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Winchester Model 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine Inscribed WGM 1892 for William "Bill" McDonald, Texas Ranger.. ...
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Sold on Jun 9, 2025 for:
$6,250.00
Bid Source: HA.com/Live bidder
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Description
Winchester Model 1873 Saddle Ring Carbine Inscribed WGM 1892 for William "Bill" McDonald, Texas Ranger.Serial no. 332588B, .44 W.C.F. caliber, 20-inch barrel with fixed front sight and folding rear sight. Saddle ring. Dust cover. Case-hardened hammer and lever. Smooth walnut straight stock and fore-end. Metal carbine butt with cleaning rod reservoir. Manufactured in 1890. Gun is engraved on the left side of the frame with a Texas Ranger 5-point star with "15" inside, also engraved with the initials WGM [in caps and script] and 1892.
Winchester comes with a typed unsigned letter stating "In 1980 Harrisburg Pa, elected Stephen Reed Mayor. Over the next few decades he spent over 10 million tax payer dollars putting together a world class museum.......In 2013 a judge ordered the city to sell it all. Guernsey's auction house sold over 10,000 items over 10 days. The collection had over 100 Texas Ranger items, James Gang guns. Wyatt Earp guns, Theodore Roosevelt guns, etc. Because of the death of the Mayor, most of the paperwork had been discarded, but know one has questioned the authenticity of the amazing collection. This is an 1873 Winchester serial #332588B. Engraved with the initials WJM which is famed Texas Ranger Captain William "Bill" McDonald. An absolute amazing piece of Texas History that needs to make its way back in to a museum." Also, included is an undated and unsigned 2-page description and photo of the Winchester marked as Item 3276, document also details the life of McDonald [no ownership where it came from]. Book titled; Yours in Command, The Life and Legend of Texas Ranger Captain Bill McDonald by Harold J. Weiss, Jr. is included in the sale.
William Jesse "Bill" McDonald (1852-1918) was a legendary Texas Ranger captain known for his fearless law enforcement. Serving from 1891 to 1907, he led Company B of the Frontier Battalion, handling high-profile cases like the Fitzsimmons-Maher prizefight and the Brownsville Raid. His bold approach contributed to the Rangers' reputation, and he later served as a bodyguard for Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. McDonald is often linked to the phrase "One Riot, One Ranger," symbolizing the Rangers' decisive impact on law and order.
Condition: Fair to good, finish mostly a mottled gray patina. Overall showing heavy signs of handling wear, age and surface rust. Noticeable scuffs, dings and bruises present to wood. Cleaning rod absent. Action ok. Lightly pitted bore.
Auction Info
2025 June 9 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction #6320 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2025
9th
Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 7
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 488
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