April 9th & 10th Premier Firearms Sale (MFIRE)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/9/2016
24” barrel in .44-40 caliber. According to the factory letter, this rifle was shipped on April 24, 1875 as follows: Type: Rifle Barrel Type: Octagon Barrel Length: 24” ,Trigger: Set ,Checkered stock, Case hardened .This early rifle features the raised thumbprint dust cover, the folding Beach front sight; Winchester sporting rear sight; checkered walnut stocks; rifle butt; case colored frame, lever, and hammer; set trigger. Barrel legends and edges are sharp. Frame, hammer, and lever retain approximately 95% case colors. Deluxe grain checkered walnut stocks are excellent. This gun has been entirely professionally restored with an aged look. The barrel and tube are a soft brown patina. Frame colors are muted. Fire blue loading gate and oil finished stocks with a couple of minor mars. Checkering is sharp in most places with a few flat spots. Action is like new. Strong, clean, rifled bore. It is unknown who did this quality work, but this restored rifle looks as it wood having just left the factory and with the aging process having taken over. The toning of the finish of the barrel and the case colors, as well as the stock, appear to be so original that only an experienced eye would not believe this gun was just as it left the factory having simply aged. All features listed in letter match this rifle except the folding front sight. It is a desirable early 1st Model with the raised thumbprint dust cover in perfect working order and extremely nice bore. Barrel markings are proper. A beautiful rifle that would be worth a king’s ransom if it were all original, and the quality of workmanship rivals that of Winchester.