Page 26 - Auction84-Book1

LOT 18
NSN, 44 Henry RF cal., 24 3/8 inch round bbl., blue/silver finish, highly figured walnut stock. In our opinion, this rifle is unquestionably the
most incredible and distinctive of all firearms engraved by legendary German-American Master Engraver L.D. Nimschke and certainly the most extravagant Winchester ever created. It features solid silver bands, solid silver mounts, and most extraordinarily: cast solid silver frame, carrier block, butt-plate and end cap. The elaborate engraving patterns from this rifle are immortalized over pages by smoke pulls in Nimschke’s
iconic pull book on pages 20 and 22. The pulls are dated 1868, and Nimschke’s notes state “PERU. Engraved on solid Silver frame Henry’s Patent Rifle.” Nimschke also recorded the silver bands on the barrel and made smaller notes recording his work on the rifle. Under meticulous magnified study and comparison of the rifle and smoke pulls, every minute detail is identical including the placement of several conspicuous and inconspicuous signatures, with seven in total observed on the rifle. In his captions in “L.D. Nimschke: Firearms Engraver,” R.L. Wilson notes it as “one of Nimschke’s most striking masterpieces.” He also notes the other
coordinating monograms shown along with the engraving, were likely plaques on a case. On page 44 of “Winchester Engraving” by Wilson, he notes, “The Solid Silver Winchester, Model 1866 rifle, deluxe engraved by L.D. Nimschke and fully documented in the Nimschke scrapbook. A unique example of custom gunmaking at its most exquisite and exclusive level.” Unquestionably Nimschke himself regarded this rifle as the finest and most deluxe and significant of all his guns.
AS PUBLISHED IN NEARLY EVERY SEMINAL BOOK ON FINE & HISTORIC AMERICAN ARMS INCLUDING THE COVER GUN OF WINCHESTER ENGRAVING BY WILSON
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