167A

Winchester First Model 1873 Deluxe Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
Winchester First Model 1873 Deluxe Rifle
All items sold as is where is. See photos for condition, email info@burleyauction.com or call 830-629-9280 (Prior to sale day) if you have specific condition questions.

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Historic Factory Presentation Deluxe Winchester 1873 First Model Rifle. Rare and Historic Factory Presentation to Firearms Inventor Edward Stabler Deluxe Winchester Model 1873 First Model 44-40 Rifle. SN#8957. This rifle features and confirmed by the factory letter a extra length 28" round barrel, set trigger, 4 XXXX stock, beach sights, case hardened, Stabler (referring to the presentation plaque). This presentation was given by the factory to famous Firearms inventor Edward Stabler. Mr. Stabler famously manufactured the Stabler cut off system found on Spencer Carbines and rifles. Post-Civil War Spencer carbines and rifles were equipped with Edward Stabler's cut-off mechanism that, when engaged, prevented the breechblock from moving far enough to chamber a cartridge from the buttstock magazine, thus allowing for the Spencer to be used as a single-shot arm. Stabler received a royalty of 25 cents for each arm fabricated with his magazine cut-off device, which became very popular with officers who believed the fire rate of the Spencer exhausted ammunition before it could be resupplied. Prior to inventing the cut-off device, Stabler had designed a spring assist for the Spencer blade ejector in 1864. A few interesting characteristics of this rifle, the uncheckered forearm, placement of the rear sight and barrel address being reversed, compass in stock which is ultimately believed to be written on the wrong line of the original factory records (original factory record sheet accompanies this lot), and the 4 XXXX wood, which normally was reserved for the 1 of 100 and 1 of 1000 model! Overall this rifle shows approximately 50% original blue on the barrel and magazine tube. The frame has silvered out with traces of original color case hardening throughout and in protected areas.