GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
VERY RARE NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 FLAT SIDE SADDLE RING CARBINE. WINCHESTER 1866 13182 44 Cal 44. Rare early carbine with 20" bbl, full magazine, integral front band/front sight, thick forearm band and 2-position flip rear sight. Left side of receiver has a staple & ring. Mounted with nicely figured, uncheckered American walnut with straight stock and crescent brass buttplate with trap. Left side of buttstock has the remnants of a "Henry Bump". Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the SN and the tiny assembly number "192". The full SN is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and appears to be stamped over another number which has been almost completely removed which indicates that the stock is a replacement and given the matching woodgrain and finish of the forearm it also is probably a replacement. Inside toe of buttplate has matching SN. Receiver has the very earliest style Henry features including sharp radius at the top rear, small loop lever and Henry style screws in the tangs & buttplate. The flat loading gate also appears to be a replacement. Receiver & buttplate tang are beautifully engraved by master engraver L.D. Nimschke with the Mexican eagle on the left sideplate and the balance of the receiver covered in Mr. Nimschke's typical intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with a large flower blossom on the right side. The transition from sideplates to front side panels are engraved on both sides with a rope twist pattern. Carrier bottom is engraved in diamond & dot patterns. Bottom of the receiver, just below the carrier opening is stamped with the number that appears to be "020 8234". Receiver was originally gold washed. Bottom tang, just below the lever lock has a filed cut. The entire bbl address is no longer visible and the face of the bolt is missing with the rimfire firing pins having been removed. CONDITION: Good. Bbl & magazine tube retain an artificially aged brown patina over fine pitting. Forearm band screw is stripped as is the lever screw. Receiver shows heavy edge wear with heavy wear on the engraving, but still shows traces of original gold wash around the saddle ring staple and inside the receiver under the wood. Receiver & buttplate show a dark mustard patina. Stock has an area of fill under the buttplate tang, otherwise wood is sound with an old refinish. Loading gate is jammed in the closed position, otherwise mechanics are fine. Dark bore with visible rifling and a partial ring about mid-point. 51772-1 JRL (12,500-17,500)