GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
EXTREMELY RARE FACTORY JOHN ULRICH ENGRAVED WINCHESTER 1887 LEVER ACTION SHOTGUN, ONE OF ONLY FIVE MANUFACTURED.WINCHESTER18873687312 GACal. 12ga. Extremely rare being one of only five deluxe factory engraved Model 1887's made according to Winchester factory records. 30″ Damascus bbl with sgl brass sighting bead. The unique lever action rolling block receiver is beautifully factory engraved with tight foliate arabesque scroll and circle with chip and dot border around "WRACO" monogram on left side, circle with two pointers on point on right side, identical to signed guns by John Ulrich. Mounted with highly figured XX-XXX fiddleback walnut, rnd knob pistol grip, checkered steel shotgun buttplate, 1-pc checkered forend. Accompanied with Cody Firearms Museum Winchester letter identifying as 12ga shotgun, 30″ bbl, checkered stock, takedown, engraved $5, received in warehouse November 10, 1891, shipped from warehouse November 10, 1891 on order no. 13495. Inspection of inside tang reveals assembly no. "379 XXX" with "110" found in upper tang channel of stock. Ronald W. Stadt, in his 1984 book Winchester Shotguns and Shot Shells on pgs 14-15 shows and describes an identical 87 made in 1888, but returned to factory in 1901 to be engraved. This example also has a unique dbl diamond carved forend and nearly identical butt PROVENANCE: Ex-Herbert G. Wellington Jr. Estate. CONDITION: Fine. Damascus bbl has areas or orig thinning brown finish, especially in protected areas with scattered staining and other cosmetic blemishes. Magazine tube retains about 90% thinning blue finish. Frame and lever are overall smooth with silver/grey patina with traces of case color external and bright case colors internal, frame screws have some rust and pitting. The beautiful orig Winchester replacement stock is well fit, slightly overlapping frame on either side, has normal nicks and small dings and retains most of its re-varnished finish (changed and upgraded since last auctioned, 2009). Forestock has a wider diamond pattern, straight grain retaining about 60% orig varnish. Mechanics are good. Broken spring in mag tube and shallow to moderate pitting in bbl. 50832-2 JS (40,000-80,000)