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LOT 1046
Special Order Antique Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Extremely Scarce Documented 32 Inch Extra Length Barrel, Desirable Casehardened Receiver, and Factory Letter - Serial no. 141188A, 38 WCF cal., 32 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1884 as a Third Model with integral dust cover guide and dust cover with serrations at the rear. This Model 1873 has two very rare and desirable special order features, an extra length 32 inch barrel and a casehardened receiver. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration, including the special order 32 inch barrel, set trigger, and casehardened receiver, as well as receipt at the warehouse on 25 March 1884 and shipment the same day. It is easy to imagine this rifle in the hands of a skilled marksman or hunter on the western frontier, the rifle likely as much of a legend as the man himself. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address and King’s patent marking as well as the caliber marking at the breech. The upper tang is marked with the model designation, and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with German silver blade front, elevation adjustable buckhorn rear, and tang mounted long-range peep sights. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with the trapdoor crescent buttplate containing an included three-piece cleaning rod. The forearm and stock have been period inlaid with various folk art style silver inlays in the
shapes of arrows, hearts, moons, tear drops, and stars. These inlays were likely a frontier personalization by a previous owner, making his trusted firearm truly unique. CONDITION: Fine with an attractive frontier used appearance overall, 40% plus of the original blue finish, traces of the mostly silvered out case colors, 30% of the original niter blue on the loading gate with the balance having thinned to either a smooth grey or plum brown patina, and the signs of being heavily used but cared for. The wood is very good with some scattered minor handling marks throughout. A few of the period silver inlays are absent, and those that remain show an attractively aged patina that only comes from years of use. Mechanically excellent. This is an extremely scarce Winchester Model 1873 with special order 32 inch long barrel, casehardened receive, American long rifle style silver inlays, and a genuine historic frontier appearance. Estimate: 5,000 - 8,000
LOT 1047 Desirable Marlin Ballard No. 9 Union Hill Style Single Shot Rifle - Serial no. 29128, 32-40 WCF cal., 30 inch part octagon bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, walnut stock. This model was manufactured between 1884 and 1891. These rifles would have been excellent for taking small or medium game on the western plains, with this example exhibiting signs of such character and use. The left side of the receiver is marked “MARLIN FIRE ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN CT. U.S.A./BALLARD’S. PATENT. NOV. 5, 1861.” The top of the barrel at the breech is marked “32-40”. Matching serial numbers are marked on the bottom of the barrel and bottom of the receiver. It features a globe and pin front sight dovetailed to the barrel, plain checkered trigger, elevation adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight, and a mid-range peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with a cheekpiece and nickel plated Swiss style buttplate. CONDITION: Very good, retains traces of the original blue finish and 20% of the original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and a few scattered small patches of very light surface pitting, typical of a frontier used rifle. The re-oiled wood is also very good with some scattered minor handling marks, flat spot on the right of the pistol grip, and most of the checkering remaining well-defined, all signs of a well-cared for working gun. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1048
Antique Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 322336B, 38 WCF cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Winchester Model 1873 is the classic cowboy’s long gun of the late 19th century American West, often paired with a Colt Single Action Army in the same caliber. This example was manufactured in 1889 as a Third Model with integral dust cover guide and dust cover with grip serrations at the rear. It has standard markings. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight, elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sight, and a peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate containing an included four-piece cleaning rod. The included factory letter confirms the configuration as well as receipt at the warehouse on 6 December 1889 and shipment the following day. CONDITION: Very good, showing the character of a cared for frontier rifle, retains 30% plus of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to a mixture of grey and brown patina. The wood is also very good showing the light wear and scattered minor handling marked that are typical of western use. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1049
Colt First Generation Bisley Model Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 251096,
32 WCF cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. The
Colt Bisley model was only manufactured in 1894-1912. For many, the Bisley feels better
in the hand and cocks and fires easier thanks to its lower and wider hammer and the wider
excellent sidearms for serious marksmen, especially those with a lever action rifle in the same caliber. This classic example was
manufactured in 1904 and is chambered in .32-20 W.C.F., a cartridge known for its accuracy. It has the standard two-line address
on top of the barrel and “(BISLEY MODEL)” and the caliber marking on the left. The left of the frame is marked with the two-line
patent dates and circled Rampant Colt. Matching serial numbers are visible on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, and the assembly number “4152” is on the inside of the loading gate. It has standard features and is fitted with a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with
Rampant Colts at the tops.
CONDITION: Very good plus, retains 30% of the original blue and 25% of the vibrant original case colors, both mostly in sheltered areas,
with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and some scattered small patches of very light surface pitting. The grips are fine with some light dings near the bottom edges and mostly crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The Bisley became a sidearm of the western gunfighters, including Pancho Villa. This revolver would have made an excellent companion for Winchester Model 1873 or 1892 in .32 W.C.F. and has a very attractive western frontier appearance.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
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trigger making them