GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
COMPOSITE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 ONE OF ONE THOUSAND DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE.WINCHESTER18732720044 WCF (44-40)Cal. 44 WCF 44-40. Fine early rifle with 24-1/2" oct bbl, full magazine, combination front sight, early v-notch rear sight with checkered edges & thick base sporting tang sight with 4" staff. Mounted with very highly figured, about 3 X American walnut that has early style checkered forearm and straight stock with crescent buttplate and trap. Bbl & magazine tube are probably from an orig 1 of 1000 rifle. Bbl has silver bands at the chamber & muzzle ends with well executed foliate arabesque patterns and engraved on top flat "One of One Thousand". Receiver is 1st Type with mortised 2nd Type impressed thumbprint dust cover. Receiver has single set trigger. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked "XXX" and with the assembly no. "808". Matching assembly number is found in top tang channel of buttstock & inside toe of buttplate. SN appears to have been altered. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle with oct bbl, set trigger, checkered stock, case hardened and 1 of 1000, received to warehouse Nov 6 1877 and shipped Feb 20 1878 to order no. 11229. Undoubtedly, this rifle was created to deceive the unknowing or naive customer by an unscrupulous person. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Phil A. Bleakney, Jr. CONDITION: Good, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube show a light brown finish over orig patina with light sharp edge wear. Receiver and side plates retain faded case colors with right side plate heavily cleaned. Lever & hammer retain dark case colors and the buttplate traces of smokey case colors. Wood is sound having been lightly cleaned and retains a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine. Strong bright bore with scattered shallow pitting. 49059-21 JR (10,000-20,000)