GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1879 MATCH GRADE DAMASCUS DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN.WINCHESTER1879118512 GACal. 12 ga. Beautiful Winchester Match Gun with 31" fine Damascus bbls with dolls head rib extension and single silver bead. Rib is marked with the Winchester Company name & address and "(Match Gun)". Receiver, lockplates & hammers are beautifully engraved with the oval vignettes of a running Spaniel on the left lockplate and a Pointer on the right. Lockplates are also engraved "WINCHESTER REPEATING / ARMS CO. / Match Gun". Engraving consists of fine English scrolls with about 65-70% coverage and extends onto the rib and opening lever with light patterns at the breech end of the bbls. Trigger guard is engraved with intertwined initials that are difficult to decipher. Receiver has raised filed, shielded fences. Mounted with very nicely figured European walnut including full checkered splinter forearm and rnd knob stock with checkered horn buttplate. It is generally reported that there may have been as many as 10000 of these shotguns sold by Winchester 1879-1884. They were produced in 5 grades, 10 & 12 ga and 30 & 32" bbls. Winchester apparently contracted for these shotguns with a variety of English gunmakers. The Match Grade guns, represented here are the highest grade offered by Winchester. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus (no disassembly was effected to check for matching numbers). Bbls retain about 98-99% crisp, orig brown Damascus pattern with some faint thinning over the forearm area. Receiver, lockplates & hammers retain virtually all of their bright, orig case colors. Trigger guard retains about 60% fire blue and the opening lever about 90% fire blue. Top tang has faded to silver. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and retains virtually all of its orig, crisp oil finish. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bores. 48568-6 JR (7,500-12,500)