GUN FALL 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/4/2016
VERY RARE SPECIAL ORDER DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. WINCHESTER 1873 284693 32 WCF Cal. 32 WCF (32-20). Rare & unusual '73 with 30" full matted oct bbl, full magazine, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight, Lyman 6A 2-leaf folding rear sight and a Lyman tang sight with disc. Mounted with very highly figured, center crotch, flame grain American walnut with H-style checkered forearm and black insert serpentine pistol grip stock that has crescent buttplate without trap. Left side of lower tang, under the wood, is marked with assembly number "2310", "XXX" and "32". Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of the buttstock. Buttplate is without assembly number, however there is little doubt that it is orig to this rifle. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle, as found, with 30" oct matted bbl, case hardened, plain trigger, checkered stock with pistol grip-extra deep and Lyman front & rear sights, received in warehouse Dec. 1, 1888 and shipped same day to Order #14912. PROVENANCE: Ex-Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: About fine. Bbl retains about 85% thinning orig blue with a couple of minor nicks and a few scattered small spots of pin prick rust; magazine tube retains 30-40% blue in sheltered areas showing a gray metal patina on outer radius with rust spotting near the muzzle end; receiver & sideplates retain 65-70% fading but strong case colors on sides & top with bottom edge mostly turned silver; hammer retains strong case colors and the lever faded case colors on sides turned silvery brown patina on outer faces; buttplate is faded to silver. Wood is sound with light nicks, dings & scratches and a couple of small bruises in the forearm checkering, showing moderate wear on the checkering with the buttstock retaining about 90% orig piano varnish finish and the forearm about 70% orig piano varnish finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore. 50320-3 JR42 (17,500-22,500)