GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
ONE OF THE FINEST "ONE OF ONE THOUSAND" MODEL 1873 WINCHESTER RIFLES EVER OFFERED FOR SALE WITH ROCK SOLID PROVENANCE AND ALL FEATURES VERIFIED BY FACTORY LETTER. WINCHESTER 1873 27141 44 Cal. 44. 30" full oct. bbl. Full mag. Beautifully and masterfully engraved "One of One Thousand" in script on top of bbl in between rear sight and receiver with the characteristic scrolls and darkened silver band. First model case colored receiver. Case colored first model thumbprint mortise type dust cover. Loading gate is nitre blued. Rifle with case colored hammer, lever and dark colored set trigger. Period thin-based tang sight. Lower tang on the left side marked "27141 XXX 292". Wood marked with matching "292" assembly number in upper channel of the stock. Fancy feather crotch XXX grade wood. Early style coarse checkering that Winchester put on straight grip stocks, wraps around the bottom from one side to the other. Lovely Ulrich engraving on muzzle of bbl around front sight with a silver band that circles end of the bbl. With Rocky Mountain front sight. Serial 27141 One of One Thousand is in the most desirable configuration, full magazine, octagonal barrel, rifle butt with crescent buttplate, 44-40. Additionally, it was one of the first rifles to be identified as a result of the search for these ultra rare and desirable rifles by Universal Pictures as publicity for their iconic Western film 'Winchester 73' starring Jimmy Stewart. In a press release from Winchester PR head, Steve Hannagan, this "rifle is one of the first thus far reported of the approximately 130 of this rare version of the Model 1873."..."Being among the first twenty persons in the United States to report satisfactorily his ownership of one of the rare 'One of One Thousand' rifles, Mr. Louis Ostendorp qualified to win a new Model 94 lever action. Accompanied by a rich archive of correspondence From Winchester/Olin Sales and Public Relations departments to Ostendorp regarding his ownership of 27141 and his participation in the 1 of 1000 promotion. Also a copy of a 1979 Winchester Factory Letter confirming the rifle's configuration and ship date of Sept 17, 1877. PROVENANCE: Multiple letters of correspondence between Mr.Louis Ostendorp, William Depperman of the NRA and Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Ex-collection of Louis Ostendorp. The spectacular collections of Ray Bentley featuring the finest and rarest deluxe antique Winchesters in the world. CONDITION: Extremely Fine. This splendid rifle has not been cleaned or molested in any way. The screws are haloed by old dried oil which appears in recesses around the lever and other protected areas. The screw-heads under the frame are filled with ancient dried oil. The right sideplate has much original casehardening with some vivid rainbow color mixed with pleasing fading as does right side of frame. Old dried oil halos the sideplate which has not been removed for decades if ever. Hammer has almost all the case color remaining with vivid rainbow color. The left sideplate displays magnificent case colors with bright rainbow effect throughout. The left side of frame is faded toward the front but has spectacular beautiful rainbow colors at rear. The lever retains much faded casehardening with vivid color where it meets the frame. The loading gate has most of the factory nitre blue somewhat obscured by old dried oil. The 'thumbprint' dustcover is truly splendid displaying nearly all its bright vivid casehardening. The lifter is a lovely untouched butterscotch and has never been polished. The barrel and magazine tube have most of their blue mixing with age spotting and the beautiful Ulrich engraving is sharp and crisp as it left the Winchester factory in 1877. The silver barrel bands are a deep blue black having never been polished. The vernier rear sight is very fine throughout. Crescent buttplate retains considerable faded case colors. The 3x x ultra deluxe American walnut wood stock has magnificent flame grain, nearly perfect unworn checkering, and much original varnish finish. The action mechanics are fine as is bore. As stated, this One of One Thousand is in completely untouched excellent original condition and in the most desirable configuration. Superlatives are entirely appropriate applied to this incredibly beautiful rifle and it is one of the very best ever offered for sale. 53091-45 MS (250,000-350,000) W/CASE