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LOT 3035
Documented Ultra Rare, Deluxe,
Special Order, Factory Engraved, Gold Inlaid, and Silver Plated Winchester Model 1873 Rifle with
Seven-Leaf Express Sight, Matte Barrel, and Factory Letter - Serial no. 104936, 44 WCF cal., 26 inch octagon bbl.,
blue/silver plated/gold inlaid finish, checkered fancy walnut pistol grip stock. This special order Winchester Model 1873 rifle
was manufactured in 1882 with an extremely rare factory “Seven Leaf Express” rear sight. Examples of this sight are pictured
and described on pages 316-317 of “Winchester New Model of 1873 Volume I” by James D. Gordon. James Gordon describes the
sight as: “The rarest and most interesting rear sight found on Model 1873s”. He identifies only ten rifles by serial number known
to have been fitted with this special sight. Gordon further states that the majority of the rifles with seven-leaf express sights have
special order features such as engraving, plating or deluxe wood and two of the known rifles have “rare matted barrels”. He notes
that most of the seven-leaf Model 1873s were recovered from Africa. In addition to the seven-leaf express sight, this rifle has a
26-inch octagon barrel with special order matted top flat, single set trigger, factory engraving on the forearm cap, dust cover, receiver
and buttplate, silver-plated finish and deluxe, fancy grain, checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with ebony insert. The left side of
the receiver is factory inscribed with the gold-filled inscription: “A.I.N. DURAAN/HOOP STAD” in a circle on the left side plate. The right
side plate is engraved with a hound’s head surrounded by scrollwork on a punch-dot background. The engraving was almost certainly
executed by Master Engraver John Ulrich and is similar to his work illustrated in “The Book of Winchester Engraving” by R.L. Wilson. The rifle
is accompanied by a factory letter that lists all the rifle’s features including the “name engraved, etc..” and states this rifle was shipped from the
Winchester warehouse on December 27, 1882. Research identifies “Hoopstad” as a town in South Africa located in what was once the Boer Orange
Free State. Considerable fighting between the British and Boers took place in and around Hoopstad during the Boer War (1899-1902). “Duraan” is a
common Afrikaner name and that Albertus Duraan (b. Orange Free State circa 1848) is very possibly the “A.I.N. DURAAN” who was the recipient of this
rifle. In addition to the special features, the top of the matted barrel flat is roll-stamped with the Winchester two-line legend with King’s Improvement
patent dates. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped “- MODEL. 1873.-” in fancy letters with foliate designs at either end. The serial number is
stamped in script across the lower tang behind the lever latch. The left side of the barrel is stamped “F157U” just ahead of the forearm cap. In
addition to the silver-plated forearm cap, dust cover, receiver and crescent buttplate, the rifle has a blued barrel, magazine and loading gate, and
casehardened hammer, lever and trigger.
CONDITION: Very good. The rifle shows moderate wear associated with use in the field. The barrel and magazine retain 90% of the period
refurbished blue finish with surface oxidation and handling wear. The seven-leaf express sight has 80% of the niter blue finish. The sight leaves
have some patches of surface oxidation, and the sight base has light pitting. The engraved scrollwork is crisp, and the gold inlaid inscription is
nearly all present. The silver plated finish on the forearm cap, receiver, dust cover and buttplate has flaked and shows moderate to heavy wear
with 50% of the silver plating. The plated surfaces are lightly pitted, and the buttplate shows gray patina with mild pitting. The stock and forearm
are also very good. The checkered panels are worn. There is a hairline crack in the left stock wrist and an old chip in the left side of the pistol grip.
Mechanically functions. This rifle is one of the most elaborate deluxe, special order, factory engraved, gold inlaid Winchester Model 1873 rifles
extant and one of the very few Model 1873 rifles fitted with the ultra rare and desirable Winchester seven-leaf express sight. A great opportunity to
own a possible one-of-a-kind significant documented factory engraved Winchester Model 1873 rifle.
Estimate: 20,000 - 35,000
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