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"The last that came up, but one, was Floeck, who came staggering under the weight of an enormous buck, which
he bore on his shoulder...As he threw the buck down he remarked: 'I might have got another the easiest in the world, but I had in this fellow about as much as I could
well stand under, and my compadre would not consent to shoulder the responsibility.' He had shot the buck
with a splendid Winchester rifle, which he had had manufactured to order at a cost of $150."
- A Day of Sport in Texas, Forest & Stream,
February 8, 1877
In fact, all Winchester ‘73s with extra long barrels are very rare. Rock Island Auction Company has only offered three other special order Model 1873s with desirable extra long barrels of this length, and even the shorter 30 inch extra long barreled rifles are hard to find.
This incredible One of One Thousand from the Lone Star State is discussed on pages 50 and 51 of Edmund E. Lewis’s “The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles” where
it is noted that in addition to increased accuracy, the longer barrel allowed this rifle to carry more cartridges giving the rifle the ability to hit multiple targets at long range in skilled hands. Lewis’s book also illustrates the scarce gold inlaid inscription and a portrait of the original owner. This incredible one-of-a-kind One of One Thousand Winchester Model 1873 is accompanied by a 2007 factory letter that lists this historic rifle with a 32 inch octagon barrel, set trigger, XXX checkered stock, 1/2 nickel finish, and “Engraved - Peter Flouck [sic]” and indicates it was received in the warehouse on April 26, 1876, and shipped on May 1, 1876, in order 5772. Older 1960s and
1970s dated factory letter list largely the same information but spell the name correctly as “Peter Floeck.” None of the letters mention that the rifle is a One of One Thousand. However, Lewis notes in the book that the rifle “is unquestionably authentic” and “confirms that the warehouse ledgers are not always accurate and, sometimes, not even close.” In included Herb Glass letters from 1967, he states “This gun is a genuine One
of One Thousand in every respected as far as I am concerned and there is absolutely no doubt that the fact that it is not recorded at the factory was a bookkeeping error. I have owned several One of One Thousands and have examined many more and this is one of the finest and is very typical in every respect. I unhesitatingly guarantee it to be authentic and genuine in every respect.” A Certificate of Authenticity from the Texas Gun Collectors Association for the rifle is included stating the rifle is “completely original and authentic in all respects.” On page 376 of “Winchester’s New Model of 1873: A Tribute, Volume II,” the chart of One of One Thousands in the factory ledgers does not list this rifle, but this rifle would fall very close to rifles #s 18382, 18386, and 18387 which were all received on May 22, 1876.
Peter Floeck
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