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ENGRAVED 1866 WINCHESTER RIFLE KNOWN AS "THE MINISTER'S 66 RIFLE
Guns International #: 101847588 Seller's Inventory #: W3050
Category: Winchester Rifles - Model 1866 - Winchester Rifles - Antique Lever
Seller's Information
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Seller: LeRoy Merz Antique Guns
Company: Merz Antique Guns
Member Since: 10/27/09
First Name: LeRoy
Last Name: Merz
State: Minnesota
Zip: 56538-0494
Country: United States
Phone: (218) 739-3255
Fax: (218) 739-4599
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 960
Total Number of Listings: 52526
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
3 days
Payment Types Accepted: Money orders, cashier or personal checks
Description:
I have known this gun for 50 or so years. It is truly one of the unique engraved 66s I have ever encountered. It was ordered for a "prominent minister" in Connecticut in 1872. No one had a chance to talk to him as to the meaning of the gun. It is engraved with a dove in flight and olive branch on the side plate. In front of that is an Amaryllis bouquet with each scene enclosed in an ivy pattern border. On the opposite side is a couple of butterflies in flight around a thorny bush with larvae hanging from the rose buds. The panel in front of that is a day Lily. There is also an ivy border around these scenes. The top of the frame has religious motifs which include church steeples, prayer windows and overlapping wedding bands. The tangs, buttplate and forend cap all are enclosed with line engraving. Serial number 96022 is inside a bullet design. Gun is signed twice by C.F. Ulrich. This gun was in Les Quick's Collection. Les is the author of The Story of Benjamin Tyler Henry and His Famed Repeating Rifle. Gun is in very fine shape with a considerable amount of blue remaining on the octagon barrel and magazine. Sights include a globe front sight, a blank in the rear barrel slot and a folding tang sight. The frame, forend cap and buttplate are gold washed and retain about 75% of that finish. The deluxe grade wood is fine with a discreet repair on the left side of wrist. On the left side of the forearm there are 25 achievement notches. On the right side is a row of 15 notches with some of them crossed. This gun is featured in a couple of included publications as well as the WACA 2005 calendar. There is also 15 exceptional close up 8 x 11 photos showing all the detail of the engraving. This is just a terrific gun that would be the center piece of your collection!
Leroy Merz Antique Firearms specializes in antique and vintage Winchesters and other fine American firearms. Since 1965 Mr. Merz has taken part in the world of firearms and has been a contributor to many well known reference books. We have hundreds of additional guns in every price range at our home online. Search for Merz Antiques in google.
SOLD
Antique: Yes