June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
Full octagon barrel with half magazine. Forearm cap is case colored as is receiver, hammer, lever, and trigger. Mounted with a fancy highly figured grade of American walnut with "H" style checkering both on stock and forearm. Trapdoor in buttstock retains no cleaning rods. Caliber marking on carrier lifting "44 CAL". Very few Winchesters were ever sent out with a "XXXX" grade wood making this a very exceptional piece. Accompanied by a Winchester factory letter dated April 28th, 1980 confirming the configuration as: rifle, octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered stock, pistol grip, half magazine, case hardened, and shipped from factory December 3rd, 1884. Barrel retains 95%+ original blue and sports a front sight of German silver insert. Has one ding 6-7" from muzzle on edge of left flat. Rear barrel sight is an acorn type with serrated edges. Nose cap is case colored retains 60% mellowed out case colors. Hammer retains 95% bright case color with no drag lines. Lever with 95-96% case colors, bright on sides and mellowed somewhat on bottom of lever. Trigger has mellowed to dark patina in color. Lower tang fits receiver as it should with 96% case color. Left side of receiver 90-95% bright case color with balance mellowing. Dust cover 95-96% orig blue, right side of receiver is 85-90% bright case color with balance turning to mellow pattern. Left side of stock has many surface scratches on the high part and light impressions. Right side of stock has few surface scratches and checkering on both sides looks very fine. No wood chips missing on upper or lower tang. No cracks are evident around tang area. Pistol grip retains an ebony insert correct for time period of gun. Bore is bright and shiny with minor pitting at edge of rifling. Cycles properly, mechanics are fine. From the Ray Bentley Collection.