GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
SCARCE EARLY 2ND MODEL DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. WINCHESTER 1873 31314 44 WCF Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Fine deluxe '73 with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight and early style, short, heart-shaped rear sight with checkered edges. Receiver is second type with attached dust cover rail and impressed thumb print dust cover. Receiver also has single set trigger. Mounted with about 2X, early style checkered American walnut with straight grip and crescent buttplate with trap. Receiver is color case hardened. Top left flat of the bbl, over the chamber area and correspondingly on the receiver are marked with small British proofs. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number "894" and "X". The last two numbers of the assembly number appear to be stamped over "63" or "93". Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Bottom portion of toe of buttplate appears to have had an assembly number obliterated and the matching number stamped higher up. In the bottom tang channel of the buttstock is a vertically applied reinforcing screw to support the repaired crack in the wrist. Accompanied by copies of a 5-page letter of authentication from renowned researcher & author George Madis wherein he substantiates most of the above information. Also accompanied by a copy of a Cody Firearms Museum serial number research request sheet which identifies this rifle with oct bbl, set trigger, checkered stock and case hardened; received in warehouse March 10, 1879 and shipped same day to Order #14808. Given the extra cost features found on this rifle and the time period of its production, it seems very likely that it would have been ordered by a wealthy individual or was intended for a special presentation. CONDITION: Fine, all matching as noted above. Bbl & magazine tube retain about 80-85% thinning orig blue turning plum on the magazine tube; receiver & sideplates retain about 85% thinning orig case colors, strong & bright in sheltered areas; hammer retains about 80% strong orig case colors and the lever traces of colors in sheltered areas; forend cap & buttplate are dark patina. Stock has the aforementioned repaired crack in the wrist with some small chips missing around the tip of the crack in the checkering on the bottom, otherwise wood is sound with numerous nicks & scratches with a few light bruises and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 51772-5 JRL (12,500-17,500)