GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
SUPERB 'BIG FIFTY' WINCHESTER 1886 DELUXE EXPRESS RIFLE WITH FACTORY LETTER. WINCHESTER 1886 85483 50 EX Cal. 50EX. 26" oct bbl., full magazine, silver bead front sight, marked "PAT. NOV. 4, 02", with set screw, serrated side sporting rear sight with set screw. Standard bbl markings on top flat "MANUFACTURED BY THE / WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.NEW HAVEN CONN.U.S.A." and "50 EX" adjacent to receiver. Receiver with tang mounted peep sight. "XX" walnut stock with checkered pistol grip in the "H" style, ebony insert in pistol grip cap, crescent steel buttplate, "H" style checkered forend. Inspection of lower tang reveals assembly no. "241XX" and matching number can be found in top tang channel of stock and inside toe of buttplate. Accompanying gun is a Cody Firearms Museum Winchester letter identifying as a 50-110 rifle, oct bbl, plain trigger, checkered stock, pistol grip, Lyman front and rear sights, received in warehouse January 23, 1894, shipped from warehouse January 23, 1894 on Order No. 7507. PROVENANCE: The esteemed collection of Rafael Cruz. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl and mag tube retain 95-97% orig blue with some minor muzzle wear and slight thinning on sharp edges and a few typical minor nicks & scratches. Receiver retains 75-80% orig case colors, strong on rear portion of both sides, thinning in forward portion of receiver and slightly silvering mixed with brown patina across bottom. Right side is mixed with a few minor spots of brown patina. Hammer shows dark orig case coloring with some minor silvering on left side. Lever shows traces of orig color in protected area with balanced blending with a silver patina. Stock is sound, good checkering with a few minor flattened points, typical nicks, dings & light scratches, retaining much of its orig piano varnish finish. Buttplate has toned to a gray patina. Forend is sound with good checkering, a few minor flattened points, usual nicks & dings, and retains orig piano varnish, blending with hand worn patina across bottom in both rear edges. Nose cap shows orig case colors, strong on right side, remainder thinning and blending with gray and brown patina. Mechanics are crisp with a nice shiny bore. Rear tang sight is the correct tang sight and of a correct vintage. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 53073-1 MS (25,000-40,000)