GUN FALL 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/4/2016
MAGNIFICENT DELUXE CUSTOM ORDER JOHN ULRICH SIGNED ENGRAVED & GOLD WASHED MODEL 1886 WINCHESTER RIFLE. WINCHESTER 1886 57158 40-65 Cal. 40-65. 26" oct bbl, full magazine, half-nickel front sight, serrated side flat top sporting rear with set screw. Gold washed receiver with $12.00 engraving, consisting of foliate arabesque scroll surrounding an oval of a hunter shooting an elk on left side; right side has foliate arabesque scroll & circle with a doe & tree in background. Top & bottom of receiver are scroll-engraved with intricate borders. Sides of hammer are scroll-engraved as well as tang of butt plate, forend cap and sides & bow of lever. Forend cap, lever, trigger & butt plate are also gold washed. Signature "J. ULRICH" appears on lower tang. Mounted with fancy highly figured XXX walnut with H-checkered forend, checkered serpentine pistol grip with ebony insert, gold washed crescent butt & star-shaped shield in left side with initials "FHB" over "1891". Accompanied by Winchester factory letter identifying gun as 40-65, oct bbl, plain trigger, checkered stock with pistol grip, drop 3-1/2", 3/4" longer than regular, engraved "FHB 1891", engraved "$12.00", gold plate in left side of stock, gold trim including finger lever & trigger; received in warehouse June 20, 1891, & shipped same day on order no. 4680. Gun was returned to factory to be repaired or re-gilded after 1905, as noted by oval Winchester proof on top bbl flat. Lower tang is marked with assembly number "105" and "85" which is crossed out and "XXX", a cut asterisk is also found on lower tang on brass extension holding spring possibly showing the re-factory gilding. Stock has matching assembly number "85" on upper channel. Engraving is still sharp & top bbl flat has Winchester proof mark between receiver and cal. designation. Further research can possibly find the repair order from the Winchester factory records and then we might know who the orig owner "F. H. B" was in 1891. Many of these rare factory gold washed engraved Winchesters were made for exhibitions or presentations and the gilt was very fragile and it seems a majority of them were returned to Winchester for re-gilding. Regardless, this is a magnificent and unique Winchester at the height of the cowboy era. PROVENANCE: Ex-Jay Lyndes Collection. CONDITION: Very fine-extra fine overall. Bbl and magazine tube retain 90-95% orig blue with some toning toward brown on magazine tube. Rear sight has thinning orig blue. Receiver retains nearly all of its re-gilded factory gold finish, with a few minor nicks, scratches and edge wear. Hammer retains most of its orig case colors with slight thinning on sharp edges. Buttstock is sound with good checkering retaining most of a high polish varnish with minor nicks and dings. Forend is sound with a few minor nicks and scrapes, good checkering and 75-80% of its orig piano varnish finish with dark hand-worn patina across belly. Mechanics are crisp with bright shiny bore. 50412-13 BDT269 (50,000-100,000)