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Historic Winchester Model 1873 Deluxe 1 of 1000 Rifle with the Factory Presentation Winchester Model 94 Carbine. . ... (Total: 2 Items)
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Sold on Jun 19, 2023 for:
$162,500.00
Bid Source: Live: Phone bidder
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Description
One of the First 20 Rifles Reported to Universal Pictures and Winchester during the Winchester '73 Picture Search!
Historic Winchester Model 1873 Deluxe 1 of 1000 Rifle with the
Factory Presentation Winchester Model 94 Carbine.Comprising: 1) Serial no. 6594, 44-40 WCF., 24 1/2-inch octagonal barrel, marked 1 of 1000. Blued finish with case-hardening frame. Highly figure checkered XXX stock. Set trigger. Peep and beach sights. Sling swivels present. Factory Letter states [photocopy included]; a rifle with an octagon barrel, set trigger, XXX checkered stock, Peep and Beach sights, casehardened, Sling and Swivels, and 1 of 1,000. Received in warehouse on July 30, 1875. Shipped from warehouse on July 30, 1875. Order number 3745. This gun is pictured on pages 31 and 32 of The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles, by Edmund E. Lewis [book included]. The book is signed and marked for the 6594 Rifle. On page 31 and continued on page 32, it reads; "This rifle, a First Model with an Arabic 1 of 1000 inscription, was purchased by Fred Mills in 1935 from the Iver Johnson Sporting Goods Store in Boston. It was one of the first twenty rifles that were reported to Universal Pictures and Winchester during the Winchester '73 motion picture search. Mill reported: I bought this rifle June 6th, 1935, as recorded in my cash book as follows, Win 73 (1 of 1000) Fancy Rifle, $10. . . . in almost new condition. . . . Previous owner unknown" The book text also states; "Two unusual features in this First Model 73 are the shotgun butt and the pistol grip, both of which are very rare in this early gun. Neither of those features were mentioned in the Winchester records. This, however, is not unusual since details like this were often not recorded." One final note from the book that we thought is worth mentioning; "John Malloy, a well-known collector and dealer, related an interesting story about this rifle to its present owner. He and Alan S. Kelley, another dealer from Connecticut, used to visit Fred Mills in order to see his gun collection. Mills was very elderly at the time and a bit grouchy, but for the sum of $1.00 each, would let them into his house to look at his guns." This 1 of 1000 and the prize 94' gun are also mentioned in the book, Winchester: The Golden Age of American Gunmaking and the Winchester 1 of 1000 by R.L. Wilson, pages 45 and 65 [book not included]. A note in the book states: "Reported by collector Fred P.L. Mills as one of the first 20 1 of 1000 rifles in the Winchester '73 search. . . . . . .Specimen was not located for examination by the author, and the illustration is from the Steve Hannagan report, 1950."
2) Winchester Model 94 Lever Action Carbine. Serial no. 1674643, 30-30 WIN, 20-inch round barrel. Blued finish with wood stocks. Winchester proofs on barrel and frame.
Please note: This Winchester Model 94 was presented as a prize gun during the search for original 1 of 1000 rifles for the 1950 motion picture Winchester '73 starring James Stewart. A statement from Eldon J. Owens attests to this carbine being presented to Fred Mills and purchased by Owens along with the 1 of 1000 from Mills' Estate.
Note: The Winchester Model 1873 was made famous among collectors when Universal Pictures was filming and made Winchester '73 starring Jimmy Stewart. Stewart stars as a man intent on recovering his prized 1 of 1000 Winchester rifle from thief Stephen McNally. According to factory records, approximately 133 Winchester 1873, 1 of 1000 rifles were produced and during the Universal Studios search, about 20 were found. This particular example is one of those fortunate to have been located and awarded the promotional Winchester Model 94.
Included in the sale is a binder from previous auction house, well made documenting the history of both guns with some colored photocopies of literature related to guns. This gun is also mentioned by serial number and named to F.P.L. Mills in The American Rifleman Magazine from October 1950. Article written by Bill Depperman, titled: THE END OF A SEARCH regarding the Winchester '73 and the search for 1 of 1000's. [pages 36-37].
Provenance: Following the purchase from Iver Johnson in 1935.
Fred Mills until his death in 1965.
Eldon Owens,
Leon "Red" Jackson of Jackson Arms, Dallas,
Bobby C. Burns,
Paul Sorrell,
David Bichrest,
Leon Budginas,
Bert Jolicouer,
Current owner.
Condition: 1) Model 1873; Fine for this model. Retains approximately 30-40% case-hardening on receiver and related parts. Barrel with 70-80% blued finish with balance turning plum brown patina due to partial restoration and refinishing from barrel bulge repair. Wood fine as refinished, with bumps and mars as expected. Checkering very good. Bore good, mechanically sound. 2) Model 94; Fine to excellent, retains 95% plus blued finish to metal. No front hood sight. Light handling wear present with marks and fine scratches. Wood with minor wear, overall handling and storage marks; light loss to upper tang area. Collection of a Southern Gentleman.
Auction Info
2023 June 19 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction #6271 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2023
19th
Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 3
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 2,468
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