April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
Style I engraved. Serial Number 78191. Caliber .405 WCF. 24" round barrel with standard sights in takedown series scroll flourishes engraved on rear portions of barrel and with gold band on the front muzzle end and breech of barrel. Comes with over 75" of gold wire throughout receiver on right and left sides, which includes hammer, lever and buttplate. Gold lion in panel is on left of receiver encased with fine scroll engraving that is the trademark of Winchester’s master engraver, John Ulrich. Right side of receiver with one gold tiger in the top panel scene with a gold inlaid grizzly bear in a second lower panel scene, the balance in fine flowing scrollwork. Superb XXX quality fancy American walnut stocks feature well-executed relief carving in Style B patterns. Steel checkered shotgun buttplate is engraved around upper screw and it is also gold wire on the top portion. No factory records are available for 1895s in this serial number range, however this is most certainly an example of Winchester’s best quality work from the period. CONDITION: Extremely fine as expertly and possibly factory restored. Barrel retains a solid 98% finish along with sights. Receiver on left side is 97% blue with back portion of upper right of receiver turning a little patina. Right side of receiver is 98% blue with small area on upper left turning patina. Magazine housing retains 85-90% blue with the balance turning patina, having a very pleasing look without taking away from the overall condition of the rifle. All screw heads are engraved with the majority of case color still present. Inside loop of lever has turned to pleasing patina in the upper portion. Lower portion retains almost all of its restored blue. 75% blue remains on buttplate. 95-96% overall finish on stock with a few compressions on right and left sides. Two 1/2" scratches are visible on back of tang left. Rear portion of stock on both sides has raised grain, indicating very little handling. Forearm has over 95% of its restored finish remaining with several very slight compressions. Extremely fine bore with strong rifling. Mechanics are fine. Almost all Grade I rifles whether 1886’s, 1892’s, or any of the other models including the 1901 automatic were sent back to New Haven for refinishing as they were exhibition guns at some time. The 1895 in .405 WCF was a favorite with Theodore Roosevelt.