GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
EXCELLENT AND RARE EARLY WINCHESTER MODEL 1876 RIFLE WITH FACTORY DELUXE 2X FIGURED WALNUT PISTOL GRIP STOCK STRIKINGLY BEAUTIFUL CASE COLORED RECEIVER WITH WINCHESTER FACTORY LETTER.WINCHESTER1876803745-75Cal. 45-75. 30" round bbl with German silver insert on front sight and standard 1876 rear sight. Set trigger. Full length mag tube. Forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and buttplate all case colored. Blued dust cover with oval thumbprint with a screw down rail. Deluxe figured pistol grip stock with ebony insert. Assembly line numbers on upper channel of stock "445" with same number on inside of lower tang and on toe of buttplate. 2x grade of wood also on lower tang. Loading gate is nitre blued. Stock is checkered with "H" style pattern. Forearm checkered with early pattern. Accompanied by Winchester 1985 dated Winchester Factory Letter which confirms configuration though rifle is missing its original vernier and wind gauge sights, shipped Jan 28, 1879. PROVENANCE: The spectacular collections of Ray Bentley featuring the finest and rarest deluxe antique Winchesters in the world. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 98% original blue Mag tube is 95% blue thinning on bottom. Forearm cap is case colored with 95-97% colors not vivid but very evident. Case colored receiver on left side would rate 96-97% vivid case colors. Right side with 93-95% case color with balance toning slightly toward front of receiver. Upper tang with 20% case color with the balance turning gray to pewter. Lower tang retains 95%+ case color with balance turning to a dark plum. Hammer retains 96% strong case color with slight drag line on right side. Lever retains 90% case color with balance turning to a pewter gray. Some added stock finish on left side along with some dark speckling. Left side checkering has bruise on upper rear part of pattern. Right side of stock with very few scratches or impressions but has one chip located at corner of upper tang and receiver. Checkering pattern on right side with no bumps or bruises to indicate damage. Wood to metal fit is extra fine. Screw heads remain unturned and retain a portion of their case colored finish. Action is perfect and bore is shiny bright. A very handsome factory case color receiver deluxe model 1876 that will please any advanced Winchester collector. 53091-153 MS (30,000-35,000)