The case has German silver corner protectors and a plaque on the top inscribed "Presented to /H.F. Odenkirchen/by his Father/April 27th, 1875." The interior is French fitted for a 24 inch barreled Winchester Model 1873 lever action rifle with a straight wrist stock and standard rifle buttplate and has purple lining, four wooden lidded compartments, and a section fitted to the included golden screwdriver. Notes included with the case indicates the rifle that originally accompanied the case was serial number 9201 and that it was sold separately in 1994. Henry F. Odenkirchen ( d. Jan. 29, 1930) of New Haven, Connecticut, was evidently an innovator and was assigned several patents throughout his life, including: a package for tea and coffee (1870); box machine and gluing machine (1906), and "valve-push-rod mechanism" for an engine (1909). 1870s New Haven directories list H. Odenkirchen as the proprietor of a printing and paper box company. The business was later incorporated as the Odenkirchen Box Co. Given his company and engineering skills, it is possible he manufactured ammunition or rifle boxes for Winchester or had another business relationship with the company. Provenance: The Robert M. Lee Collection; Property of a Gentleman