GUN SPRING 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/21/2018
SUPERB ULTRA RARE FACTORY ULRICH ENGRAVED WINCHESTER 1873 RIMFIRE RIFLE WITH WINCHESTER FACTORY LETTER. WINCHESTER 1873 501989 22LR Cal. 22 Long. 24-3/8" half rnd, half oct bbl. Standard sights. 2X deluxe wood in highly figured American walnut. Equipped with cheekpiece and shotgun rubber buttplate. Also equipped with standard "H" style checkering pattern. Special Two Dollar Engraving "Substitute Squirrel for Deer" in #10 style circle. All numbers match. "CP" and two "xx" for grade of wood engraved on lower tang. Carrier lifter has beautiful mustard color marked "22 Cal" /"Long" and is also engraved with lovely masterful scroll engraving in front and back of left and right sideplates. Equipped with Winchester cap on pistol grip. Accompanied by a 1989 Winchester Factory Letter which verifies all special order features: 1/2 octagon barrel, Plain trigger, Checkered PG stock, Rubber butt plate, Cheek piece, Engraved $2.00 - Substitute squirrel for deer, and shipped March 25, 1904. One can only imagine how a high end special order 1873 could survive this long with so much of its factory finish remaining. PROVENANCE: Ex Felix Bedlan Coll.; The spectacular collections of Ray Bentley featuring the finest and rarest deluxe antique Winchesters in the world. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Screw heads are near perfect with 98% blue finish. Nose cap with 95% blue finish. Bbl and mag tube with 98% blued finish. No engraving on hammer, lever or nose cap. Retains 98% of blued on both sides with upper tang showing only discoloration of blue. Ample amount of case color on lever is present on both right and left sides but silvered out on bottom. Bright shiny bore. Action is perfect as new. This is the finest blued engraved .22 1873 known and is illustrated in George Madis' The Winchester Book when it was the pride and joy of Felix Bedlan's Collection and will be the pride and joy of whoever is the fortunate successful bidder in this auction. Impossible to upgrade. 53091-47 MS (50,000-80,000)