1022

Rare Documented Only 23 1/2 Inch Barrel Produced Special Order Factory Engraved and Inscribed Deluxe

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
Rare Documented Only 23 1/2 Inch Barrel Produced Special Order Factory Engraved and Inscribed Deluxe
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Estimate: $25000 - 40000
Manufacturer: Winchester Model: 1894
One of a kind factory engraved Winchester Model 1894 Deluxe Sporting Rifle with 23 1/2-inch half-octagon barrel. The rifle is accompanied by a letter from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center that states existing records indicate this rifle is the ONLY Model 1894 manufactured with a 23 1/2-inch barrel. A letter from the Winchester Arms Museum describes the rifle features as 30 caliber, 23 1/2 inch, 1/2 octagon barrel, plain trigger, checkered stock, pistol grip, Lyman front sight, shotgun butt, rubber buttplate, takedown, Engraved $2.00 - Style #10, and engraved 'Betsey'. The letter states that this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on July 25, 1900. The rifle has a blue barrel, magazine, forearm cap and receiver. The hammer and lever are casehardened. The forearm and pistol grip stock are highly figured, fancy grain, walnut with "Style H" checkered panels and 'piano' finish. The pistol grip has a black hard rubber cap embossed "WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS". The black hard rubber shotgun buttplate is checkered and has the round Winchester logo embossed in the center. The sides, top and bottom of the receiver are engraved with Winchester No. 10 engraving as illustrated on page 23 of 1897 Edition of Winchester "HIGHLY FINISHED ARMS" reprinted on page 220 of "THE BOOK OF WINCHESTER ENGRAVING" by R.L. Wilson. The engraving is described as "ornamental scrolls and embossed border work" with a game scene on one side of the receiver. The left side of the receiver is engraved with a scene featuring a deer in a round panel. "Betsy" is engraved in script above the loading gate. The unique 23 1/2-inch, 1/2 round/1/2 octagon barrel has a Lyman "Winchester Express" front sight with ivory bead and a spirit level in the rear sight dovetail. A Lyman "D-DA" rear sight is mounted on the left side of the receiver and a folding combination rear sight is mounted on the receiver tang. A silver five-pointed star with a bronze medallion in the center featuring a deer on a mountain background is inlaid on the right side of the stock. The spirit level installation and the inlaid star are period but are not factory work. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the two-line legend "MANUFACTURED BY THE/ WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A." ahead of the rear sight dovetail. "NICKEL STEEL BARREL/ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER" is roll-stamped on the left barrel flat behind the rear sight dovetail. The caliber designation "30 W.C.F." is stamped on the top barrel flat in front of the receiver. The serial number "86623" is stamped across the bottom of the front edge of the receiver.
BBL: 23 1/2 inch part octagon
Stock: walnut checkered
Gauge: 30 WCF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 86623
Condition:
Very fine. The rifle retains 75% of the original blue finish overall. The barrel and magazine have minor handling marks and moderate finish wear. The finish on the forearm cap is thin but 60% intact. The takedown collar and contact points on the upper and lower receiver show handling wear; most of the finish is present on the sides of the receiver. The loading gate has 50% of the niter blue finish. The engraving is crisp. The case colors on the lever and hammer show minor handling wear and retain 40% of the dove-gray finish. The fancy grain walnut stock and forearm are both fine and retain most of the high gloss piano finish. The checkered panels show light handling wear and there is finish wear between the checkering and the receiver on the forearm. This is a very fine example of a one-of-a-kind, special order, factory engraved Deluxe Winchester Model 1894 Takedown Sporting Rifle that is worthy of inclusion in the finest collection of Winchester rifles.