GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
VERY RARE ULRICH ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE. WINCHESTER 1866 46022 44 RF HENRY Cal 44 RF Henry. Well-known, spectacular and rare '66 Rifle with 24-1/4" oct bbl, altered half nickle front sight and 900 yd Henry ladder rear sight. Mounted with, most rare, about 3X center crotch, flame grain, uncheckered American walnut including straight stock with brass crescent buttplate that has a trap. Left side of lower tang under the wood is marked "XXX" and the assembly number "77" along with a "G" and a "V". Upper tang is numbered "52". Top tang channel of buttstock has last 4-digits of matching SN visible which are also found inside toe of buttplate. Rifle is most unusually and whimsically engraved by Conrad Ulrich with full coverage on the receiver, forend cap and buttplate tang. Left side of receiver and sideplate have the very large, whimsical vignette depicting a large male African lion crouching over the body of a native with a native man fleeing in the foreground and a dog leading the way, all set in an extremely detailed African veldt scene. Bottom of sideplate, in an arc around the lever screw is engraved "AFRICA". Left front side panel is engraved with a very detailed vignette of a liberty style woman on a pedestal holding a sword, reminiscent of several South American style statues. Right side of receiver and sideplate are engraved with an equally large vignette titled "CHALLENGE". The scene shows the central figure of a large bull elk being challenged by another bull elk coming in from the left side, all set in a mountain meadow scene. Right front flat is engraved with the raised figure of a prancing horse. Both sides are surrounded by elaborate fleur-de-lis borders with foliate and floral arabesque patterns over the top and bottom along with both tangs, forend cap and buttplate tang. Bottom tang is engraved beside the hammer spring tension screw with the engravers name "C.F. Ulrich". Most unusually, the bbl is also engraved in matching foliate arabesque patterns which extends about 7-1/2" forward of the receiver on 5 of the exposed flats. There is another panel of about 3-1/2" matching engraving on each of the side flats, leaving the top flat unengraved. Muzzle area of the bbl is also engraved with about 5" of matching patterns on 7 of the 8 flats. It is very likely that this rifle, having been produced in 1870, was an exhibition piece used by Winchester for advertising. This rifle is similarly engraved to Model 1866, SN 80492 which depicts tiger hunting. Rifle being sold here is fully illustrated on pg 94 of The Book of Winchester Engraving and again on pg 105 of Winchester Engraving, both by Wilson. Both illustrations are credited to the collection of Ivan Hart. Extremely few of these profusely engraved rifles survive today. PROVENANCE: Ivan B. Hart collection; Paul Tudor Jones II Collection. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching. Bbl and magazine tube show about 93-95% smooth plummy patina with sharp edge wear and some thinning on the top flats. Receiver, forend cap and buttplate retain traces of original gold wash in the most sheltered areas and overall shows moderate wear and a medium mustard patina. Forearm has a repair on the left side of the receiver with several grain checks on the bottom and overall retains a fine professionally restored finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with fine pitting. 49941-6 JR70 (100,000-150,000)