GUN SPRING 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/21/2018
FANTASTIC EARLY WINCHESTER MODEL 1894 DELUXE TAKEDOWN CASE COLORED RIFLE WITH FACTORY LETTER. WINCHESTER 1894 10889 38-55 WIN ESA Cal. 38-55 Win. 26" full oct bbl. with two line address and caliber marking on the top flat. Marble #2 patent ivory bead sight. Full magazine with takedown lever and collar. Exceedingly rare case colored receiver with case colored hammer, lever, and trigger. Fine oil finishedfancy feathercrotch American walnut pistol grip stock with fine H-style checkering with hard rubber Winchester marked grip cap and shotgun buttplate. Upper channel of stock assembly line number matches lower tang. Accompanied by Winchester Factory Letter which confirms the special order features of this rare rifle with ship date Nov 6, 1895 with one other rifle on order 23139. PROVENANCE: The spectacular collections of Ray Bentley featuring the finest and rarest deluxe antique Winchesters in the world. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 95%+ blue. Stock and forearm retain most of their orig finish. No wood chips, scratches or dings are visible on stock. Light compressions on both left and right of stock, but very few. Mag tube retains 90% blue with balance turning a dark plum. Takedown lever has its usual patent date of June 6, 1893 and shows very little indication that gun has been taken apart. Breech bolt is of a blue with extractor having about 80% nitre blue. The loading gate has turned darker plum yet remains in high condition with strong nitre blue evident. Hammer, trigger and lever retain most of their case colors, with very strong case colors on the sides. Nose cap retains 80-90% strong case colors with the balance slightly muted. Takedown collar is 95%+ on blue and locks in place as it should. Toggle link on bottom of receiver retains all of its blue. Mechanics are fine. Lower tang has very strong case colors indicating little if any use. Left side of receiver is gorgeous case colored much as on the right and retains most of its vivid rainbow colors. Crisp mechanics, bright shiny bore. All case colored receiver model 94'S are rare and desirable however a first year production deluxe rifle with nearly all its brilliant factory case hardening remaining is an extreme rarity and will grace the gun room of a true connoisseur of the Winchester model 1894. 53091-203 MS (40,000-60,000)