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SCROLL ENGRAVED WINCHESTER 1873 FIRST MODEL LEVER

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:11,250.00 USD Estimated At:22,500.00 - 30,000.00 USD
SCROLL ENGRAVED WINCHESTER 1873 FIRST MODEL LEVER

ACTION CARBINE. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). S# 22735. Bbl. 20". Magazine band mounted front sight with 800 yds. graduated carbine rear sight. 1st Model features include mortised 5/8" fine checked thumbprint dust cover and early threaded lever latch. Left side of action has staple fastened saddle ring. Sides of receiver have full coverage engraving that consist of foliate scroll with beaded backgrounds, surrounded by straight line and punch dot borders. Complementary engraving extends to the receiver top and tang, as well as the mortised dust cover. Front, rear and upper edges of the receiver exhibit line and beaded borders. Bottom of brass lifter has an X partitioned sunburst style ornamentation. Rifle has a blue finish with fire blued loading gate having case colored hammer, lever, and trapdoor carbine buttplate. Walnut band fastened forearm and straight grip carbine stock. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: typed letters dated Feb. 25, 1965 and Apr. 5th, 1965 at the time of a previous sale are signed by the owner and addressed to the buyer. Statements include: "I bought the gun as a result of an ad I had placed in the "American Rifleman" around 1940. It came from an individual in North Dakota who claimed to have obtained it from his father", "This is an original factory engraving and is just as it came back from the plant years ago except for a small mark in the left side of the buttstock which shows on the photograph", and "I did many foolish things in collecting Winchesters. First I neglected to keep correspondence and then I had quite a number refinished. That piece you have would be worth more than twice as much if it had not been reblued and if the original papers were available. I am certain I was advised by Winchester that this was a factory engraving job". Factory letters dated March 16th, 1965 and Apr. 14th, 1965 signed by T. E. Hall, Curator, state "The Winchester 1873 serial number records list number 22735 as a carbine, shipped April 3, 1879, no other information or description is listed". A Cody Firearms Museum letter dated Feb. 6, 2012 signed by Jessica A. Bennett relays the following: "Type: Carbine. Receiver in warehouse on October 23, 1878. Shipped from warehouse on April 3, 1879, Order number 15126. No other information is available for this serial number". 3 piece iron cleaning rod is held in the buttstock compartment. CONDITION: near excellent as refurbished in 1940 by Winchester as stated in the above mentioned letters. Barrel, mag. tube and action retain over 95% blue showing light edge wear on action with small wear spots on barrel. Hammer, lever, and lever latch retain over 90% bright case colors. Buttplate shows 70% lightly faded case colors. Stocks have good finish, showing scattered small dents and handling marks with a gouge on forearm along the left barrel channel. Action operation is smooth and crisp. Bore is generally bright with sharp rifling, showing scattered spots of very light roughness. (01-20264/DS). ANTIQUE. $22,500-30,000.