Manufactured in 1873, this extraordinary factory exhibition Winchester Model 1866 rifle has been identified in R.L. Wilson's "Winchester Engraving" (pages 150-151), "Steel Canvas" (page 163) and "Book of Winchester Engraving" (page 144) and "Antique Arms Annual" edited by R.L. Wilson (pages 128-130). All mention this rifle, 109651, as a factory display piece from the famous 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. Several other 1866 relief engraved, panel scene rifles are also attributed to the factory display at the Centennial which include the example maintained by the Cody museum as well as serial number 107209, 104463 and 103672. In 1969, the rifle was loaned to the Winchester Museum for display. The profuse engraving on this rifle has long been attributed to Master Engraver John Ulrich. However, the writer could not locate a signature. It’s a well published fact the Ulrich's, namely Conrad and his brother John had a tradition of signing their work, particularly special scenes, deluxe or exhibition guns. Furthermore in several documented cases and certainly in many undocumented cases, the Ulrich's would hide their signatures, sometime in plain sights and sometimes "camouflaged" within a scroll or within a game scene. After several long "sits" with the rifle, studying every panel scene and scroll, we removed the buttstock to reveal the very small hand signed "HLU" initials, the hand and initials of Herman Leslie Ulrich. This very rare and spectacular rifle has now been properly identified for the first time in its long and well published history. In the book "Winchester Engraving" by Wilson he writes, "Herman's firearms work has yet to be identified positively, because no signed examples are known". Upon further study Herman certainly used similar scenes and had many parallels to both his older brother Conrad and younger brother John but there is an unquestioned nuance to his hand, his scrolls, his motifs, his use of the canvas and depth in his cuts, in this case "ultra" high relief. The gold plated frame, forend cap and buttplate are richly decorated and are of extremely high grade, best quality work from the Winchester factory. A stag head and a dog head are cut on the sides of the forend cap. The highly desirable four, "ultra" relief, engraved stag panel scenes are equally divided among both sides of the frame. As Wilson notes, "Relief cut Winchesters are considered by collectors as among the ultimate in embellished American Arms." The borders were influenced by Victorian and neo-Gothic art and architecture, and these motifs are extended to the forend cap and buttplate tang. The top barrel flat is marked "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860" ahead of the rear sight, and the barrel is equipped with a gold washed combination Beach front sight and a folding ladder rear sight. The action retains the original rimfire bolt. A long range peep sight is mounted to the upper tang. Sling swivel eyelets are attached to the underside of the forend cap and buttstock. The buttplate has a trapdoor (cleaning rod not included). The forearm and "fish belly" type stock are nicely figured walnut.

Extremely fine. The barrel and magazine tube retain 60% original blue finish thinning to a brown. 95% plus original gold plating remains on the forend cap and frame and 85% original gold plating remains on the buttplate. 30% original nitre blue remains on the loading gate, and traces of original nitre blue remain on the screw heads. The hammer and lever retain traces of darkened original case colors. The engraving is crisp. The professionally made replacement wood is very fine with chipping at the tangs and buttstock eyelet and minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. An incredible and rare opportunity to own a world class, well-documented, and iconic, one of very few known signed works by Herman Leslie Ulrich which also happens to be an absolute masterpiece.