GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
WINCHESTER MODEL 1876, SPECIAL ORDER DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE.WINCHESTER1876 DELUXE801945-60Cal. .45-60. Second model rifle with special order 26" oct to rnd bbl, button magazine, half nickle front sight, 1876 marked ladder rear sight & thick base sporting tang sight for Model 1873 with 4" staff. Receiver is second type with attached dust cover rail and third type dust cover. Receiver has single set trigger. Mounted with about 3X, flame grain American walnut with early style checkered forearm and straight stock with crescent buttplate. Left side of tang under the wood is marked with the assembly number "287" and XXX. Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Accompanied by two Cody Firearms Museum letters, dated Mar & May 2004 which identify this rifle as case hardened with 26" half oct bbl, set trigger, checkered stock & half magazine, received in warehouse Sept 27 1881 and shipped the same day to order number 28275. This rifle was produced at a time when the West was still wild and owning a firearm for hunting & self defense were a way of life. Arms of that era usually saw very hard service with little or no maintenance and are rarely found today with high orig finish. The fact that this rifle is a deluxe special order item, which would have cost substantially more than a standard grade rifle, attests to the speculation that it probably belonged to someone of a reasonably high social status, such as a wealthy rancher, military officer or an individual with more income than the average working guy of that era. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Phil A. Bleakney, Jr. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching. Bbl retains 92-94% strong orig blue with sharp edge wear, some light dulling and a couple of small scattered spots of light surface rust. There are some small scratches by the rear sight. Receiver retains 60-70%+ faded case colors, turning silver. Lever & hammer also retain faded case colors. Buttplate is a mottled grey patina. Wood is sound with a few nicks & scratches, a couple of tiny bruises & retains about 95% orig piano varnish finish. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore. 49059-25 JR (17,500-27,500)