GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1895 LEVER ACTION RIFLE IDENTIFIED TO TEXAS RANGER W. W. STERLING.WINCHESTER189542050230-06MODERNCal. 30-06. Standard grade rifle with 24" tapered rnd bbl, pedestal mounted front sight with screw & flat top rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with black insert, Schnable tip forearm & straight stock with crescent buttplate. Right side of buttstock has an oval 2-3/8" x 1-3/8" oval German silver plaque that is engraved in period script "To: / Gen. W.W.Sterling / TEXAS RANGERS / from: / DR. DALE BAKER". William Warren Sterling (1891-1960) was a Texas born man. In 1901, his family moved to Beaumont and at age 17 he entered Texas A&M College. He worked on ranches in the region until 1915 when problems with Mexico erupted and he joined the Rangers and became a Scout for the 3rd U.S. Cavalry in Hidalgo & Cameron Counties. During WWI, he became a 2nd Lt. in the 9th Texas Infantry and after the war was Deputy Sheriff & Justice of the Peace in Mirando City. In 1927, he was appointed Capt. of Company D, Texas Rangers and was almost immediately sent to quell the lawlessness in the oil boom town of Borger. At about the same time, the famous sculptor Gutzon Borglum (famous for Mt. Rushmore) used Mr. Sterling as the model for his Texas Ranger statue. In 1931 he was appointed adjutant general (Commander) of the Texas Rangers and the Texas National Guard in which capacity he served until 1933 at which time he resigned and re-entered the Army. He served as a Colonel during WWII and was discharged in 1944. He later managed ranches in South Texas. Mr. Sterling authored a book Trails and Trials of a Texas Ranger in 1959. He died April 1960. Accompanied by a 3-pg letter from Winchester historian & author George Madis wherein he verifies the technical information about this rifle. Also accompanying is a collection card from the famous Charles Schriner III Collection of Mountain Home, TX (the YO Ranch) which states that he purchased this rifle from the Tom Kielman auction Dec 6, 1986. Also accompanied by letters of correspondence to and from Mr. Sterling. In addition, there is a copy of a letter from Mr. Sterling to Charles Schriner, III dated July 24, 1957 which addresses a firearm stating "it was good to hear from you, and to know that you have my old pistol. I was a pall bearer at my late comrades funeral and a few days ago I called on Mrs. Hamer in Austin. She did not know anything about the wooden handled six shooter". Apparently, a reference to a revolver he had obtained from the very famous Ranger Frank Hamer. He also references his book which relates the history of that gun, from which he had cut away part of the trigger guard and altered it in other ways. Additionally accompanying is a volume of letters, papers & newspaper articles about Mr. Sterling. PROVENANCE: Tom Kielman Estate; Charles Schriner III Collection. CONDITION: About good. Bbl retains about 70% dull orig blue with a cleaned area of storage rust & fine pitting about mid-point on the left side. Receiver retains about 30% thin orig blue with the balance mottled silver/grey patina with some age spotting. Magazine box & lever are matching patina. Wood is sound with numerous nicks & dings, with traces of orig finish & shows a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine. Strong dark bore. 50186-11 JR215 (10,000-15,000)