"MODEL 1873 "ONE OF ONE THOUSAND.". SN 11856. Cal. 44-40. Usual configuration with 24" octagon bbl, full magazine, half nickel front sight, and V-notch sporting rear. Inlaid muzzle band and accented scroll forward and behind front sight. Light scrolls on flats adjacent to forend cap. Light scroll accenting Winchester markings. Inlaid chamber band and the mythical, "One of One Thousand" engraved on top flat with arabesque scroll on adjoining flats with stippled background. First model receiver with mortised checkered, thumb-print dust cover. Top tang marked, "Model 1873" and lower tang marked with SN. Mounted with "XXXX" walnut with checkered forend, and checkered straight grip stock with crescent butt and trap door, containing steel wiping rod with brass tip. Accompanying this firearm is a letter from author R.L. Wilson identifying this gun and documented it by Winchester factory ledger as being received in warehouse December 12, 1875, and shipped January 12, 1876. The letter goes on to talk about the Winchester 1 of 100, and 1 of 1000, documenting such guns for his numerous books on the subject. The letter also identifies the gun as being in the collection of "Harry H. Sefried II", a noted engineer and designer for the Winchester factory. The letter also states that Mr. Sefried himself started the restoration of this rifle. The second letter accompanying this firearm is from Daniel Cullity Restorations to Mr. Wilson, talking about what a pleasure it was to work on such a fine gun, and upon investigation, discovering that it had originally been a charcoal blue receiver, rather than the case colored as mistakingly listed in the factory ledger. Mr. Cullity goes into detail on how he arrived at this, and the test to prove it. With this information and research, Mr. Wilson determined this to be 1 of 2 Model 1873, 1 of 1000 rifles to have a blue frame. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Gun retains virtually all of it's authentic type restored finish with bbl, receiver, and mag-tube being a fine charcoal blue, and forend cap, hammer, lever, and butt plate a fine authentic type case coloring. Stocks are solid with a fine restored factory type finish, and sharp checkering. There are a few light handling marks and a couple of grain checks on right side of stock. Mechanics are crisp and bore is shiny with some minor scattered pitting. It should be noted that it is believed that only 133 model 1873, 1 of 1000's were made and that this is 1 of 2 made with a blue frame. 4-33725 BDT209 (40,000-70,000)"
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