1049

Very Fine, Exceptionally Rare, Original Winchester "One of One Thousand" 1873 Lever Action Rifle wit

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:75,000.00 USD Estimated At:150,000.00 - 275,000.00 USD
Very Fine, Exceptionally Rare, Original Winchester  One of One Thousand  1873 Lever Action Rifle wit
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This is a very fine example of an all original, factory documented, Winchester 1873 "One of One Thousand" lever action rifle. The factory letter that accompanies this rifle is dated August 1989 and shows this rifle was shipped from the Winchester factory in November 1879 along with five other rifles on order number 13488 and verifies the exact configuration 26 inch octagon barrel, set trigger, checkered stock, casehardened finish, of this rifle with the extremely important notation "1 of 1000". Originally intended as a sales strategy by Winchester to market a more accurate, higher grade of Winchester 1873 rifle, obviously with the intention that they could charge a higher price. These rifles were originally produced by selecting barrels that showed the ability to fire more accurate or consistent groups, which where then completely hand fitted, factory engraved and fitted with special select fancy walnut stock and forend. 1 of 1000 rifles are the most sought after rifles of any serious Winchester collector and are the prized possession of any collector fortunate enough to acquire one. A renewed interest in these rifle was spurred on by Universal Pictures movie Winchester 73 released in 1950. As part of a publicity stunt leading up to the release of the movie, Universal Pictures in conjunction with Winchester put on a national search for original unknown Winchester 1 of 1000's. This specific rifle has the type two receiver with the dust cover guide held on by two screws, with the 1/2 inch impressed oval checkered dust cover. As noted in the factory letter the rifle is equipped with the pinned set trigger. Early style tang markings "MODEL 1873" with the serial number engraved lengthwise in a script pattern on the lower tang. The top of the barrel has the early style markings of "WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS, NEW HAVEN CT." over "KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29 1866. OCT 16 1860." The muzzle features a factory platinum band and beautifully executed scroll and punch dot motif. The breech end of the barrel also has a factory platinum band and features the fourth style "One of One Thousand" legend. The quality of the engraving work on "1 of 1000" rifles is widely recognized to be by the hand of John Ulrich and this rifle is no exception. It has the correct half-German silver fixed front sight with the semi-buckhorn adjustable rear sight. It is correctly fitted with a deluxe 3x fancy figured American walnut stock and forend with factory checkering. These rifles had a casehardened receiver, hammer, loading lever, forend cap and buttplate with the barrel, magazine tube and trigger being blued. This is an exceptionally fine, all original example of a Winchester 1873 lever action rifle. As noted in the first line this lot is accompanied by a factory letter.
BBL: 26 inch octagon
Stock: walnut checkered
Gauge: 44-40
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 31268
Condition: Very fine. The barrel and magazine tube retain approximately 60% of the original Winchester blued finish with the balance having aged to an even brown patina. The case colors on the receiver, hammer, loading lever and buttplate have mostly faded to a light brown patina finish overall. Some traces of original casehardening pattern remain with some overall minor collector type handling marks. The stock and forend retain most of their respective high polish finish having thinning on exposed edges and showing some minor handling marks from actual use. The checkering on both the stock and forend are still all original and fully detailed on the pistol grip while the forend show a little more even honest wear on the underside of checkering, but no abuse. The thing that I like most about this rifle is that it has that actual look of "having been there", out west. This was not a gun that spent its life in a closet or on the wall. Consider it a Ferrari of its day, one that was actually driven and well cared for. The screws are all unbuggered with and they have dried oil and dirt still in the screw heads and around the side plate and edges of the metal. The stock and forend is the same way, it looks like it has never been off the rifle in over 100 years, has some light handling marks here and there showing honest frontier use but no abuse. A completely straight, honest, all original Winchester "One of One Thousand" rifle. Certainly this would be the center piece of any advanced Winchester collection or Western collection.