June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
Full octagon barrel with matted to flat, half magazine. Comes with a sporting ramp front sight and a flat top sporting rear sight. These sit on top of a full matted barrel with the two line address also on top flat. Comes with case colored forend cap, case colored receiver, case colored hammer and lever, and trigger. The buttplate is a shotgun style made of horn, also penciled on the buttplate are assembly numbers "2586". "XXXX" stamped on bottom of tang, also with a "S" to indicate shotgun butt with a four digit assembly number "2586" is marked on upper channel of stock. Forend cap is case colored. Left side of receiver is case colored; right side is equal. Loading gate is a bright Nitre blue. Dust cover reads "WINCHESTER EXPRESS / 50 CAL. / GRS". Hammer is case colored, as lever and trigger. "H" style checkering pattern with very fine lines with an ebony insert on pistol grip. Accompanied by a factory records research letter from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center listing the rifle as: Rifle, Express .50-95, 28" octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered stock, pistol grip, shotgun butt, horn buttplate and C&C case hardened; received in warehouse May 21st, 1886 and shipped May 22nd, 1886. Octagon barrel is 96-97% original blue with caliber marking is off to the left flat. Front sight is of a ramp type with an ivory bead. Rear barrel sight is flat top sporting type. Caliber marking on carrier lifter reads "50-95" without any scratches or dings and shows a medium mustard color. Forend cap is 96-97% case color. Left side of receiver is vivid case color to a 98% with only slight edge wear indicating very little use at all. Right side 97-98% case color with only edge wear being evident. Bright Nitre blue loading gate retains 98% blue. Hammer with 98% case color with no drag line indicated. Lever is 98% bright and vivid in most areas of orig case color. Trigger has toned to a darker case color, but still 98%. Left side of stock has few impressions and very few surface scratches; no bruises in the checkering with only the tiniest chip of wood missing in the corner of tang where tang and receiver meet. No cracks to indicate splits anywhere. Right side of stock with only minor surface impressions with no wood missing or splintering evident. Stock fits frame very fine and buttplate also fits very fine with only a few chips out of the base of the horn buttplate; no chips missing where it meets the wood. Screw heads are very fine condition with all but the tang screw looking like they have not been turned. Bore is bright and sharp rifling; cycles properly. Mechanics are fine. An outstanding .50-95 Express Deluxe 1876 that would be difficult to improve upon. From the Ray Bentley Collection.
Caliber/Bore
.50-95 Express