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Rare, Nimschke Shop Engraved, Nickel-Plated, First Model Winchester 1873 Carbine with Madis Letter

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:20,000.00 USD Estimated At:50,000.00 - 75,000.00 USD
Rare, Nimschke Shop Engraved, Nickel-Plated, First Model Winchester 1873 Carbine with Madis Letter

Estimate: $50000 - 75000
This is an extraordinary example of a Nimschke shop engraved First Model Winchester 1873 Carbine that was manufactured in 1875. The carbine is accompanied by a detailed letter of evaluation by Winchester expert George Madis. The letter states that the carbine was carefully inspected and that the carbine was shipped to a New York dealer engraved and nickel-plated in the "New York" style by L.D. Nimschke or another independent engraver who closely emulated his style. The side plates and sides and top of the frame, upper tang, dust cover and heel of the buttplate are engraved with impeccably executed "American Style" scroll work on a punch-dot background with double line borders. The bottom of the cartridge elevator is decorated with double-line cross-hatch and dot engraving. With the exception of the hammer and the trigger the carbine has a full nickel-plated finish. The stock and forearm are straight grain black walnut; the Madis description notes that stock and forearm show evidence of being re-varnished sometime during the working life of the carbine. The carbine has the first style frame and dust cover with 5/8-inch fine checkered thumbhold, first style non-adjustable carbine leaf sight and upper barrel band with intregal front sight blade. A staple-mounted saddle ring is mounted on the left side of the frame and the buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped "WINCHESTER"S-REPEATING-ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29.1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860" in two lines between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. "MODEL. 1873." is roll-stamped on the upper tang in fancy letters. The serial number, "16193" is located on the lower tang between the lever latch and the rear tang screw.
BBL: 20 inch
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 44 WCF
Finish: nickel
Grips:
Serial Number: 16193
Condition: Extremely fine. The carbine retains 85% of the nickel-plated finish with minor flaking on the muzzle, top of the barrel and upper barrel band, lever, lower tang and left side of the frame near the saddle ring. The buttplate retains about 30% of the nickel-plated finish. The engraving is crisp and deep. The stock and forearm are both in very good overall condition with a few minor handling marks. The Madis letter states that any engraved First Model 1873 Winchester's are very rare and engraved First Model 1873 Carbines are exceptionally rare.
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