Posted on 05/14/2016 2:17:33 PM PDT by jazusamo
It has a fine walnut stock, a blue finish and a very simple inscription that reads Albee to Lawton. But this 19th-century rifle has become the most expensive single firearm ever sold at auction according to the Rock Island Auction Company, which recently sent the historic piece to a new destiny with an undisclosed buyer. The price: $1,265,000.
Other guns have sold higher as a pair, but no other single firearm surpasses this new world record. It was an honor to be entrusted with an American treasure, said Kevin Hogan, president of the Illinois-based company.
The rifle itself was a gift from one Congressional Medal of Honor winner to another. U.S. Army Captain Henry Ware Lawton and Lieutenant George E. Albee had been brothers-in-arms during the Civil War. The former continued his military career and saw combat in the Indian Wars, the Spanish American War and the Philippine American War. The latter went to work as a designer for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
After Lawton led a grueling but successful expedition which resulted in the capture and surrender of Apache leader Geronimo is 1886, his old friend was inspired to find a suitable recognition for the deed. His choice? The Winchester Model 1886 Sporting Rifle (serial number 1) which he obtained by virtue of his standing in the company. The gun survived in excellent condition.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Well he had the gun restored by James Flynn a notable expert.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=124719&start=180
And he got in contact with Captain Askins Grandson Bill (Son of Col. Charles Askins (a interesting gun writer in the 50’s and 60’s)) and has been of assistance helping him get full value for some of the family’s guns they wish to part with.
Coulda been a Purdy or a Greener. Either one’s worth a lot o’ money.
The model 31 is also a Browning design tho it was altered for side ejection.
The ballistic information based off three grain types for the .44 WCF muzzle velocity is 1,245 ft/s (200 gr), 1,190 ft/s (217 gr), and 750 ft/s (225 gr). The popularity for the .44 WCF began to die off in the early 1940s due to better produced cartridges that were entering the market that were starting to make it less effective than newer rounds.
Hand loading brass is available for the .44 WCF for pistol and rifle loads. The ballistic performance for a .44 WCF on a 24 inch rifle barrel for a 200 grain bullet muzzle velocity is 1,800 ft/s. It can take down any sized medium game at a distance of 125 yards before noticeable wound penetration and trajectory drop-off occurs. The Winchester Model 73 is known as “The Gun That Won The West.”
- See more at: http://gundata.org/cartridge/100/.44-40-winchester/#sthash.4hnbgzVI.dpuf
Yep, very handsome rifles. I had one of repro Model 71s for a while. It upheld the tradition of brutal recoil, I can attest. I miss the big .348, but my shoulder doesn't.
What is the range of the 44-40?
It the AR of its day.
Yes, the 1873 Winchester is the AR of its day. I haven't fired beyond 150 yards with mine, but even with open iron sights it is very accurate, and fast too with the lever action. Mine has a 30 inch barrel and holds 15 rounds. I have fired both smokeless and black powder rounds out of it and the bottle necked 44-40 case keeps any blowback from going into the action when shooting black power so it is easy to clean.
The universal gun owner's lament.
Beautiful.
Good for you!
This. It was high capacity assault rifle, back in 1886, and it utilized a military round. Ten shots of 45-70 pretty near as fast as you could aim and pull the trigger.
Obviously evil and suited for no legitimate sporting use.
I wonder if they had gun grabbing politicians back then who used that line of argument, or if they just rode a rail out of town if they said anything like it?
Yeah he was. I think I read him in G&A back when (mid '70s).
True that. I've said it more than once. :)
The #1 in the Serial number is what makes this rifle special.
Whoever Flynn is did nice work on that, do you think the resto harms it?
I say imported from back East.
You might as well say you think a Colt's Peacemaker is an ugly pistol as well
I was lucky enough to own an 1886 carbine in .45-70 a few years ago and I took it to the Dam Nack Virginia rifle range for some recreational shooting once. I fired a couple of shots at the 200m target then laid it on my shooting mat for a while let my shoulder stop throbbing.
A Royal Marine NCO picked up my carbine without asking me and fired it. He yelled “that bloody well ‘urt!” I told that of course it and next time, ask.
He didn’t to try again, silly Brit.
Get stuffed Cm...plenty of Win lovers up here...i have several
That’s a great rifle. I’ve got a Marlin Guide Gun. A lever action “just seems right” in the woods for whitetail.
Nice. Have always liked the Marlins. What caliber is yours? I would love to have one in 45/70.
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