GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
EXTREMELY RARE SMALL BORE FULL NICKEL PLATED WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE. WINCHESTER 1873 331022 22 SHORT Cal 22 Short. Full nickel finish with 24-3/8" oct bbl, full magazine, globe front sight, flat top rear sight and sporting tang sight with 4" staff. Receiver has single set trigger. Mounted with beautiful, center crotch, flame grain American walnut that has "H" style checkered forearm and black insert serpentine grip buttstock with nickeled brass Swiss buttplate. Screws are all nickel finish. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number "2871", "XX" and "22". Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock. Buttplate is unnumbered but there is little doubt it is orig to this rifle. Receiver is small bore 3rd type with stepped front receiver ring and integral dust cover rail containing a 3rd type dust cover. The brass carrier is also nickel finish and has the caliber marking which is also found over the chamber area of the bbl. Inside magazine is also nickel finished and may be a period of use replacement. Given the configuration and finish of this rifle it very likely belonged to a wild west show performer and trick shot artist. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum Records Office worksheet which identifies this rifle in caliber 22 with oct bbl, set trigger, checkered pistol grip stock with Swiss buttplate, graduated peep & nickel finish, received in warehouse Feb 8, 1890 and shipped same day to order # 8923 CONDITION: Extremely fine. Overall retains 98-99% strong orig nickel with a few minor, very light nicks & scratches. Buttplate retains about 85% orig nickel showing wear on the ears. Wood is sound with a few light handling and use nicks & scratches in the finish with the buttstock retaining most of its orig factory varnish. Showing moderate wear on the checkering. Forearm retains about 65-70% orig varnish showing moderate wear on the checkering with a dark hand stained patina on the bottom 1/3. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore, shows very little use. 51687-7 JRL (30,000-50,000)