LOT #40112 |
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Rare Winchester Model 1873 Deluxe 1 of 1000 Lever Action Rifle.. ...
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Sold on Jun 19, 2023 for:
$137,500.00
Bid Source: Live: Floor bidder
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Description
The 4th Rifle Reported to Universal Pictures and Winchester during the Winchester '73 Picture Search, Starring Jimmy Stewart.
Rare Winchester Model 1873 Deluxe 1 of 1000 Lever Action
Rifle.Serial no. 31270, 44-40 WCF, 28-inch octagonal barrel engraved in script "One of One Thousand" at breech [top flat]. Blued finish with case-hardened frame. Second model, with thumbprint dust cover. Platinum band on muzzle. Full magazine with screwed in plug. Gold washed Beach combination front sight, semi-buckhorn sight and a tang sight [4-inch]. Crescent buttplate, original 4-piece steel and brass cleaning rod present in trap. An assembly number 897 found, on receiver tang and buttstock internally. Wood marked internally grade XX. Note: This gun is pictured and described in Edmund Lewis text "The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 rifles.." page 73.
Included is a small file of original and photocopies pertaining to this gun in particular.
Factory letter states; [Serial number application date not available]. A Rifle, Octagonal barrel, 28-inches, Set trigger, Checkered stock, Casehardened, Engraved "1-1000", Received in warehouse on November 14, 1878. Shipped from warehouse on November 20, 1878, Order number 13488. This particular gun was on loan to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West from December 2018 to December 2019 [photocopies of receipts provided]. Another letter [photocopy] from James Hartley, Director of Research at Winchester Repeating Arms Company dated June 15, 1950 to Mr. Scott Merry states; "We are happy to advise you that your Model 74 [typing error?] rifle, serial No. 31270 has been checked against the company records, which authenticates it as a "One of One Thousand". Congratulations on the ownership of this rare rifle. You will be interested to know that your gun was shipped from Winchester on November 20, 1878."
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. Over 720,000 Winchester Model 1873 were made, out of that production only about 133 were manufactured as 1 of 1000's examples. According to research provided with this lot, this gun was the 4th gun reported during the 1 of 1000 nationwide search by the movie company.
Provenance: Sold by Winchester November 20, 1878 to John Skinker, San Francisco;
Old Rifleman named Mr. Widum [based on handwritten letter / Winchester letterhead];
William Brewer;
Scott Merry Collection;
Robert Wyatt Collection;
Pictured on the cover of Butterfield & Butterfield catalog, March 23, 1992 [Included];
Paul Tudor Jones II Collection;
Vince Sepulveda collection, 2016;
Poulin's Auction 2020;
Current owner.
Condition: Very good to fine for this model. Retains approximately 10-20% case-hardening on receiver with a light silver balance with patina, some scattered patina present. Barrel with a thinning 50-60% blued finish with magazine mostly a brown patina with marks and light dings. Buttplate with moderate wear and dark patina. Wood good, with bumps and mars as expected. Checkering good, forearm with some scuffs to checkering. Base for rear tang sight with some dings. Bore good, mechanically sound 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: 5
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 4,409
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