the need to carry one type of cartridge. This example was manufactured in 1881 as a Second Model with dust cover guide retained with two screws and dust cover with serrations at the rear. This rifle was also ordered with the desirable special order casehardened receiver, as confirmed by the included factory letter. The letter also confirms the round barrel, plain trigger, and receipt at the warehouse on 13 August 1881 and shipment the same day in order number 26692. It does not mention the shotgun butt. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address and King’s patent marking, as well as the caliber marking at the breech. The caliber marking is repeated on 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 “CF 1397,” and “1397” is repeated in the stock inlet. A “3” is marked inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a German silver front sight and elevation adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight. It is mounted with a nicely figured smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a smooth shotgun buttplate. CONDITION: Very good, retains 20% of the original blue finish mostly visible in the sheltered areas of the barrel with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and some faint traces of case color patterns with most having silvered out, typical of a rifle that saw years of frontier use. The wood is also fine with some scattered minor dings and scratches and a small chipped flap on top of the comb, all signs of a working gun. Mechanically excellent. A Winchester Model 1873 rifle that truly has the look of one ordered by someone that knew exactly what they wanted and actually used it! Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 64
Winchester Model 1892 Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 957827, 32 WCF cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured 1921-1928, the Model 1892 was incredibly popular in the American West due to its variety of shared calibers with the Colt Single Action Army revolver. It has Winchester factory oval proofs on the barrel and receiver at the breech. The barrel has the two-line “MODEL 92”, trademark, and caliber nomenclature on the upper left at the breech and the two-line Winchester address on the upper right. The three-line model and trademark information is on the upper tang, and the serial number is on the bottom of the receiver. It is fitted with beaded blade front, elevation adjustable notch rear, and a Lyman peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 75% plus of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, typical of a western working gun, and a patch of light pitting on the lower right of the receiver. The wood is also very fine with some light wear on the forearm, a sign of its regular use, and a few scattered light handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 65
Documented Colt Lightning Medium Frame Slide Action Rifle with Special Order Half Magazine and Factory Letter - Serial no. 28167, 44-40 WCF cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The medium frame Colt Lightning rifles were chambered in many of the same calibers as Winchester’s Model 1873 and 1892 and could be paired just as conveniently with a Single Action Army in the same caliber. This example is chambered in .44-40, the same caliber as the “Frontier Six Shooter” version of the SAA. These rifles were rugged like their lever action competitors but could be fired even faster and were easier to keep on target while running the action for many shooters. You could hold the trigger and pump the action until the magazine was empty. Colt had recently tried to enter the market with the Burgess lever action with little success, but the slide action Lightning represented a different approach to a repeating rifle was far more successful. Prodigy marksman George S. Feagles of Menoken, North Dakota, favored the Lightning, and fellow trick shooter Annie Oakley also had one in her armory. Back in the East, the Connecticut National Guard had guardsmen on bicycles armed with Lightning rifles and SAAs in the 1890s. Ultimately, the Lightning was unable to dislodge the lever action as the repeating rifle of the West. The factory letter confirms the rifle’s configuration, including the half magazine, and indicates it was the sole gun of this type in a shipment on May 28, 1888, to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. in Chicago, Illinois, a large distributor for many firearms that made their way farther west. The rifle has a replacement dovetailed “Rocky Mountain” blade front sight, adjustable sporting rear sight, the usual Colt markings including “44 Cal.” at the breech, a tang mounted peep sight, checkered two-piece slide handle, and smooth stock with rifle buttplate. CONDITION: Fine with 60% plus original blue finish, silver-gray buttplate, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, and generally light overall wear. The refinished wood is very good with crisp checkering, minor chips at the corners, and some light scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. This is a very attractive special order Colt Lightning and would pair excellently with a Colt “Frontier Six Shooter.” Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500 LOT 66 Documented Abercrombie & Fitch Shipped Colt First Generation Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 316122, 44-40 WCF cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in early 1911, these Frontier Six Shooter Revolvers were very popular in the American West through the “Wild West” period and into the 20th century due to their ability to be paired with Winchester’s lever actions that shared the same caliber. The top of the barrel has the single-line address and Frontier Six Shooter caliber marking on the left. The left side of the frame has the standard two-line patent dates followed by the circled Rampant Colt. The matching serial number is on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, and the factory documented one piece walnut grip has “13501” stamped on the butt. The assembly number “25” is stamped inside the loading gate. It is fitted with blade and groove sights and a smooth walnut grip which has been contoured slightly to better fit the hand. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration as well as the wood grip and shipment to Abercrombie & Fitch in New York on 11 January 1911. They were one of the largest sporting goods suppliers in the country at the time. CONDITION: Fine, retaining 60% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish and 85% plus of the vibrant original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily on the grip straps and in the form of light holster type wear. The grip is very good with the contouring stated above and some scattered light handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500