September 9, 10, & 11, 2025 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/9/2025
According to included 1975 T.E. Hall factory research, as well as a 2003 factory letter, this rifle shipped February 29, 1904 in .30 caliber with an octagon barrel, plain trigger, 1/2 magazine, "F" style carved fancy wood stock with pistol grip, $4.00 engraving, and Lyman sights. Rifle currently sports a nickel steel octagon barrel with Lyman blade front sight, sporting rear, and button magazine. A few loose sprays of scroll and dot engraving present at the breech around the caliber designation. Receiver displays lovely Ulrich style No. 9 pattern factory engraving featuring central vignettes of buck on each side with panels of punch dot shaded foliate scroll, as well as rope and line borders. The walnut forend has factory "F" pattern checkering with an engraved nose cap. The pistol grip stock is likewise furnished with "F" pattern checkering, a hard rubber WRACO grip cap, and steel shotgun butt plate. Stock appears to be a factory replacement and is not marked in the channel with an assembly number. The butt is however stamped with "T / 18161", the "18161" also marked in pencil, along with a pair of "9312" pencil assembly number markings. The receiver tang is stamped with an assembly number of "478" followed by a "9312" assembly number which corresponds to the pencil markings on the butt, although the "9312" has been crossed out with over stamped "X"s. Standard "XXX" wood grade and "S" shotgun butt designations follow these assembly numbers. The factory letter has several return and repair listings between 1904 and 1908. Perhaps the original customer was not pleased with their special order rifle or perhaps it was used as a promotional piece, shipping as a consignment to the National Sporting Goods Co. of Washington DC on April 28, 1910; George R. Ginn of Syracuse, New York, February 27, 1911; James Lewis of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on April 26, 1911; Browning Brothers of Ogden, Utah on July 14, 1911. The rifle was further charged and credited to Salt Lake "N" Co., Salt Lake City UT, charged to the Sales Department on December 18, 1912, and charged to Sales Convention March 25, 1919 under the name Sauer, presumably a Winchester salesman. A final listing notes it was returned May 1, 1919. CONDITION: Fine. Nearly all of the factory reapplied blue is retained throughout with some mild high edge wear, a few areas of oxidation spotting, and further handling marks. Areas of the nose cap and working surfaces of the lever have started to tone. Forend shows some finish loss and expected wear, as well as abrasions, especially towards the front. Stock also shows some scattered, deeper scratches and spotting, but rates very good overall. Butt plate finish shows wear and some older oxidation. Strong, well defined bore with frosting. Fine mechanics. A very interesting and well traveled, special order factory engraved 1894.