GUN FALL 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/4/2016
VERY RARE AND DESIRABLE FIRST MODEL FACTORY ENGRAVED 1873 WINCHESTER WITH 30" OCTAGON BARREL. WINCHESTER 1873 4415 44 WCF Cal. 44 WCF. 30" oct bbl. Full magazine. Blue and case color finish. Set trigger. Factory engraved. Checkered XXX stocks with crescent butt. Sling swivels attached. Receiver is factory engraved with $1.00 engraving which is very sparse. Sides of receiver and sideplates show minimal scroll work on front center and rear portions. Top of receiver has scroll accents at forward end and around screw in front of hammer. Dust cover has scroll accent to rear of thumbprint. Bottom of receiver has scroll accent behind elevator and in front of lower tang screw. Bbl shows correct 2-line Winchester address rolled in front of rear-sight. No cal mark. German silver blade front-sight sporting rear-sight. Upper tang of receiver is marked Model 1873 with no finials. Lower tang has SN engraved behind lever latch. Lower tang shows no trace of assembly no. Neither does the upper tang mortise of buttstock or inside toe of buttplate. Sling swivels are attached on lower butt and forend cap. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum Letter dated May 6, 2011, showing rifle, 30" oct bbl, set trigger, XXX checkered stocks, case color finish, and $1.00 engraving. Letter shows shipment on June 21, 1875. Order number 3391. CONDITION: Very good. Bbl and magazine tube show an even mottled plumb-brown patina overall, with some high point and muzzle wear. Bbl mark is sharp. Bore is dark with visible rifling and has a ring about 6" from muzzle. Receiver is a dark blue-brown patina overall with traces of case color around both sideplates. Engraving is sharp. Dust cover is also a smooth plumb patina with a replaced screw. Loading gate shows traces of fire-blue finish. Elevator has a deep mustard-brown patina with a slight dent and a few scratches overall. Hammer is a smooth brown patina with a hint of case color on front face. Checkering is sharp. Lower tang fits receiver perfectly. Lever is also a smooth gray-brown patina overall. Set trigger functions. Upper tang mark is sharp. Lower tang has a professionally accomplished repair where it was broken at lever latch. SN is slightly washed out. Stocks are good to very good. Buttstock has an old repair at wrist. Break is at same point as break on lower tang and happened at the same time. Repair is reinforced on both sides with screwed-in brass plates. Stocks show a dark brown oil finish overall with numerous scratches and dents. Forestock is missing a chip on rear left side next to receiver. Checkering at wrist is good. Checkering on forend is worn but visible. Buttplate is a smooth gray-brown patina with some cleaning marks and a slight hint of case color on upper tang with a few pits on right side near heel. Sling swivel in butt is of a Winchester type, but was installed at a date later than the manufacturer of the rifle. Forend cap has a non-factory sling swivel attached and appears to be a replacement, with traces of blue finish and some pitting. Magazine hanger has been polished to a white metal finish. 50506-18 TEP (9,000-12,000)