April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
Full deluxe case colored .50 Express short rifle with factory letter and masterfully engraved by Ulrich. Special order deluxe sporting rifle made for the British Commonwealth Trade. 22" full matted round barrel with half magazine and sporting style sights. "WINCHESTER'S REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN CT." and "KING'S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16.1860." is hand engraved to either side of the barrel matting. ".50 CAL" is hand engraved on the top side of the matting at chamber and "95 GRS." on opposite side of chamber. London definitive proof marks also at chamber area and on receiver. Second model-style dust cover is hand engraved "WINCHESTER EXPRESS-.50 CAL. 95 GRS." in two lines. "50-95" is engraved on the bottom of the cartridge carrier. Receiver and appended metal surfaces are tastefully engraved with flourishes of foliate scrollwork and scallopine embellishments. This conservative engraving treatment was billed at $5 by the factory and was executed by Winchester master engraver, John Ulrich and is signed by him in microscopic stamped letters "J. ULRICH" on tang behind the trigger. Case hardened shotgun butt with a wisp of engraving at heel, lever and hammer are bare. American fancy walnut stock marked in upper channel "1001" as well as on the lower tang "1001 XXX S". Pistol grip with black ebony insert. Standard "H" style checkering. This exact rifle is illustrated on page 243 of "THE WINCHESTER BOOK" by George Madis. Accompanied by a Winchester Factory letter which confirms the special order features and shipped on October 14th, 1880. CONDITION: Fine. Round barrel has 85-90% blue. Forearm cap has 40-60% light case colors. Receiver has 80-85% case colors that are bright and vivid on left side with right side having 30-40% with colors present but not strong or vivid. Loading gate is a dark plum. One side breech block engraved with light to medium mustard color. Stock features pistol grip and cap that are fine with light impressions with what looks to be original finish on both left and right sides. Shotgun metal buttplate is not numbered to the gun. Buttplate is 50-60% blue with only heel showing wear. Wood has a minuscule chip missing from right side next to receiver, no other chips are missing. Stock fits upper tang very well with no chips or splinters missing on lower tang. No cracks evident. Forearm wood is with light surface scratches with no chips of wood missing. Bore bright and shiny with one very small area of roughness. Mechanics are crisp. Many of these rare special order short rifles saw use throughout the British Empire, especially in India and Africa during the last quarter of the 19th century. However rarely ever produced with such elegant embellishment.