Posted on 11/26/2017 12:22:30 AM PST by Swordmaker
Estimate: $375,000 - $550,000
Description: Extremely Rare Documented, Winchester First Model 1873 "One of One Thousand" Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter
This is an exceptional example of a Winchester One of One Thousand Model 1873 Rifle with extensive documentation.
Winchester manufactured 136 One of One Thousand Model 1873 rifles between 1875 and 1879. A letter of evaluation of this rifle by Winchester expert R.L. Wilson states that only about 30 of these rifles had been located by collectors and historians. In 1950 as part of the promotion for the movie "WINCHESTER 73", the Winchester Repeating Arms Company attempted to identify the surviving One of One Thousand rifles. This rifle is complete with a copy of a letter dated January 28, 1953, from Winchester to Norman L. Patten of Detroit, Michigan, notifying Mr. Patten that: "rifle No. 18070 is one of the very rare "One of One Thousand Model 73's".
The rifle is accompanied by a letter from the Winchester Gun Museum dated 1971 and a letter from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center dated 1977 that describe the rifle's features and verify that it is listed in Winchester factory ledgers as a "1 of 1000" rifle. The Buffalo Bill letter states:
"The original Winchester Records housed in our Museum, describe Model 1873, Serial Number 18070 as a rifle, 1/2 octagon barrel, set trigger, 4X checkered stock, Pacific Buckhorn sights, casehardened, 1 of 1000, swiveled, engraved. It was received in the warehouse on February 26, 1876, and shipped February 28, 1876".
This rifle is also listed in the Winchester warehouse ledger reproduced on pages 375 and 376 of "Winchester's New Model of 1873", Vol. 2 by James D. Gordon. This rifle has what Gordon identifies as "Fourth Style" markings and engraving on page 390 of his book. "One of One Thousand" is engraved in script letters on the top barrel flat of the 24-inch half-round/half-octagon barrel reading toward the receiver. The "One of One Thousand" marking is bordered by dot and scallop engraving with an engraved flourish next to the rear sight. The sides of the barrel are engraved with deeply cut scrollwork on a punch-dot background. Silver bands are inlaid at the barrel breech and muzzle. The muzzle has four engraved scrolls on a punch-dot background.
The barrel has a gold-plated Beach folding combination globe and post front sight and a early style, 2 ½-inch, Sporting Rear Sight with knurled edges and five step elevator.
The R.L. Wilson letter states that half-round/half-octagon barrels and short magazines are very rare on Model 1873 One of One Thousand rifles.
The rifle has the first style receiver with grooved dust cover guides and dust cover with checkered oval finger grip. The receiver has a single set-trigger. A folding graduated peep sight is mounted on the upper receiver tang. The hammer has bordered knurling on the spur. Factory eyelets for sling swivels are mounted on the forearm cap and stock. The Wilson letter notes that sling swivels are rare on One of One Thousand rifles.
The crescent buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor. The butt trap contains a four-piece, jointed steel sling swivel with brass tip (sic — This is incorrect, it actually a cleaning rod, not a "sling swivel." —Swordmaker).
The stock and forearm are deluxe, highly figured, 4X, fancy grain walnut with early style Winchester checkered panels and a piano finish.
Wilson's letter states that the "XXXX" marking is stamped on the left side of the lower tang and visible when the stock is removed.
The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860" ahead of the rear sight. The serial number is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang behind the lever latch. The forearm cap, receiver, dust cover, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The loading gate has a niter blue finish. The barrel, magazine, rear sight, tang sight and trigger are Winchester blue. The s(t)ock and forearm have a semi-matt piano finish.
The Model 1873 One of One Thousand rifle is the best known of all Winchester rifles. One of One Thousand rifles are considered by experts to be the ultimate rarities in Winchester collecting. In addition to the Wilson Winchester Museum and Cody Museum letters, this rifle is accompanied by a list of all of the owners from 1950-1977. The most prominent collectors to own this spectacular rifle were John R. Woods and subsequently Robert M. Lee.
Manufacturer: Winchester
Model: 1873
BBL: 24 inch part octagon
Stock: highly figured 4X walnut checkered Gauge: 44-40 WCF
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 18070
Class: Antique
Condition: Extremely fine overall. This rifle is all original and retains 80% plus of the blue finish. The engraving and markings are extremely sharp. The stock and forearm are in very fine-excellent condition and retain nearly all of the original piano finish with sharp checkering. The R.L Wilson letter describes this rifle as: "among the finest examples of a One of One Thousand Model 1873 in existence". His letter states that this rifle has handsome case colors and concludes: "This is a rifle fitting for the finest museum or private collection". This is a splendid example of a Model 1873 One of One Thousand rifle with impeccable documentation that has been part of some of the finest collections of American firearms.
Provenance: The Robert M. Lee Collection.
Lot 2446: Documented Finest Condition U.S. Singer Manufacturing Co. Model
Estimate: $160,000 - $240,000
Description: Documented Finest Condition U.S. Singer Manufacturing Co. Model 1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol with Two Extra Magazines and History
This is the finest condition known example of a U.S. Model 1911A1 semi-automatic pistol that was from the 500 pistols manufactured by the Singer Manufacturing Co. under Educational Order W-ORD-396 in 1940. The contract of 500 Singer pistols were issued primarily to U.S. Army Air Corps squadrons.
The pistol has the correct original and unique high gloss blue finish which is found only on U.S. Singer M1911A1 pistols. The Keyes Fibre stocks are checkered brown plastic and lack the reinforcing rings around the screw holes and interior strengthening ribs found on later production Keyes stocks. The pistol has the correct milled trigger with checkered face, short wide spur hammer and checkered slide stop, safety lock and mainspring housing.
The left side of the slide is roll-stamped "S. MFG. CO./ELIZABETH, N.J.,U.S.A." in two lines. The right side of the frame is roll-stamped "UNITED STATES PROPERTY/M1911 A1 U.S.ARMY". The serial number "NoS800221" is stamped below the property mark. The serial numbers show the slight misalignment that is typical of Singer M1911A1 pistols. The left side of the frame is stamped with the "JKC" final inspection mark of Colonel John K. Clement Commander of the New York Ordnance District. A "P" proofmark is stamped on the left side of the frame above the magazine release, on the top of the slide between the ejection port and the front sight (the "P" faces left) and on the left side of the barrel lug. The barrel has a full blue finish and the only marking is the "P" proofmark.
The pistol is complete with three magazines with high polish full blue finish and oversize floorplate pins.
This pistol is accompanied by a notarized letter dated July 7, 2010, from Stephen Clark. The letter explains how 1st Lt. Charles H. Clark was a pilot in the U.S. Air Corps during WWII. Prior to his military service, Lt. Clark was a pilot for the U.S. Navy Reserve, stationed on an aircraft carrier in Long Beach, California. He worked as a test pilot for North American Aviation in 1941 and joined the Army Air Corps in 1942, stationed at Burtonwood Air Depot in England. On May 11, 1943, he piloted a B-17F out of Bovington Field, England, to Iceland to recover bodies and papers from a B-24 which crashed on May 3, 1943. In the crash, the pilot, co-pilot, 4 crewmen and 8 passengers were killed; the only survivor was the tail gunner, who escaped with only minor injuries.
Among the recovered items by Lt. Clark was this Singer pistol which had been in his possession until October 7, 1958 when it was passed on to the son. Also with the pistol are 4 photographs of Lt. Clark, a section of the periodical "Take Off". North American Aviation Inc. of Texas, September 11, 1941, with an article about Clark, a copy of an individual flight record of 1st Lt. Clark for the month of May (year not recorded, writer assumes 1943, the month of the recovery) and a copy of an internet fact sheet with the summary of the circumstances of the crash of the on B-24 May 3, 1943 in Iceland.
Manufacturer: Singer
Model: 1911A1
BBL: 5 inch round
Stock:
Gauge: 45 ACP
Finish: blue
Grips: brown plastic checkered
Serial Number: S800221
Class: Curio & Relic Handgun
Condition: Excellent plus. The pistol retains 99% of the original high polish finish. Wear is limited to some minor finish loss on the slide at the muzzle and on the forward edges of the frame. The barrel has minor cycling wear on the chamber. The grips are both excellent plus. The Singer markings on the left side of the slide are crisp and deep. The serial number and U.S. markings on the right side of the frame are crisp. The "P" proofmarks on the slide and frame and the "JKC" final inspection mark on the frame have correct raised, bright edges. All three magazines are excellent with 99% of the original blue finish. This is an extraordinary example of a rare Singer M1911A1 pistol with interesting documented history. Quite possibly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire the finest condition Singer Model 1911A1, which is the key piece in any advanced Model 1911/1911A1 or U.S. martial pistol collection.
Lot 2126: Cased Samuel Colt Presentation Colt Model 1862 Police Revolver
Estimate: $140,000 - $240,000
Description: Extraordinary and Historic Cased Deluxe Factory Engraved and Inscribed Samuel Colt Presentation Colt Model 1862 Police Percussion Revolver Presented to Major Charles T. Baker
This historic Model 1862 Police revolver was manufactured in 1861 (the first year of production) and presented by Colt founder Samuel Colt to Major Charles Traintor Baker (1821–1881). It is known that Colt revolvers were specially inscribed and presented by Samuel Colt to government officials, military leaders, business associates and personal friends. It is important to note Samuel Colt died on January 10 of 1862, making this gun certainly one of his last presentation revolvers, if not his last.
This is not the first gun Colt presented to Major Baker. In fact, Colt presented Baker with a cased Model 1860 (serial number 7569), and this revolver resides at New York’s famed Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET). The Model 1860 is pictured and described in the MET’s "Notable Acquisitions, 1983-1984" on page 25 and R.L. Wilson’s “Samuel Colt Presents” on page 174 and featured on the MET’s online catalog. The MET’s Model 1860 was also manufactured in 1861, meaning that both revolvers were presented to Major Baker at the dawning of the Civil War. According to the MET’s records, Baker served as an officer in the 5th Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers at the time of the presentation.
Although the writer was unable to find Baker’s name among the official Civil War record of men serving this regiment, it is interesting to note that the record does indicate a “one Colonel Baker from Windham County appearing as a military instructor of regiment.” Baker lived in Windham County where his home can still be viewed today and was an infantry tactics instructor at West Point. The rank of colonel could possibly be in error.
Baker graduated from West Point on July 1, 1842. Upon graduation he was promoted to brevet 2nd lieutenant with the 3rd Infantry, served in the Second Seminole War in 1842, was in garrison at Ft. Stansbury, Florida, in 1842-1843 and Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, in 1843-1844, was on frontier duty at Ft. Jesup, Louisiana, in 1844 and Ft. Towson, Indian Frontier, in 1844-1845 and was an assistant instructor of infantry tactics at West Point from 1845 to 1851. He retired in December 1851, possibly with the rank of 1st lieutenant.
His father, Colonel Rufus Baker (1790-1868), served in the U.S. Ordnance Corps and was elected president of Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company in 1856.
Samuel Colt was a master salesman above all his other attributes, and he found that the best kind of advertising that he could employ to promote his products were the products themselves. He handed out finely engraved and inscribed presentation guns to anyone he thought to be a worthy recipient. One of his guns placed in the hands of an influential person, believed Colt, would go a long way in winning support and acceptance of his products. Major Baker, an officer linked to a regiment organized in Colt’s hometown of Hartford, made a perfect candidate for one of Colt’s special presentation revolvers. The presentation of this revolver was also during a period when Colt was attempting to create a regiment fully armed with his products.
This military unit became known as the 1st Regiment Colt’s Revolving Rifles of Connecticut but quickly disbanded before ever engaging in combat. Many disbanded soldiers from the Colt’s Regiment re-enlisted in the 5th Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers. The 5th Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers was organized in July 1861 at Hartford, participated in several engagements including Battle of Front Royal, First Battle of Winchester, Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Gettysburg, Atlanta Campaign and Battle of Bentonville and was mustered out of service July 1865.
The factory presentation inscription to Major Baker is featured on the back strap: “Major Charles T. Baker/From Col. Colt.” (Note that the MET’s Model 1860 has an identical back strap inscription.)
Most of the remaining surfaces of the revolver exhibit a beautifully executed foliate scroll engraving on a punch dot background which incorporates a wolf head on the left side of the barrel lug, the rear of the cylinder at each chamber and both sides of the hammer. The hammer spur is hand knurled and has a seven dot inverted "V" motif beneath the knurling. This style of engraving is indicative of revolvers from Gustave Young and his shop.
The top of the barrel is stamped with the one-line New York address, the left side of the frame is engraved “COLT’S/PATENT,” and a cylinder flute is stamped with the patent date.
The barrel and cylinder have the Colt extra high polish commercial blue finish reserved for special presentation pieces. It is truly an impressively rich finish that speaks volumes to the quality of Colt craftsmanship in the mid to late 19th century. The loading lever, frame and hammer are color casehardened, and the brass trigger guard and back strap are silver plated.
The oiled one piece grip is highly figured walnut.
Matching serial numbers are stamped on the frame, barrel, trigger guard, back strap, arbor pin and cylinder. The barrel wedge is un-numbered. The serial numbers on the barrel, frame, trigger guard and back strap are accompanied by a dot that indicates special attention by the factory.
The factory partitioned case is lined in royal purple velvet and contains an Eley Brothers cap tin, “L” shaped wrench/screwdriver, extra hammer spring, extra hand, two extra percussion nipples, “COLTS/PATENT” marked two cavity bullet mold, package of Police combustible envelope cartridges (opened), and single face eagle Colt’s patent powder flask. Also take note that the MET's cased Model 1860 also has similar spare parts.
Samuel Colt presentation revolvers are the rarest and most historic Colt percussion firearms.
Manufacturer: Colt
Model: 1862 Police
BBL: 6 ½ inch round
Stock:
Gauge: 36 percussion
Finish: blue/casehardened/silver
Grips: highly figured walnut
Serial Number: 3420
Class: Antique
Condition: Excellent. The barrel and cylinder retain 95% bright original high polish blue finish with the balance thinning to a gray. The hammer, frame and loading lever retain 85% original case colors. The grip straps retain 97% plus original silver plating. The grip is also excellent showing a few minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine showing minor-moderate handling/storage marks, a detached short partition wall and typical high spot wear on the lining. A high conditioned Samuel Colt presentation factory engraved deluxe Model 1862 Police revolver presented to an identified Civil War Union officer that will do well in even the most advanced Colt or Civil War collections.
For the highly advanced high end Colt collector who wants to buy the best the first time around and not have to upgrade later!
Interesting story on how the Singer 1911 was uniquely finished as bright blue when the usual government contract standard was Parkerizing. I wonder why the US Government is not attempting to recover this as stolen equipment as recorded in the documentation? Bet they didn’t play as fast and loose with the Norden bombsight in that crashed B-24.
≡≡8-O
They looked the other way on military arms being brought home by US soldiers after WWII. . . they did not want them abandoned in the war zones, and it was easier to allow US GIs to bring them back than to collect them and destroy them or ship them home. . . so let 'em bring them back as souvenirs. Exceptions were made for fully auto weapons. . . but even some of those got snuck in.
Hey SM, speaking of all these Winchester rifles, I assume you have been to the Winchester house in San Jose. That place is really a trip. Rumor has it, that Sarah Winchester felt so guilty, because of all the people killed by Winchester rifles, that she went into a building mode, and never came out of it.
Beautiful!!!
Been there twice. Once before it got so commercialized, once afterward. No rumor about it. She was told by a psychic that the after life was not for her because of all those killed by her husband’s rifles but if she kept building on her house, providing room for their spirits, they’d be mollified, and she’d never die. Didn’t work. She died.
I like that movie.
Finally a few years ago, I bought an 1873 Winchester rifle (octagon barrel, curved butt, full magazine) in .44-40 and after a careful cleaning and inspection took it to the range.
After loading up, I carefully adjusted my hearing protectors and I fired.
"Ptap".
Not "Bang", not "pow", and certainly not a thunderous roar - just "Ptap".
It turns out that a pistol cartridge in a long gun doesn't isn't loud at all.
Thus I learned of the insidious effects of movie magic and their sound men. A little bit of a letdown!
If that 1911 was stamped “Property of U.S. Government”, what would stop the same “government” from confiscating it at any time? They do things like that I am told.
I'm having a hard time believing the provenance story of this Singer.
It was one of 500 of an educational contract for Singer, was issued to a B-24 crewman, survived a crash landing in Iceland, survived the rest of the war, brought back to the United States after the war, passed down to the owner's son, yet has no idiot mark, very little wear, and almost no wear internally from being shot?
Rock Island's listing of the Singer: https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/72/2446/documented-finest-condition-us-singer-manufacturing-co-model
I have no reason not to trust RIA, and Ian from Forgotten Weapons reviews a ton of their offerings, but the story of how it was acquired doesn't seem to line up with it's condition. But I'm probably wrong. Again. As usual.
I had one in 38-40. No BANG as it was a pistol load. it seems the companies were afraid a modern load would blow up the old pistols and rifles, so they loaded them down.
The 38-40 also was deeply chambered so the shoulder would blow out and split the case. I believe this was done intentional to prevent reloaders from reusing the case.
Had to sell it when I got hungry enough back then.
Very good read ...... thank you.
Has gun Jesus done a review on this (Ian McCollum )?
CC
Many years ago I acquired an Remington Keene nickel plated Indian Police saddle ring carbine. This was a .45-70 Govt., bolt-action with a tubular magazine that had been issued to Native American police by the Department of Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1874. Most of these were long rifles but a few were the nickel plated carbines. Cartridges were loaded into the tubular magazine through a hole in the butt plate and the magazine extended below the barrel.
I found my gun in pristine condition hanging from the ceiling at Bandito's Gun Shop off Highway 80 in Weimar, CA, just east of Auburn, CA. It's only flaw was a missing leaf spring on the military rear sight which allowed it to flop up and down. It looked brand new.
A couple of months after I bought it, a friend and I took the Remington Keen and several other guns out shooting in the foothills out Highway 26 east of Stockton. It too, did not produce a huge movie "BANG!" I was shooting some authentic black-powder .45-70 govt. rounds at a pie plate I had put on a tree at 200 yards. The Keene produced a "WHOMP!" and clouds of white smoke. About a second or so later I heard a "THUNK!"
My buddy was watching from about ten feet away through a spotting scope and said "WOW! There's a hold in the middle of the pie plate!"
"You're kidding."
"Bet you ten bucks you can't do that again!" my buddy said.
"I'm not taking that bet, not with this flopping sight!" I raised the Keene and aimed at the pie plate again. "WHOMP!" and about a second later "K'THUNK!"
"DAMN! There another hole, about two inches away from the first!"
The third shot was just at the bottom of the plate.
That Remington Keene outshot every other short barrel .45-70 I ever shot. . . even with a floppy sight. I did have the adjustment set pretty high for 200 yds. . . but the first shot was a guess, because I had no idea what the load's velocity was. Back then, they really loaded the BP loads down for older guns. Given the estimated time of the sound and time for bullet travel, it was probably about ½ second for the bullet to reach the target and another ½ second for the sound of the hit to reach us, which equals bullet speed of about 1200 - 1300 FPS.
More modern .45-70 smokeless loads designed for modern made guns can hit up to 2500 FPS but should not be used on any antique gun.
I was collecting antique Winchesters at the time and it did not really fit in my collection so I traded it away to a Remington collector for a mint condition 1876 Military Rifle that was worth about six times the $375 I paid for the Keene back in 1975. We were both happy with our trade.
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