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RARE SPECIAL ORDER DELUXE WINCHESTER THIRD MODEL 'BIG 50' LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:12,500.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 35,000.00 USD
RARE SPECIAL ORDER DELUXE WINCHESTER THIRD MODEL 'BIG 50' LEVER ACTION RIFLE.
SN 52197. Cal. 50 Ex. (50-95). Beautiful deluxe rifle with 26" oct bbl, button magazine, gold washed Beach's combination front sight, semi-buckhorn rear sight and an early Lyman combination tang sight with fine spiral knurled bbl. Dust cover is marked "WINCHESTER EXPRESS / .50 CAL. 95 GRS." Mounted with very highly figured, about 2-3X, flame grain American walnut with H-style checkered forearm and black insert serpentine grip buttstock and smooth steel buttplate. Left side of lower tang is marked "XX" and with the assembly number "2515" which number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this rifle in Express caliber with oct bbl, plain trigger, checkered stock with pistol grip, Lyman & Beach sights, 1/2 magazine, case hardened and shotgun butt received in warehouse July 15, 1886 and shipped next day to Order #8103. Standard bbl length for the 'Big 50' caliber 1876 rifles was 26". It should be noted that the vast majority of 50 caliber 1876 rifles were British proofed, having been sent to England & India. This rifle is not so proofed, apparently purchased for domestic use. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about 90-92% strong orig blue with light sharp edge wear and a few scattered spots of surface discoloration; receiver, lever, hammer & forend cap retain most of their orig case colors, strong in sheltered areas, faded elsewhere but still strongly visible; screws are all fine and retain most of their orig blue; buttplate is a silver/brown patina. Wood is sound with scattered light nicks & scratches, some dark hand wear on rear of forearm and overall retains most of its bright, strong piano varnish finish with light diamond point wear on the stock and moderate wear on forearm. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore with a little scattered orange peel effect. 4-47876 JR128