September 20th 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2015
.45-90 WCF with a 28" barrel. Offered is the final chapter in the Winchester lever action seven leaf express saga. Factory letter lists as follows: Serial number applied May 22nd, 1896; Type: rifle; Caliber: .45-90; Barrel type: octagon; Barrel length: 28"; Trigger: Set; Sights: Seven leaf Express and Beach; Screw-eyes:; Received in warehouse February 6th, 1897; shipped February 10th, 1897. The only feature not listed in factory letter is the full magazine, as this was standard issue. All other features of this rifle are as recorded. Standard finish for this era, which is not listed on letter, would be case colored. The barrel and tube are a lovely mix of soft blue with the patina blending, some light high edge wear with sharp edges and some usual minor age freckling. Barrel legend is sharp. Caliber legend stamped on left flat at breech due to special rear sight. Front sight is replaced. The frame colors have nickeled out with traces existing in recesses. The bolt retains approximately 80% of the original factory high polish blue. Express sights features the platinum center lines and are numbered one through six and the long range express sight has graduations from seven to ten. They are in excellent condition with no damage and the spring still exhibits fire blue finish. All screws are excellent with just some minor disfiguration. Loading gate spring has a replaced screw. It has the close set double triggers with the original sling eyes intact. The walnut stocks are excellent, all original, proud to metal with no cracks and usual surface abrasions, retaining generous amounts of the original factory finish with some minor age checking at comb. Action is perfect. Strong rifled bore with some very minor black powder abrasion. With the exception of the rear sight and one replaced screw, the gun is all original, untouched, just as it left the factory in superb condition and is chambered for the second most popular caliber ever manufactured, the large .45-90. In this, the final offering of the three Winchester rifles sporting the rare express sights. A once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire all three models so equipped.