GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
VERY RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 ONE OF ONE THOUSAND LEVER ACTION RIFLE. WINCHESTER 1873 1 of 1000 31266 44 WCF Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Fine one of one thousand with 24-1/4" oct bbl, full magazine, gold-washed Beach's combination front sight and early style, short, semi-buckhorn rear sight with fine V-notch. Receiver is 2nd type with attached dust cover rail and 3rd type dust cover with impressed checkered thumb-print. Receiver has single set trigger. Mounted with very nicely figured American walnut with early style checkered forearm and straight stock with crescent buttplate that has a trap. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly no. "137" and "XX". Matching assembly no. is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. This rifle is beautifully engraved in 1 of 1000 fourth-style with fine foliate arabesque patterns over the top 3 flats of the bbl over the chamber area and around the front sight at the muzzle. Light flourishes of matching engraving are on the side flats over the chamber area and extend completely around the exposed flats of the muzzle. Chamber end & muzzle ends of the bbl are inlaid with platinum bands. Top flat of the bbl, over the chamber is engraved "One of One Thousand". Accompanied by a copy of a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle with 24" oct bbl, set trigger, checkered stock, case hardened and 1 of 1000, received in warehouse Nov. 14, 1878 and shipped Nov. 20, 1878 with 5 other arms to order #13488. This rifle is listed by serial number on page 26 of The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles, Lewis. This rifle was the first number of 6 consecutively numbered 1 of 1000 rifles received in the warehouse Nov. 14, 1878 and shipped Nov. 20, 1878 to order no. 13488. This listing shows that it had an oct bbl, case hardened receiver with checkered stock and set trigger. Apparently it was not available to the author for photography at the time of publication. Three rifles of that shipment are pictured on pages 93 & 94 of Winchester the Golden Age of American Gunmaking and the Winchester 1 of 1000, Wilson. Captions of some of those photographs provide the same information about the shipment of 6 consecutive numbered Winchester 1 of 1000 rifles. While the Winchester Model 1873 was produced in large numbers, approximately 720,000, only 132 are recorded as being 1 of 1000. Of that number only a small percentage is known making this one of the more rare collectible American firearms in the world today. CONDITION: About good, all matching, lower tang having been period repaired and renumbered. Traces of orig finish remain in the most sheltered areas with the metal, overall, showing a smooth, even plum brown patina with a couple of minor nicks on the bbl. Receiver & sideplates show sharp edges indicating light use and handling. Forearm has a couple of repaired areas by the bbl channel on each side and a longitudinal hairline down the bottom, otherwise the wood is sound and overall retains a fine old restored finish with a few nicks, scratches & dings. Checkering shows moderate to heavy wear. Edges of the stock around the top & bottom tangs were reduced during the restoration process. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a few small spots of fine pitting. 52692-1 JRL (30,000-50,000)