GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
FINE LATE WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SADDLE RING CARBINE. WINCHESTER 1866 SRC 157400 44 RF HENRY Cal. .44 RF HENRY. Standard carbine with 20" bbl, full mag, barleycorn front sight and an orig reverse mounted carbine ladder rear sight marked 1873 on the standing leaf. Receiver, side plates and buttplate are gun metal (bronze, brass) and receiver has a staple and ring in the left side. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with straight stock & brass carbine buttplate with trap. Left side of bottom tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number "C 854". Top tang channel of buttstock has the matching 3 digit SN along with a series of other numbers. Inside toe of buttplate is marked "634". Although it appears that this buttplate may not be orig to this buttstock, it does fit perfectly with only a slight wood shrinkage near the toe and gives the appearance of being in place for the life of the carbine. This carbine was produced in about 1882 at a time when the west was very wild with marauding Indians, outlaws & other natural dangers associated with that era. Any repeating firearm was in great demand during the 1880s and especially carbines such as this that were easily handled from the back of a horse. They usually saw extreme hard service under adverse conditions and are rarely found today in orig configuration or with orig finish. Many of these late carbines, after the center fire cartridge had come into being with the popularity with the 1873 Winchester, were sold into south and central America where the .44 RF was still very popular. Most of those arms that have been returned to the U.S. are in near relic condition. PROVENANCE: The collection of Tim Zissler. CONDITION: About fine. Numbers matching as noted above. Bbl and mag tube retain about 40% orig blue turning plummy with the balance a mottled silver/brown patina. Bbl bands retain about 40-50% thin orig blue. Receiver, side plates & buttplate retain sharp edges and show a wonderful medium to dark mustard patina. Lever and hammer are mostly dark patina. Stock has a few nicks and dings, otherwise wood is sound showing about 50% orig finish on the buttstock with the balance of the stock and forearm a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine. Strong sharp bore with good shine & scattered pitting. 52463-19 JRL (12,500-17,500)