GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
RARE NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SADDLE RING CARBINE. WINCHESTER 1866 SRC 107853 44 RF HENRY Cal. 44 RF Henry. Fine, signed, Nimschke engraved '66 carbine with 20" bbl, full magazine, integral front band/front sight & 2-position flip rear sight graduated to 500 yards. Mounted with very highly figured, uncheckered European walnut with straight stock & rifle crescent buttplate that has trap. Left side of buttstock has a very large kidney-shaped patch. Unusually, right side of lower tang under the wood is marked with an "X" and a "V". Top tang channel of buttstock & inside toe of buttplate are marked with matching SN to the carbine. Receiver & sideplates, along with lever & buttplate are silver-plated. Receiver is beautifully engraved by Master Engraver L. D. Nimschke in his typical intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with fine pearled background. Several scrolls on left side terminate in flower blossoms and the left side plate is engraved in a very nicely detailed Mexican eagle. Right side has matching engraving with a single flower blossom & an open counter-point panel on sideplate. Engraving extends over top of receiver, top tang, bottom tang & buttplate tang. Bottom of carrier is engraved in Mr. Nimschke's trademark flower blossom with fine pearled background and with his figure 8 ribbon around the timing screws on which is engraved his "LDN" initials top of buttplate tang is engraved "J.D. HEAVEN", probably at the time the carbine was engraved. Signed examples of Mr. Nimschke's work are rather rare and not often encountered. Equally rare, is the deluxe wood on an 1866 Winchester. This carbine appears to have been produced in about 1872 at a time when any repeating firearm was in great demand on the Western frontier and a firearm was a daily use tool. Firearms of that era are rarely found today with orig configuration and finish. PROVENANCE: The Estate of G. W. "Bill" Stewart of Sonora, Texas. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain about 60-70% blue, strong in sheltered areas, fading and thin elsewhere with scattered spots of light surface etching and light pitting around the muzzle ends and on front band. Receiver retains about 95% strong, restored nickel. Hammer retains about 75% case colors, dark on top edge, showing wear on the right side. Lever retains about 85% orig nickel. Buttplate retains about 60% restored nickel finish. Stock with the aforementioned patch and a small, filled area by the top tang is otherwise sound with nicks, dings & bruises and shows an old restored finish. Forearm is sound with light nicks & dings, also with a restored finish. Mechanics are fine. Very bright shiny bore with some scattered pitting about mid-point. 49973-493 JR95 (6,500-12,500)