June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
Round barrel, full magazine with barrel having engraving on breech end only and gold banded. Forend cap is engraved and also has a gold band. Forward and back positions of receiver have gold bands. Comes factory engraved with a "B" style carved wood on stock and forearm and listed as $14.00 according factory letter. Engraving is a $24.00 with gold as documented by factory letter. Case color hammer engraved and lever is case color and is also engraved. Wood looks to be at least XXX wood, with buttplate being shotgun buttplate and with gold wire at top. Engraving on bottom of receiver as well as lever link. Extensive engraving throughout, even on the back portion of the breech bolt. Factory white sheet confirms all these options with the exception of the set trigger and also lists the gun as having been received in the warehouse on March 25, 1898 and shipped from warehouse on March 25, 1898 with order No. 4781. A great rarity is the special stock dimensions found on a Winchester lever action rifle . This is a great rarity. Repair and return on March 10, 1899 as well as a repair and return on December 2, 1903 at which point the set trigger was obviously replaced with a single, non-set trigger. Accompanied by a Winchester Repeating Arms records letter confirming the configuration of this wonderful rifle. The letter indicates: Rifle, .30 caliber, 22" round barrel, set trigger, fancy pistol grip, shotgun butt, extra light, carved $14.00, engraved $24.00, drop at comb 1-1/2", at heel 3-3/16", pull at comb 13-7/8", at center 13-5/8", at toe 14-1/8"; Received warehouse March 25th, 1898. Fine to very fine condition. Round barrel with standard two line barrel marking, also rolled marked with "NICKEL STEEL BARREL / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER" markings on left side. Caliber marking on top portion of barrel. Condition would rate 95% blue. Magazine tube would rate 95-97% blue. Forend cap is good, 95-97% blue. Left side of receiver retains a good 95% blue with light surface scratches. Right side with about same amount of surface scratches and retains at least 95-97% blue. Bottom of receiver shows strong blue on lever link and belly of receiver as well, to about 97-98%. Hammer rates a 70-80% case color and is engraved. Lever with 75-85% case color, vivid in spots and is also engraved. Letter indicates that rifle came equipped with set trigger, but has obviously been changed out for some reason. This indicates as that the lower tang does not match up to the receiver as it should. Also, lower tang does not sport grade of wood that accompanies rifle. Tang is marked "7132" on lower tang with no "Xs" for the grade of wood. Stock is marked on back "5467" and buttplate is also marked with "5467". This I believe is the original assembly line number as the carving on the wood matches the rest of gun. Grade of wood looks to be a XXX with light surface impressions, scratches on left side and the same amount on right side. Overall finish would rate 85-90% finish remaining. Also looks like air or some liquid got underneath the finish and looks much lighter in color; this is on top heel of stock. Wood has had a professional repair; upper part next to receiver, where tang and receiver meet on both sides of the stock. Stock comes equipped with pistol grip cap. Remaining blue on buttplate would be a 90-97% and its dull in color and looks to have been factory reblued. All screw heads are factory engraved. Bore indicates usage, still shiny but not very bright; cycles properly. Mechanics are fine. Fine to very fine for overall condition, with it being antique factory engraved with gold wire; an extremely rare Model 1894. From the Ray Bentley Collection. CORRECTION: After further examination and research, it has been discovered that the finish on the receiver has been professionally restored. The restoration involved the refinishing of the receiver. This rifle was previously featured in the February 1995 edition of “THE GUN REPORT”.