4003

ONE OF THE FINEST & WELL DOCUMENTED DELUXE 1ST

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:75,000.00 USD Estimated At:150,000.00 - 250,000.00 USD
ONE OF THE FINEST & WELL DOCUMENTED DELUXE 1ST
MODEL WINCHESTER 1873 “ONE OF ONE-THOUSAND” CASE COLORED LEVER ACTION RIFLES W/ EXTENSIVE PROVENANCE, & FORMERLY ON DISPLAY AT THE CODY FIREARMS MUSEUM. Cal. 44-40. S# 27141. Desirable 30" octagonal barrel engraved “One of One Thousand” on the top flat at breech with attractive engraved arabesque scrolls on adjacent flats and around muzzle. Breech and muzzle both have inset silver bands. Case colored frame, hammer, lever, and mortise thumbprint dust cover. Niter blued loading gate. Lower frame tang on the left side factory marked “27141 XXX 292”. Matching “292” assembly number present in the upper channel of the fancy XXX grade figured stock. Crescent steel buttplate retaining an original 4 piece steel and brass cleaning rod. Set trigger. Full magazine. Rocky Mountain front and rear sight. Vintage thin based 4" tang peep sight. The Winchester “1 of 1000” is among the most iconic of American arms. Oliver Winchester marketed these superior rifles by stating that of every 100 barrels manufactured, proved and tested for accuracy, the best 1 of 100 would be put aside. Once 10 superior barrels were gleaned, they would be tested for accuracy and the best of these would be marked “one of one thousand” and the other 9 barrels “one of one hundred” (though few 1 of 100s were marked). This long gleaning process produced guns of highest accuracy and were priced at $80-100 when a standard model was $30. Only 124 are noted in factory records. The gun was made really famous among gun collectors when Universal Studios was filming “Winchester 73” starring Jimmy Stewart. This rifle was the third of the “1 of 1000s” reported during the nationwide search by the movie company in 1950 (twenty three “1 of 1000”s were located during this search). The extensive documentation included with this rifle intimately details its extensive history and time line. This rifle was the third discovered in June of 1950 during the Universal Studios search. It was submitted by Louis Ostendorp of Berwyn, Illinois and is accompanied with the original letter from the owner responding to the American Rifleman article, a copy of the original envelope, a copy the notarized letter certifying the ownership, a copy of the original photograph of the 1 of 1000 inscription, the original response letter from Steve Hannagan Publicity confirming the receipt of the notarized submission indicating that there will be a confirmation process by the R & D Division of Winchester prior to awarding the new model 94 to the owner, copy of the June 1950 RD & C Division handwritten record of the ownership and configuration of the 1 of 1000. The original confirmation letter from the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. verifying that it was indeed a 1 of 1000, an original transcript of the press release prepared by Steve Hannagan Publicity for Olin Industries. Also included are further original correspondences to the owner requesting the negative of the image used for the submission and confirming receipt for the loan of the negative. An original letter inquiring what the owner felt the rifle was worth in 1950, a letter requesting permission to use the owners’ information in promotional pamphlets, and additional follow up correspondences from Steven Hannagan and Olin Industries. The rarest ephemeral item in this grouping is the iconic “WANTED” poster (14x17”) for whereabouts of One-of-One-Thousand Winchester 73 Rifles. This poster has been reprinted in numerous texts, and is thought to be the only surviving original copy. This is a truly magnificent iconic Winchester with deluxe features shipped September 17, 1877 (order number 10038). UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: large file of information and research including about 20 pieces of original correspondence concerning discovery of this gun in 1950-1954 and correspondence concerning loan to Buffalo Bill Center. Original copy of 2018 James D. Julia auction catalog with this rifle on cover. October 1979 Factory letter addressed to Herb Glass indicating 30” oct. bbl. / checkered stock / P & GA sight / Under remarks: Case hardened, 1 of 1000 / Received in warehouse on Sept. 15th, 1877. Shipped from warehouse Sept. 17, 1877. April 2018 factory letter indicating type: Rifle / Bbl type: Octagon / Bbl Length: 30” / Trigger: Set / Checkered stock / Sights: Peep and Globe A / Case hardened / 1 of 1000 / Received in warehouse Sept. 15, 1877. Shipped from warehouse Sept. 1877. May 1950 "American Rifleman" featuring an article on the 1 of 1000 rifles along with the October 1950 “American Rifleman” which lists Louis Ostendorp as being one of the proud owners of S# 27141 from the 1 of 1000. Wanted poster (14x17). CONDITION: extremely fine, definitely ranking among the top few “1 of 1000”s extant. Rifle retains most of its original finish and has a beautiful appearance from muzzle to butt. Case colors have vibrant hues on left side of frame and muted on right. “Thumb print” dust cover and hammer also retain vibrant rainbow hues of case color. Lever and buttplate have strong traces of bright case color and overall smooth silver/gray/plum patina. The barrel and magazine tube retain most of their original blue finish though thinning in areas, 3" of magazine near muzzle has light salt and pepper pitting mixed with blue which does affect overall aesthetic. The loading gate retains much of its original bright fire blue finish. Stocks are excellent with crisp diamond point checkering, lightly hand worn area on bottom of checkering on forestock. Brass trapdoor for 4 piece cleaning rod and buttplate has an untouched dark mustard patina. Long range tang peep sight is excellent retaining much of its original blue finish. Silver inset bands at breech and muzzle are as found with shiny smooth black silver patina. Mechanically excellent including fine adjustment screw of set trigger. Bore has crisp bright rifling. Accompanying correspondence is very good overall. The unique original poster was not removed from frame, but also appears fine condition with folds. It is framed along with two pieces of the original correspondence. PROVENANCE: Brancher Collection, Lima, OH / Louis A. Ostendorp (1920-1999) collection, Berwyn, IL 1949 / Pictured and described in Hannagan “ONE OF ONE THOUSAND” 1950 / Herb Glass, Bullville, NY 1979 / Raymond B. Bentley (1935-2017) collection / James Julia Auctions, lot 2017, March 2018 / Vicente Sepulveda Collection / On display Buffalo Bill Center of the West, December 2018-February 2020. (01-17686/JS). ANTIQUE. $150,000-250,000.