March 1-2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/1/2018
All features of this carbine are verified by a factory letter which lists no shipping date but places the order number as "Paris" and received dated as March 13th, 1889. The saddle ring carbine has a nickel trim barrel, trigger, hammer, lever, bottom of the cartridge elevator, and magazine with block mounted front sight and folding adjustable leaf rear sight. The barrel bands, receiver, dust cover and buttplate are gold plated. The receiver has the integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The buttplate has a sliding trap door. The loading gate is Nitre blued. The stock and forearm are standard grade walnut. The engraving on this carbine has a list price of $2.50. The receiver, dust cover, and heel of the buttplate are decorated with engraved scrollwork and punch dot background. The left sideplate features a white tail buck in circle, almost identical to the pattern seen on page 230 by the shop of John Ulrich in the book "Winchester Engraving" by R.L. Wilson. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING-ARMS NEW HAVEN CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860" between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. The bottom of the cartridge elevator is engraved "44 CAL". The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "MODEL 1873". Serial No. 288973 is stamped on the lower tang. The gold plating on receiver remains at about 80% with some light flaking; barrel bands and buttplate are about 90% with some light flaking. Retains approximately 85% nickel with some minor flaking and razor sharp legends. This carbine is listed in the "Winchester 1873" book by serial number by Gordon. The rear sight is a blue brown patina. Wood is in excellent condition with no cracks, just usual impressions and is slightly shy to metal. Fine action and a near mint bore.