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AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK THE STORY OF THE WINCHESTER 1OF1000AND1OF100 BYLEWIS
In the book “Winchester: The Golden Age of American Gunmaking and
the Winchester 1 of 1000” by R.L. Wilson on page 55, it lists and shows this rifle’s features and also says “In condition one of the finest of known 1 of 100 or 1 of 1000 Winchesters.” The book also indicates it was in the famous Robert Howard Collection. It is also featured on page 115 of “The Story of Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles” by Edmund E. Lewis where it is shown with the only other “One of One Hundred” rifle with a nickel plated finish. This rifle has a nickel plated forend cap and frame and casehardened buttplate, while the other rifle has a nickel plated forend cap, frame, buttplate. Lewis also provides provenance for this rifle. He indicates: “Dr. Fred Shurtleff purchased this rifle from the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. in 1876. The doctor was originally from Boston, Massachusetts, and later migrated West as a young man. At one time, he became both the sheriff and the coroner of a small frontier town. He died in 1944 at age 92. Prior
to his death, Dr. Shurtleff gave the rifle to Howard J. Silberstein, a USN Commander from Chincoteague, Virginia. Silberstein later sold the rifle in 1958 to Robert Abels, a well-known gun dealer in New York City. The rifle was formerly in the collection of Robert Howard.” It was in the Ray House Collection when Lewis’s book was published in 2009.
This rifle has all the correct “One of One Hundred” features such as: the fine scroll engraving on both ends of the barrel on the exposed flats, engraved “barrel bands” on each end (but not inlaid with precious metal like the “One of One Thousand” rifles), the “One of One Hundred” markings engraved in a script pattern on the top barrel flat in front of the receiver, and an adjustable single set trigger. This rifle also has a nickel plated receiver, gold washed Beach combination front sight, an adjustable sporting rear sight, nickel plated Vernier tang peep sight (adjustable for elevation only, showing graduations on the side of the staff from 0-50 indicating 0-500 yards), and a XXX fancy grade stock and forearm. Since this is such an early production rifle, it has the First Model features such as: a dust cover with 5/8 inch fine checkered oval thumb print on top riding in integral slots in the top of the frame, the first pattern markings on the tang of just “Model 1873,” and the early style script serial numbering on the lower tang. The barrel has the markings of “WINCHESTER’S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING’S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCT. 16. 1860.” In addition, it has the special features of a nickel plated receiver and forend cap. The lever, hammer, and buttplate are color casehardened. The barrel and magazine tube are blued, and many small parts are niter blued. The stock and forend are XXX deluxe walnut, certainly of exceptional quality, with fine line checkering. An original five- piece cleaning rod is stored in the stock compartment.
CONDITION: Very fine, showing 85% of the original nickel plated finish
on the receiver with numerous areas of fine pin-prick pitting through the finish. The barrel and magazine tube have traces of faded blue mostly in the protected areas. The balance of metal is turning a mostly brown patina, and some bright metal is visible on the magazine tube and center portion of the once polished barrel. The stock and forend are both very fine and show only minor handling marks as well as well-defined checkering
with nice diamonds and only a few minor pressure dings. Mechanically functions fine apart from the set trigger. This is an extremely rare and well- publicized example of a much sought after Winchester Model 1873 “One of One Hundred” rifle. This would be a centerpiece of any advanced or high end Winchester collection.
Provenance: The Dr. Fred Shurtleff Collection; The Howard J. Silberstein Collection; The Robert Ables Collection; The Robert Howard Collection; The Ray House Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 300,000 - 500,000