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"It has become a household word, and a household necessity on our western plains and mountains. The pioneer, the hunter and trapper, believe in the Winchester, and its possession is a passion with every Indian."
-Oliver Winchester
LOT 10
Winchester Model 1873 “Trapper” Lever Action Carbine with ATF
Exempted 15 Inch Barrel - Serial no. ATF-33300-252, 44-40 WCF cal., 15
inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This gun is listed in the included
1992 dated ATF letter and the ATF Curio & Relics lists as exempted from the
NFA and classified as a curio or relic. The serial number on the bottom of the frame was
applied per the instructions in the letter. It has a “barley corn” style front sight, notch and folding ladder rear
sight, button magazine, taps for a second model dust cover (use c. sn. 31000- 90000 in 1879-1882), and Native American
style tack decorated stock and forearm. While the Model 1873 has been famously nicknamed “The Gun that Won the West” and
was a popular “cowboy” gun both in real life and on the silver screen, Native Americans on the plains are known to have switched to Winchester’s repeating rifles shortly after they became available even while the U.S. military and many American civilians continued to use
single shot rifles. Native warriors used them to devastating effects at the Battle of Little Bighorn and other engagements in the West, and Geronimo’s Apache appear to have been fond of Winchester’s repeaters base on period photographs and tack decorated examples noted as found on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, but the will of various native nations to fight and the firepower of their Winchesters was not enough for them to overcome American settlers’ hunger for native lands and resources in the long run.
CONDITION: Fair with a lot of “frontier” character that you would expect to see on a 19th century firearm used for many years in the American West. The iron displays a brown patina and mild oxidation overall. The dust cover and guide rail are absent, and most of the markings are worn away. Slight bulge in barrel. The magazine tube was shortened. The brass cartridge elevator shows an attractive aged patina, and the tacks display most of their frosty plated finish along with some aged patina and dents. A few tacks are absent. The wood has the replacement forend modified, some filler, and moderate cracks and loss. Mechanically good. This is definitely a gun that looks like it was rediscovered after a hard life on the frontier. Imagine the stories it could tell if it could only talk!
Provenance: The Brandhorst Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 11
Antique Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Saddle Ring Carbine
with Native American Style Tack Decoration - Serial no. 134713A,
44-40 WCF cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. When it comes
to firearms of the American West, two come to the top of the list: the Winchester Model
1873 “The Gun that Won the West” and the Colt Single Action Army. The two were literally made for another
once Colt introduced the Single Action Army in .44-40 and other cartridges used in Winchester’s popular repeaters, and
both guns saw extensive use on the frontier in the late 19th century. While commonly associated with American cowboys
and settlers, the Winchester Model 1873 also saw extensive Native American use, with multiple examples known to have been used
by the Lakota, Apaches, and other native nations during their respective struggles to maintain autonomy and territory. These fast firing carbines offered a serious edge in close in engagements compared to the single shot Springfield trapdoor rifles used by the U.S. Army at the
time. Many Native American firearms, including Winchesters documented as owned by Lakota Warrior Kicking Bear, Nez Perce Chief Joseph, Lakota war leader Sitting Bull, and others, were decorated with tacks as a way to personalize their trusted firearms, and this decoration gives these antique firearms a lot of character and sets them apart from other Winchesters in many collections. This Model 1873 has small tacks on both sides of the forend and the buttstock, including cross designs. Cross symbol use predates the arrival of Europeans, but the design on the right side of the stock is distinctly Christian in style. Many Native Americans converted to Christianity, some under force, and many others incorporated the Christian God and/or other elements
of Christianity into their own tribal religion. In addition to the decoration, this carbine has the usual “barley corn” style front sight, the usual Winchester markings, a period modified rear sight, Third Model integral dust cover rail, saddle ring on the left, carbine forend with a single barrel band, and a rifle style buttstock with crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Fair with a lot of frontier used character throughout. The iron displays dark brown patina and extensive pitting, absent dust cover, and signs of heavy use and exposure typical of Native American firearms from the Old West. The brass cartridge elevator and tacks display a deep aged patina. The scorched stock and forearm have chips, cracks, repairs, and heavy wear. All of the tacks are present. Like many of these well-loved “frontier issued” Winchesters, the action remains mechanically fine. This fascinating tack decorated Winchester will be sure to add a lot of character and interest to any western arms collection.
Provenance: The Brandhorst Collection.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500 15