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Extremely Fine Antique Documented Factory Engraved Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle
LOT 1039
Attractive Factory Engraved Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 377917, 32 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, fancy walnut checkered stock. This is a rare example of a factory engraved Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action rifle. The accompanying factory letter confirms the octagon barrel in .32 caliber, set trigger, casehardened receiver, checkered pistol grip stock, and factory engraving costing an additional $2.50. The rifle was received in the warehouse
on March 10, 1891, and shipped the same day. The rifle has the Third Model receiver
with integral dust cover rail and rounded top and dust cover with serrated finger guides
on the edges. The 24 inch octagon barrel, full length magazine, dust cover and loading
gate are blued. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grain walnut with Winchester “Style H” checkering and a piano finish. The pistol grip has an ebony insert. The barrel has a “Rocky Mountain” style front sight and buckhorn, sporting style rear sight. The receiver is fitted with a special order single set-trigger. The forearm cap, side plates, top, bottom and sides of the receiver, upper receiver tang dust cover, cartridge elevator and buttplate heel are decorated with the equivalent of Winchester No. 10 engraving consisting of open scrollwork on a punch-dot background and double-line, scalloped borders. A circular panel on the left side plate is engraved with a detailed game scene that depicts two white tail deer. The engraving was executed by John Ulrich. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: “WINCHESTER’S REPEATING ARMS NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A./-KING’S IMPROVEMENT PATENTED MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860.-” in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The caliber, “32 W.C.F.” is roll-stamped on the top barrel flat just in front of the receiver. “32 CAL” is roll-stamped in script of the bottom of the cartridge elevator. “Crown/BNP” stamped on the bottom of the receiver. The upper tang is roll-stamped: “{ MODEL 1873}” in fancy letters with foliate devices at either end. The serial number is stamped in small script letters across the lower tang behind the lever latch.
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