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1873 Winchester Factory Engraved .44-40 Deluxe Rifle - Ulrich $10 Engraved Bison Gold & Nickel 1 of 1000 Inscribed Pistol Grip 4X Wood Guns International #: 100838827 Seller's Inventory #: Category: Winchester Rifles - Antique Lever - Winchester Rifles - Model 1873 Seller's Information When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com Seller: Jeremiah Johnson Trading Company: Jeremiah Johnson Trading Member Since: 1/27/12 First Name: Greg Last Name: Schimetschek State: Connecticut Zip: 06423 Country: United States Phone: (860) 873-1092 Number of Active Listings: 4 Total Number of Listings: 217 Seller: Private Seller Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns. 3 days Payment Types Accepted: Check (personal checks take 7-10 days to clear), money order, credit card (no fee), or wire About Us: Jeremiah Johnson Trading is one of the most experienced and trusted dealers of pre-1899 antique arms with over 40 years of collecting. We specialize in Colt, Winchester, Remington, Smith & Wesson, Parker, large-bore fowling guns, Revolutionary & Civil War arms, collectible Bowie & folding knives and more! We are also avid collectors of historic race cars & memorabilia. Visit us online at jeremiahjohnsontrading or find us on Facebook and Instagram. Description: *CALL OR EMAIL FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS* Jeremiah Johnson Trading is one of the most experienced dealers of fine antique arms, with over 30 years of collecting. We also specialize in a vast array of collectibles, including western memorabilia, antique cars & automobilia, Revolutionary & Civil War relics, early Bowie & folding knives, and period nautical artifacts. Visit us online at JeremiahJohnsonTrading or find us on Facebook. Our shop is located at 1618 Saybrook Rd. Haddam, CT. Look for the gold '55 Chevy road sign! ~Trades and offers are always considered~ Exceptionally Rare & Exquisite “One of One Thousand” Inscribed John Ulrich Factory $10.00 Engraved M1873 Winchester Deluxe Rifle, Full Gold & Nickel Plated, with Checkered Pistol Grip 4X Wood, Sporting Leaf Rear Sight, Custom Made Case, & History, .44-40 WCF, mfg. 1884. This recently discovered rifle is a true prize of Winchester collecting, exhibiting several exceedingly rare features. Most notably, the gun features an uncommonly profuse level of engraving throughout, including an iconic Bison panel scene opposite a classic deer. Any factory engraved ’73 is extremely rare, however when encountered they will typically feature $1.50-4.00 worth of scrollwork. This gun was ordered with $10.00 engraving which was without question masterfully executed by John Ulrich. Winchester factory records courtesy of the Cody Firearms Museum indicate this rifle was ordered as follows: Rifle, Octagon Barrel, Plain Trigger, Checkered Stock, Pistol Grip, Engraved $10.00, Receiver, Butt Plate, and Tip Gold Plated, Balance Nickel, Received in Warehouse January 19th 1884, Shipped from Warehouse January 21st 1884. While not noted in the records, the rifle is additionally inscribed “One of One Thousand” on top of the barrel at the breech. The rifle was discovered in Mexico about 1950 by noted antique arms dealer Tom Haas who was living in Texas at the time. Legendary arms collector and author R. L. Wilson, who recently passed, was working on a book about Hass entitled “Tom Haas - Guns Unlimited, The Life & Guns of a Firearms Legend”. In it, Wilson states “Hass’ friendship with the top General of the Mexican Army allowed him free and unlimited access in locating rare objects in Mexico”. He goes on to quote Tom Hass as saying “ From 1949 until I left Texas/Mexaco in 1958, I got between 100 and 200 guns a month, some of which I restored, but the bulk were sold as I found them. These ranged from wheel-locks and flintlocks to a raft of percussion and early cartridge Colts, plus Henrys and Winchesters. Once I bought an entire collection of 427 guns at $23 a piece! I stored them in Enrique Guerra’s mother’s house in Reynosa. Among them were Emperor Maximillian’s LePage shotgun and an exquisite Winchester Model 1873 1 of 1000, gold and nickel plated, and engraved!”. The fact that Hass recalled this exact Winchester as one of the premier guns he located attests to how truly special the rifle is. Yet even more intriguing is that he describes it as a “1 of 1000”, indicating that the inscription was on the gun when he found it and he believed the rifle to be a true “One of One Thousand”. A letter dated April 23rd 1984 explains the history of this rifle from the time Hass discovered it until Al White took ownership of it in 1984. Again it is important to note that during all this time the gun was referred to and looked upon as an authentic “One of One Thousand“. White states that Hass “acquired the gun from a Mexican Army General“, which is substantiated by R. L. Wilson’s comment that Hass was friends with the top Mexican General. Tom Haas sold the gun to Winchester collector Dr. Clayton Scuka of Wichita, Kansas in 1953 for approximately $2-3,000 cash plus a brand new Cadillac! That’s roughly $5,500-7,200, an outrageous price to pay for a gun in 1953. Dr. Scuka owned the gun until his passing in 1979 and regarded it as the highlight of his collection. His widow sold the rifle to Al White in 1984, who in turn sold it to Iowa arms collector Marv Oyer. The rifle’s previous owner bought it from Oyer’s estate several years ago. The rifle features a standard length 24” octagon barrel and full magazine, with original rifle front sight and special Sporting Leaf rear which is marked “1873”. The top of the barrel at the breech is inscribed “One of One Thousand” in the correct factory style with corresponding boarder and scrollwork. The frame, side plates, dust cover & rail, carrier block, forend tip, and butt plate are profusely engraved, featuring elaborate scrollwork and boarders with a Bison panel scene on the right side of the frame and a deer scene on the left. John Ulrich’s trademark clamshell motif can be seen behind the hammer. Scrollwork similar to the pattern of this gun can be seen at the top of page 172 in George Madis’ “Winchester Book”, in which he also states “A Bison was rarely engraved on guns”. A nearly identical pattern is pictured on page 186, with another on page 188. The engraving is very sharp and crisp throughout. The receiver retains approximately 50%+ bright original Gold finish, the balance of which has faded to light plum. The forend tip and butt plate show 10% original Gold finsh with the balance again turning light plum. The hammer, lever, lever locking nut, loading port, and breech pin assembly show over 90% bright original Nickel finish. The barrel and magazine tube retain approximately 45% original Nickel finish, which is mostly confined to the first 2/3 of it’s length. The balance has worn to a silvery/gray patina with worn light freckling around the flats behind the magazine retaining band. The band itself shows traces of Nickel. The rear sight features vivid fire blue while the screws also show fire blue which has faded. The stock is beautifully figured and features a pistol grip with “H” pattern checkering. One of the previous owner’s notes states that the left side of the lower tang is marked “XXXX 5174” while the top of the stock under the upper tang is marked “5174”. We have not attempted to remove the stock but have no reason to doubt the wood to be 4X grade as it exhibit’s the particularly vibrant yet tight grain identical to other documented 4X guns. The buttstock retains much of it’s original highly polished finish which drifts to a moderately worn appearance through the wrist and along the forestock. The ‘wood to metal’ fit is perfect throughout and the wood has never been sanded or cleaned. There is an old 1” check on either side of the toe, however the two lines never met and the toe remains sturdily in place. Otherwise the wood is excellent with no additional chips, cracks, or repairs. There is some interesting wear to the right side of the wrist and both ends of the buttstock which may have been caused from prolonged use in a scabbard. The checkering shows light to moderate wear yet remains original and clearly visible throughout. Clear original markings including serial number, upper tang marking, and barrel address. Cleaning rod is not present. The action is crisp and functions perfectly. Excellent bore with bright and clean rifling front to back and only minor black powder frosting near the muzzle. A beautiful vintage custom made velvet lined wood case is included with the rifle, as well as previous owner’s notes and research, Al White’s 1984 letter, R. L. Wilson’s excerpt in which Tom Haas refers to this very rifle, and the factory letter from the Cody Firearms Museum (at the time of writing we have an emailed research copy in hand and official letter on order which will be forwarded to the buyer). This is a very rare chance to own a truly magnificent and impressive piece of Winchester history. The high level of engraving and scarce subject matter coupled with the special two-tone finish and Deluxe wood makes this a prize of a gun. Not to mention it’s chambered in most desirable .44-40! While the “One of One Thousand” inscription remains a very intriguing mystery, we at Jeremiah Johnson Trading 100% guarantee with absolute confidence that the balance of this gun is totally original and untouched as ordered. If one can prove the inscription to be authentic as well, this gun’s value will jump well into the $250-350,000 range. No FFL required on pre-1899 firearms or contemporary muzzleloaders. No sales of modern firearms or antique arms that may potentially fire modern ammunition to the state of California, Washington D. C. or any of the five counties of New York City. Any handgun, including antiques, that are shipped to the state of New Jersey must be shipped to an FFL holder. No sales of Ivory to the states of New York, New Jersey or California. No sales of Bear parts to the states of Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia, or West Virginia. No international sales of Ivory or animal parts whatsoever. Payment can be made by way of money order, banker's check, or personal check (Please allow 7-10 days for clearance on personal checks). Credit cards accepted for antique arms (no additional fees). Non-firing items may be purchased through PayPal. If not satisfied with an item within 3 days of receiving it, simply return the item in the same condition as shipped for a full refund, minus return shipping costs. Cleaning, disassembly, or altering of a firearm in any way will void inspection privileges. Layaway may be allowed upon negotiation, but will void inspection privileges. Buyer pays actual shipping & insurance costs. We primarily ship USPS unless restrictions deem UPS necessary. FFL is required on all firearms manufactured after 1898 (mfg. 1899-present). C&R is acceptable for any firearm manufactured over 50 years ago from the current date. Jeremiah Johnson Trading sells antiques only. Any firearms occasionally sold through Gun from our personal collection that do require an FFL or C&R are shipped through a licensed FFL dealer. All firearms are sold as collector's items and are not warranted safe for shooting. Please consult a competent gunsmith prior to shooting any firearm. International orders are allowed for antique muzzleloaders and arms that fire obsolete ammunition only, no modern firearms or antique firearms that can potentially fire modern ammunition will be shipped outside of the United States. All prices are in American U.S. dollars. Message or call with any questions about this firearm, or any of our other items at 860-873-1092 (office) or 860-345-2100 (shop). SOLD Antique: Yes Manufacturer: Winchester Model: 1873 Serial Number: 143300 Caliber Info: .44-40 Barrels: 24 Stock: 4X Checkered Pistol Grip Finish: Gold & Nickel Sights: Standard Front, Sporting Leaf Rear Manufacture Date: 1884 Engraving: Factory $10.00 Extras: Inscribed "One of One Thousand Case: Yes