4109

RARE 1ST PRODUCTION WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 RIFLE,

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:12,500.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
RARE 1ST PRODUCTION WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 RIFLE,

SERIAL NUMBER 19, INSCRIBED TO “THOMAS LYONS”. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). S# 19. Bbl. 24" octagon. Rare first production run of the Model 1873 rifle. Bbl. w/ 2 line address, full magazine, German silver Rocky Mountain front sight & original reverse mounted, short sporting rear sight w/ checkered edges & reverse cut sighting notch. Early forged iron receiver is blue finish & features mortised dust cover w/ 1/2" raised fine checkered thumb print panel. Casehardened lever & hammer. Set trigger without safety block. Bolt is the early type w/ a removable firing pin bushing. Top tang is unmarked & has the rare early feature of two threaded holes for tang sight. Left receiver plate is period engraved “THOMAS LYONS” in script. Mounted w/ nicely figured American walnut w/ crescent buttplate & trap. Original single sling swivel of the period is mounted on the toeline. Assembly number “16” was observed on left side of lower tang under the wood, on top tang channel of buttstock & inside toe of buttplate. Serial number “19” & “Model 1873” on bottom tang are hand engraved in script & lever latch threaded through tang which is correct for the earliest First Models. Accompanied by a 1992 Cody Firearms Museum letter and 2020 Research Sheet which lists this rifle as found w/ set trigger, blued finish, long stock and target 2 3/4 inch. Received in warehouse Feb. 27, 1874 & shipped March 28, 1874 to order #1182. The entry “Long stock” most likely refers to the use of Model 1866 wood on the first run of early '73s. It measures 13 1/4" from trigger to center of buttplate which is longer than the standard '73 production specification but the same length as the '66. Occurrence of the single sling swivel likely a '66 remnant & thus not mentioned in records. The notation “Target 2 3/4" is presumed to be test firing prior to being received at the warehouse, resulting in a 2 3/4" group. Target notations are seen in early 1873 records. Only 18 of the first run of 50 guns were received in 1873 & 108 the following year, due largely to issues w/ production & development of the new centerfire .44-40 cartridge. The Model of 1873 was first listed in the 1875 catalog & began advertising to the public in the highly regarded Army and Navy Journal and other periodicals the same year. The sideplate inscription ID is believed to be that of noted Silver City, NM mining magnate & cattle baron, Thomas Lyons, of the 1.5 million acre Lyons & Campbell Ranch. Lyons was a talented machinist & self taught mining engineer who headed west w/ a group of investors from Kenosha Wisconsin to exploit the rich copper & silver deposits of rough & tumble Grant County, NM the early 1870s. A successful businessman, Lyons sold his mining & foundry interests & began to buy up all of the best grazing land in the Gila River Valley w/ partner Angus Campbell in the 1880s. This partnership began their almost 40 year endeavor that would overshadow all other ranching operations in the southwest. In 1917 Tom Lyons was mysteriously murdered in El Paso, TX by a hired assassin. He had been a controversial figure in the region from the onset & likely had many enemies. Several interesting books & various articles outline his legacy. One such book, “Triumph and Tragedy: A History of Thomas Lyons and the LCs”, authored by Lyons' direct descendants accompanies this lot.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: 1992 Cody Museum letter; 2020 Cody Museum Research sheet; Lyon's book "Triumph and Tragedy: A History of Thomas Lyons and the LCs.". CONDITION: very good overall, action retains well preserved blue finish in protected areas around sideplates, balance shows an appropriate age related fading to gray/brown w/ scattered small nicks & handling marks. Barrel & magazine tube also retain small amounts of blue in protected areas w/ faded portions showing small dents, marks & spots. Forearm cap has gray appearance with open swivel hole. Hammer & lever retain 30% nickel finish. Trigger retains lightly faded original blue. Stock & forearm have appropriately aged & weathered appearance showing dents, scratches, handling marks & small chips. Left side of stock is period adorned w/ what appears to be a stylized flag constructed of small punch dots. Forearm has tight hairline crack at bottom extending from the forearm cap. Rear sight elevator is not present. Dust cover does not retract when action is cycled, however action operates smoothly when dust cover is fully opened by hand. Set trigger operates properly & has appropriate light pull. The bore retains strong well defined rifling, slightly dark w/ some scattered very light pitting. PROVENANCE: Ex Felix Bedlan Collection; pictured: "WINCHESTER'S NEW MODEL OF 1873 A TRIBUTE" by James Gordon on pages 134, 173, 211, 351 & 461 & described on page 337; Estate collection of western gentleman. (01-19485/JS). ANTIQUE. $25,000-30,000.