GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 SPECIAL ORDER DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE WITH FACTORY LETTERS.WINCHESTER187310794038 WCFCal. 38 WCF (38-40). Exceptional special order, deluxe 1873 with 24-1/4" oct to rnd bbl, button magazine, half nickel front sight and early style, short semi-buckhorn rear sight with checkered edges. Top flat of bbl has the usual 2-line Winchester & King's address & patent dates. Receiver, side plates, forend cap & buttplate are color case hardened. Receiver is small frame type with stepped receiver ring and integral dust cover rail containing a 3rd type dust cover. Carrier is marked "38 CAL." Mounted with very nicely figured, about 2X shell grain American walnut with H-style checkered forearm & black Fleur-de-lis insert, serpentine grip buttstock with crescent buttplate that has a trap. This is an early '73 in 38 caliber which had been introduced in this model rifle in 1879, with this rifle having been produced in 1883. Left side of the lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly no. "4567", "XX" and an "R". Matching assembly number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Top tang channel of buttstock also has the stamped no. "38" and heel of buttstock, under the buttplate is marked "R H". Accompanied by a 2 Cody Firearms Museum letters which report identical information that this is a rifle in caliber 38, with 1/2 oct bbl, plain trigger, checkered pistol grip stock with rifle butt, 1/2 magazine and case hardened, received in the warehouse March 31, 1883 and shipped April 7, 1883 to order no. 3283. Also accompanied by a copy of the entry on the ledger page for this rifle. PROVENANCE: Vince Sepulveda Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl retains about 85-90% strong orig blue showing light edge wear and some minor toning to plum under strong light. Receiver & side plates retain about 80% orig case colors, brilliant in sheltered areas, strong on the side plates and fading to silver on top & bottom edges. Loading gate retains about 95-96% strong orig fire blue. Hammer retains brilliant case colors, moderately faded on spar. Trigger retains most all of its orig case colors, faded on front edge. Lever retains strong case colors on the sides, fading to silver on outer faces. Forend cap & magazine cap retain most of their orig case colors, moderately faded. Buttplate retains faded case colors on the tang with the face turned silver. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches with the forearm showing wear at the carry point, otherwise the wood retains most of its orig varnish with the checkering showing light diamond point wear. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore. 52598-3 JRL (20,000-30,000)