GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
EXTREMELY RARE WINCHESTER FIRST MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. WINCHESTER 1873 627 44 WCF (44-40) Cal. 44 WCF (44-40) Standard grade, 2nd year of production rifle with 24-1/4" rnd bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight and reverse mounted, early, V-notch rear sight with checkered edges. Receiver is first type with first type mortised dust cover that has raised checkered thumb print. Mounted with nicely figured, uncheckered American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate with trap. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly no. 18 and an "R". Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock & inside toe of buttplate. Receiver, sideplates and dust cover are nickel finished. Forend cap appears to have been originally blued and buttplate is color case hardened. This rifle will letter with 24" rnd bbl, received in warehouse Mar 21, 1874 and shipped Apr 1, 1874 to order no. 1203, no mention is made of the nickel finished receiver, however, there is no doubt that the finish on this rifle is absolutely authentic and real. Undoubtedly this rifle was the property of someone of importance or of a wealthier class than the common working man. These early ''73 rifles were in great demand with their introduction. They were the first successful, center fire repeating rifles available in quantity and were used by citizens from every walk of life from law enforcement to outlaws, the common working man/cowboy, ranchers and hunters. These early rifles are almost never found with any orig finish. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Phil A. Bleakney, Jr. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl and magazine tube retain strong blue in sheltered areas with the balance fading and turning plummy. Receiver, side plates, dust cover & carrier retain about 96-97% strong orig nickel, turning a little milky. Loading gate retains about 90% orig fire blue. Hammer retains about all of its orig case colors, slightly darkened. Lever retains strong case colors on the sides and trigger bow with outer faces of finger loop fading to silver. Buttplate retains 85-90% bright case colors, mostly on the face with the tang fading and with light rust on the heel and toe. Wood is sound with light nicks and scratches and retains strong orig oil finish, showing wear on the carry point of the forearm. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore with a few scattered small spots of roughness. 49059-19 JR (15,000-25,000)