Lot 2006: Rare Documented, Winchester 1873 "One of One Thousand" 1st Model

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:

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.

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 was in the gun business for years and I saw lots of WWII souvenirs that were in similar condition as this. . . especially ones that were issued to pilots and/or staff officers. The pilots who were not shot down never had much opportunity to shoot their weapons. . . nor did staff officers. After the war, I'd say 90% of those returning soldiers were not interested in becoming serious hobby shooters and put their war souvenirs away and did not touch them for years, if ever.

Many of the handguns that were in that category I saw come in were almost like new. A few were so clean they looked unfired. The combat guns weren't beat to hell either, but were just typically used but well cared for.

I don't doubt the provenance of this one at all. I once sold a Singer .45 ACP on consignment back in the early 1970s, and it was pretty damn close to this condition, not as good, but close. The only wear it had was some holster wear. My best recollection is that it went for about $1800 back then, or about five to six times what an excellent condition 1911 was going for at that time .

By the way, there is more provenance documentation on the auction site as well.

That being said, I have written to Rock Island as well as a couple of other gun auctions, and corrected their descriptions of some of the guns they have up for auction when I found something amiss.

Many years ago when I was managing the Old Sacramento Armoury and Simms Hardware's Gun Department, I was qualified by the California Courts as an expert witness for identifying and evaluating and putting values on antique and collectible firearms. I've told the RIA several times that what they have is not what they are describing and they need to look at X because what they have is actually much rarer than what they think and much more valuable if described properly (one, when they identified it properly added over $15K to the estimated and final realized price when the did the research I suggested they do!). . . or alternately, I've twice told them that what they have had been altered from the original and was likely a fake. . . and gave them reasons why I thought so,.

Most times I see the descriptions change and I get a thank you email.

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