April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/24/2019
This fantastic condition case colored standard grade rifle with 26” octagon barrel chambered for the .38-56 WCF cartridge, full magazine, gold washed wide base Beech’s front sight, and semi-buckhorn rear sight. It has nicely figured straight grain American walnut wood with uncheckered forearm and straight grip stock with crescent buttplate. Cody Firearms Museum records verify the configuration of this rifle with shipment date of July 17th, 1891. These standard configuration rifles were the most desired Winchester rifle of the period and were utilized by frontiersmen and lawmen alike. Finding exceptional condition examples is difficult to say the least. This example was previously part of the Eldon Owens collection and is identified as such on the factory letter. Eldon Owens collected the finest condition Winchesters known and his collection was well known amongst collectors. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine and about new, retaining virtually all its original factory finish to both metal and wood including virtually all the brilliant case colors on the receiver, forend cap, lever, hammer and buttplate. Lever is somewhat faded on the outside edge and still retains traces of original protective varnish from the factory the buttplate is also very slightly faded. Barrel has a few tiny scratches and nicks and the wood a couple of tiny storage and handling marks, otherwise the rifle appears unfired with heavy crusted grease still on the bolt face. Two piece American walnut stocks equally fine and have had a coat of wax applied for preservation. This rifle would extremely difficult to improve upon and would be a superb centerpiece of any serous Winchester collection. Mechanics are crisp, bore is bright with sharp lands and grooves. From the Jim Linton Collection.