1254

*EXTREMELY RARE WINCHESTER DELUXE MODEL 1895 LEVER ACTION RIFLE FROM THE JOHN OLIN COLLECTION.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
*EXTREMELY RARE WINCHESTER DELUXE MODEL 1895 LEVER ACTION RIFLE FROM THE JOHN OLIN COLLECTION.
SN 61549. Cal. 30 US (30-40 Krag). Scarce deluxe '95 with 28" full matted, tapered rnd bbl with pedestal mounted, German silver front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight. Bbl marking & the "WP" proof are to the left side to accommodate the matting. Left side of bbl and receiver have British proofs and left side of receiver has the usual Winchester roll marking & patent dates. Mounted with very nicely figured burl American walnut with H-style checkered, black insert, schnabel tip forearm and straight stock with "WINCHESTER" marked solid red rubber pad. Bottom of the bbl has a dovetailed sling eye with corresponding sling eye in the stock. Right side of buttstock retains the adhesive from what was probably an Olin collection tag which has been removed leaving the adhesive and some indecipherable lettering. Left side of lower tang, under the wood, is marked with the assembly number "6230" and "X". Top tang channel of buttstock has the assembly number "6434" along with "95" and a pencil number "8". Bottom tang channel of the buttstock is pencil marked with the rifle's matching SN "61549". Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which states as follows: "This is to certify that the Winchester Model 1895 Exhibition Sporting Rifle, serial number 61549 was originally the property of John M. Olin. This rifle was transfered (sic) from Mr. Olin's Estate to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center under authorization dated July 13, 1989. Under an agreement between the executors of the Estate and the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, the Center was to retain those arms it deemed useful to our collections and to dispose of the balance (including the above-mentioned arm) with the proviso that all funds generated by such disposals would accrue to the benefit of the Cody Firearms Building Fund. For your records I am enclosing copies of the original transfer documents.", and signed "Herbert G. Houze, Curator". Also accompanied by a shipping document from the Olin Corporation titled "Miscellaneous Factory Order", number 007911, dated 8-9-89 which lists 16 Winchester rifles including this Model 1895, identified by SN. Very few arms from Mr. Olin's personal collection have ever come to market, especially those he may have used as his personal hunting arms. PROVENANCE: John M. Olin Collection. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. Bbl retains 98-99% crisp orig blue with faint thinning over the carry point; receiver, cartridge box & lever retain most of their orig blue with one spot of flaking on right side of receiver and light wear on cartridge box; hammer retains most of its orig case colors, turned a little dark. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and retains most of its factory finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-47174 JR150