90b

Winchester Hotchkiss Model 1883 45-70 Army Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:750.00 - 1,500.00 USD
Winchester Hotchkiss Model 1883 45-70 Army Rifle
This will be a Live Auction with Online Live and Local Bidding. Shipping Available for all items at the buyers expense. Call 800-686-4216 or visit https://northamericanauctioncompany.com/phone-bidders/ to setup phone bidding.
The lot features a rare original U.S. Army Winchester Hotchkiss Model 1883 bot action repeating rifle chambered in the large .45-70 Caliber. The Winchester Hotchkiss is a bolt action repeating rifle patented by Benjamin B. Hotchkiss in 1876 and produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and Springfield Armory from 1878. The Hotchkiss, like most early bolt-actions, had a single rear locking lug integral with the bolt handle, but was unique in feeding multiple rounds from a tubular buttstock magazine similar to the Spencer rifle. The .45-70 Hotchkiss was acquired in limited numbers by the US Navy as the M1879, and (in a slightly modified version) by the US Army and several state militias as the M1883, making it the first center-fire bolt-action repeater to be adopted by any major military (the distinction of first bolt-action repeating rifle to be issued in great numbers as a standard military arm was the Swiss Vetterli 1869, which utilized very large rim-fire metallic cartridges). The rifle is a 3rd Model and features a 28-inch round barrel with graduated leaf rear sight, case colored action with tubular magazine in a Walnut stock with steel musket buttplate. The forearm features a frontier sportier length nicely fitted tight against the rear band. The rifle shows a good overall condition for its age with a some of the original finish fading and light use pitting. The wood shows signs of use and wear with some dents. The bore has a dark frosted appearance with very lightly worn rifling. The Model of 1883 or otherwise known as the Third Model Hotchkiss Rifle can be identified by the two-piece stocks and were manufactured for the Army with very limited production. Truly and uncommon Indian Wars Era U.S. Army Winchester Hotchkiss in the large and desirable .45-70 caliber. The firearm is an Antique Pre-1898, NO FFL Required. Serial Number 82319. Very few of these original Winchester Hotchkiss Model 1883 Third Model Two Stock variations were created, making them increasingly rare in the collector market with one being sold at the Rock Island Auction in April 2012 for $10,750.00 with premiums.