GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
EXTREMELY RARE SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER MODEL 1885 SINGLE SHOT RIFLE IN A RARE CALIBER.WINCHESTER18851647438 EXPRESSCal. 38 EXPRESS Incredibly rare rifle with 20-3/4" no. 4 weight oct bbl, globe front sight & semi-buckhorn rear sight. Top flat of bbl has standard 2-line roll marking about mid point and cal. marking over the chamber area. Bottom flat of bbl, under the forearm is marked "11" which apparently indicates the weight of the bbl. It is also marked "38EX" under the spring. Receiver is thick wall, flat side & color case hardened. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with black insert, schnable tip forearm & straight stock with crescent buttplate. Left side of upper & lower tangs, under the wood are marked "139" in tiny numbers. None of the other parts are assembly number marked. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in Cal. 38 Express with 22" no. 4, oct bbl, plain trigger & globe sight received in the warehouse Feb 24, 1888 and shipped same day, order number not indicated. The letter also notes the date Jan 6, 1890 is also written above the date to the warehouse with no explanation. CONDITION: Very fine plus. Bbl retains about 98% crisp, orig blue with bright muzzle that has an unusual crown indicating that this bbl has been reduced in length. Receiver retains virtually all of its brilliant, orig case colors slightly faded over the top & top tangs. Breechblock and hammer also retain bright case colors. Lever retains faded case colors in sheltered areas, with scattered surface rust. Buttplate retains about 90% strong orig case colors, lightly to moderately faded. Wood is sound with numerous nicks & dings, a couple of long scratches and retains most of its orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp. Brillant shiny bore. 49184-2 JR (8,000-15,000)