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SPECTACULAR JOSEPH CUSTOM ENGRAVED DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,750.00 USD Estimated At:7,500.00 - 12,500.00 USD
SPECTACULAR JOSEPH CUSTOM ENGRAVED DELUXE WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.
SN 163647. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Exceptional custom engraved rifle with 24-1/4" oct bbl, button magazine, half nickel front sight with screw, semi-buckhorn rear sight and thick base tang sight. It has sgl set trigger and the buttstock & forend cap have factory sling eyes. Mounted with exceptional flame grain, center crotch American walnut with H-style checkering and straight stock with smooth steel buttplate. Rifle is engraved by master engraver, Joseph, of Cody, Wyoming in extraordinary full coverage foliate arabesque patterns on the receiver that all have fine matted background. The side plates and front side panels are in the white. Left side plate is engraved with an incredibly detailed 6-horse stagecoach with driver & shotgun guard. Left front panel depicts a masked bandit on horseback holding a rifle with six-gun on his hip. Right side plate is equally incredibly detailed depicting a pony express rider entering the gates of a fort with Indians in the background. The pony express rider is in the process of dismounting his horse with another man holding the horse and two additional men closing the gates of fort, with a barking dog in the foreground. Right front side panel depicts an Indian on horseback. Top front of the receiver is engraved with a spread-winged eagle. Top & bottom of receiver are engraved in matching foliate arabesque patterns with spectacular foliate & floral patterns on the carrier. Dust cover is engraved to match with geometric patterns in the center. Dust cover rail is also engraved in geometric patterns. Front & rear edges of receiver and sides of lever are inlaid with flat gold wire and it has a narrow gold band around front edge of receiver, chamber end of bbl and around the muzzle which is also inlaid with foliate & floral gold wire. Lever is beautifully engraved in a variety of patterns and the butt plate has full coverage engraving. The artist's signature appears on the dust cover rail. This cataloger is personally acquainted with the artist, Joseph, and has examined numerous examples of his work and can say, unequivocally, that this is one of his finest pieces. Accompanied by a Buffalo Bill Historical Center letter which identifies this rifle with oct bbl, set trigger, checkered stock, shotgun butt, half magazine, case hardened with graduated peep and knife blade sight, received in warehouse Oct. 3, 1884 and shipped same day. Repaired & returned Sept. 19, 1900 and Oct. 10, 1901. Also accompanied by numerous letters of correspondence from the artist to the consignor's father, with smoke pulls of the work in progress and an invoice dated Dec. 6, 1986 from the artist in the amount of $6,000. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Overall retains virtually all of its spectacular custom finish with bright blues and brilliant case colors on the hammer & trigger. Wood is sound and retains about all of its brilliant custom finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore, frosty in the grooves. 4-47862 JR120