GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
SCARCE STOKES ENGRAVED DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1894 TAKE DOWN LEVER ACTION RIFLE. WINCHESTER 1894 566546 30 MODERN; C&R Cal 30 WCF (30-30). Fine deluxe rifle with 26" tapered rnd bbl, full magazine, sporting front sight with screw and 3 leaf express rear sight. Mounted with very highly figured, about 2-3X center crotch flame grain American walnut with "H" style checkered forearm and straight stock that has Winchester embossed hard rubber buttplate. Left side of lower tang is marked with the assembly number "360" and left side of upper tang is marked with the assembly number "181". Top tang channel of the buttstock has the assembly "360" along with the assembly number "181" which has been defaced. There is another number that appears to be "5722" which has also been defaced. Receiver is engraved by Angelo Stokes in what appears to be a modified number 4 pattern which consists of the large vignette of a standing white tail buck and feeding doe in a forest scene on the left side and a standing mule deer buck on the right side. Both vignettes are surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns with large engraved brackets at each end of the panels. Each end of the receiver on both sides is engraved with a coarse border and a fine chip border around the front & rear edges. Take down bbl extension, top tang and forend cap are engraved to match. Top & bottom of the receiver are also engraved to match with the unusual extra of a fully engraved trigger plate. Note that the Winchester proof mark on the bbl & cal marking are offset to the left side to accommodate the engraving. This rifle is pictured in black & white on page 327 of Winchester Engraving, Wilson. The photographs are 1/2 page and have the notation "Model 1894 .30 WCF RD. Take Down Fancy Checkered Stock Oil Finish S.B. RUB. BP. Engraved by Stokes $40.00 list" along with the matching SN. This rifle was produced about 1911, early in Mr. Stokes career engraving for Winchester. Almost certainly it was a special order for someone of high importance or intended as a hunting rifle for someone of considerable wealth. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl retains 98-99% strong factory blue and the magazine tube about 95-97% factory blue turning a little plum color. Receiver and take down bbl extension retain about 98% strong restored factory blue. Lever & hammer retain brilliant case colors, fading on outer faces of lever. Wood is sound and shows about all of its restored factory finish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Undoubtedly this rifle was returned to the factory at least once and probably twice during which it had the finish restored and possibly the bbl replaced as the engraving on the bbl appears to be by a different hand. 51552-3 JRL (15,000-25,000)