April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
English proof marks on barrel with early style '66 rear barrel ladder sight. Stock has sling swivel located correctly on underside of stock, with other located on bottom of forearm cap. Front sight is standard German silver insert. Features American walnut with European style checkering. Engraving is English style with full coverage intermediate scrollwork and stylized Celtic inspired patterns on forward sections of receiver, lifter, and tangs. Left sideplate with a stag and two coursing hounds. Right sideplate has"WILLIAMS AND POWELL" in a rib and surrounded by scroll flourishes. Crescent buttplate is engraved in similar scrollwork including trapdoor. Stock and forearm are English style checkering with fancy grade American walnut. Silver plaque on right side of stock is blank. The first William Powell (d. 1849) and his descendants have built bespoke sporting arms for clients around the world. By the late 19th century, the demand for sporting guns and rifles in the UK seemed insatiable. Along with England's growing affluence and the ability to travel quickly by train, this propelled gun sales to new heights. Powell's guns were being sent to clients, both retail and wholesale, in North America, Australia, Africa, India, and the Middle East. Somewhere around this time Winchester must have thought that William Powell and Co. could be interested in the purchase of the Model 1866 rifles. Not hard to understand, Powell Co. were doing a great business in selling their product of fine rifles. So the making of a fine Model 1866 rifle with Williams Powell's name engraved on the receiver was just the thing. CONDITION: This gun has been masterfully restored to near new condition. The barrel, tube, and other various small parts are more recent replacements. The wood is new. All to bring this beautiful gun back to its original state of magnificence, at a price within reach for a would be untouchable specimen to most collectors.
Caliber/Bore
.44 Henry Rimfire