3289

Documented, Important, Paris Exposition Universelle Grand-Prix Champion Factory Engraved Gold and Ni

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:14,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Documented, Important, Paris Exposition Universelle Grand-Prix Champion Factory Engraved Gold and Ni
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Estimate: $35000 - 75000
This is a rare example of a Deluxe, John Ulrich signed factory engraved, Winchester Third Model 1873 Lever Action Carbine that was manufactured in 1888. This carbine serial number 288974 was exhibited at the World's Fair in Paris, the L' EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE of 1889. The fair which has held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, the event credited for the start of the French Revolution. The L' EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE of 1889 is still considered one of the most marvelous and most important exhibitions of all times. It was for this exhibition that the Eiffel tower was commissioned which stood as the entrance to the fair and in 1889 was the tallest man made structure in the world. Exhibitors and displays were judged by juries of experts in each respective field. "Grand-Prix" was awarded to the best in each class then gold and silver respectively. Mr. Gastinne-Renette the renowned Paris gunmaker served as the foreman of the jury, responsible for judging the firearms displays. Mr. Renette in his official report on the fair gave credit to the "superiority of the United States for wholesale manufacture of repeating arms." It was the United States policy that all U.S.exhibiters be overseen by the State Department. In total, exhibitors from the United States received twelve gold medals among them were; "Colt's firearms Manufacturing Company of Hartford" and "Smith & Wesson of Springfield." The United States was only awarded two Grand-Prix champions; John B. Stetson & Co. of Philadelphia for "hats" and lastly The Winchester Repeating Arms Company of New Haven, for "firearms". The original solid gold Grand-Prix champions medallion still accompanies this carbine. Weighing .05 oz the champions medallion depicts the fair on one face with and is serial numbered to the carbine on the other and reads: "WINCHESTER/NEW-HAVEN/GRAND-PRIX/288974." All features of this carbine are verified by a factory letter which lists no shipping date but places the order number as "Paris". Given the serial number, this rifle was manufactured in 1888, one year prior to the fair. The saddle ring carbine has a nickel trim barrel, and magazine with block mounted front sight and folding adjustable leaf rear sight. The barrel bands, receiver,dust cover and buttplate are gold plated. The receiver has the integral dust cover rail and dust cover with serrated edges. The buttplate has a sliding trap door. The trigger, hammer and lever have a color case-hardened finish. The loading gate is niter blued. The stock and forearm are highly figured, fancy grade, walnut with "Style H" checkering. Internally, small assembly numbers are placed on many of the component parts. This feature to the writers knowledge of professional hand fitting each part and numbering them is limited to the 1 of 1000 rifles. The engraving on this carbine has a list price of $4.00. The receiver, dust cover, bottom of the cartridge elevator and heel of the buttplate are decorated with engraved scroll work, borders and two game scenes in circular panels on the sideplates. The right sideplate features a running rabbit and the left scene depicts a white tail buck. "J.ULRICH" is engraved in tiny block letters behind the trigger. The top of the barrel 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" between the lower barrel band and the rear sight. The bottom of the cartridge elevator is engraved "44-40" surrounded by scroll engraving. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "{ MODEL 1873}" in fancy letters with foliate designs at either end with a line-engraved border. The serial number, "288974" is engraved on the lower tang and surrounded by engraved flourishes. The engraving is simple in comparison with some of John Ulrich's work but executed with the same skill and attention to detail as his most elaborate engraving. Also included with this carbine is an original three volume set of books which catalog the Fair (in french), and also contain rare diagrams and drawings from the fair. Also accompanied by a letter from Firearms expert and world famous author R.L. Wilson. For further reading on the fair see "Reports of the United States Commissioners to the Universal Exposition of 1889 at Paris Vol. I."
BBL: 20 inch
Stock: walnut checkered
Gauge: 44-40
Finish: gold/nickel-plated
Grips:
Serial Number: 288974
Condition: Very fine plus. As in the case with other exhibition guns this carbine appears to have been factory refinshed. A practice done by Winchester between fairs and exhibition and it would not be unfair to speculate that this very carbine may have been on display in Chicago in 1893. The carbine retains 85% of the nickel and gold plated finish. The bore is like new. The barrel and magazine have nearly all of the nickel-plated finish with traces of very minor flaking. The barrel bands, receiver, dust cover and buttplate have 70% of the gold plated finish. The plating is thin on the barrel bands, bottom and forward edges of the receiver and center of the side plates. Most of the gold plated finish has thinned on the buttplate. The flawlessly executed engraving is crisp. The stock and forearm are both in fine condition and retain most of the original low-luster finish. The checkering on the forearm and stock wrist is sharp. The stock and forearm show light handling marks and storage wear. Mechanically the carbine is excellent plus and functions as smooth and flawless as a Swiss watch thanks in part to the hand fitted internal component parts. This is a spectacular, historical, prize winning, deluxe Winchester Model 1873 Carbine; factory engraved and signed by master engraver John Ulrich and witnessed one of the most lavish events of the 19th century.