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Rare 1 of 1,000 Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle being sold at auction
Rock Island Auction Company ^ | September 8, 2016 | Auction Zip

Posted on 09/09/2016 2:23:07 AM PDT by Swordmaker


Description: Well-Documented, Historic Incredibly Rare, and Desirable Ira Flanders Factory Inscribed 1 of 1,000 Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter, and Winchester Advertisement History Relating to Owner

There were actually only 133 Model 1873 1 of 1,000 rifles manufactured by Winchester, and according to "Winchester's New Model of 1873: A Tribute Vol. 2" by James Gordon only 63 were uncovered for their survey.

This particularly rifle is noted on page 460 in their list of personal inscriptions by serial number and notes "I Flanders:" and "One of a Thousand." The personalized inscription is pictured on page 462. On page 382, the 1 of 1,000 marking is pictured, and the rifle is briefly discussed. It is also pictured and discussed in R. L. Wilson's "Winchester: The Golden Age of American Gunmaking and the Winchester 1 of 1000" on page 64. Based on the factory records surveyed by Gordon and Wilson, this rifle was the 9th 1 of 1,000 built and is one of only nine whose stock is not mentioned in the ledgers. All 1 of 1,000s were based on barrels selected as the best out of each thousand produced and received extra attention in fit and finishing.

The factory letter confirms this rifle shipped on May 10, 1875, with the following features: rifle, 28 inch octagon barrel, set trigger, short magazine, "1 Of 1000," and "I Flanders." One other gun was with it in order number 3114. All of the features mentioned match the current configuration. It has "Ira Flanders" inscribed in script on the left side of the action, an unusually crude "1 of 1000" panel on the barrel at the breech (only example with this marking found), a half magazine, and a single set trigger. The dust cover is the correct early style with a checkered "thumb print" and is fitted to mortised guides in the top of the frame. The stock and forearm are smooth walnut, and the sights consist of standard German silver blade front and adjustable sporting rear sights on the barrel and a long range Vernier peep sight mounted on the upper tang.

The included documents demonstrate that Ira Proctor Flanders (1831-1915) was a Civil War veteran from Plattsburgh, New York. He served in C Company of the 16th Regiment of New York Volunteer Infantry briefly between August and December 1862 before being discharged due to disability relating to health issues commonly caused by dysentery and other ailments prevalent in the Civil War camps.

He is listed as a blacksmith on his death certificate and in Federal Census records for 1870. In "Forest and Stream" Volume 7 from 1876 on page 128 is a Winchester advertisement which includes a target shot off-hand at 400 yards by Flanders in Saranac, New York, near Plattsburgh in July of 1875 with 8 bullseyes and two shots in the second ring in. The target was almost certainly shot with this very rifle given the shipping date on the letter and the renowned accuracy of the 1 of 1,000 rifles.

Included with the lot is an oval sepia-tone portrait of a young man in an early 20th century military uniform with "163" one the shoulders.

The patinated metal surfaces have light pitting overall. The markings and name inscription are crisp, but the 1 of 1,000 mark is somewhat obscure. The revarnished wood is fair and has a hairline crack along the top left of the forearm, a crack in the front of the forearm, various scratches, and some small dents. The action and set trigger function very well.

This is a unique opportunity to get your hands on a very well documented Winchester Model 1873 1 of 1,000 lever action rifle with unique inscription and unusual 1 of 1,000 marking.


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: auction; banglist; rare; winchester
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1 posted on 09/09/2016 2:23:07 AM PDT by Swordmaker
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To: Swordmaker

WOW! I can’t recall the last time a 1 of 1000 Winchester was sold! There are only 133 known. I knew where the 134th was. A high school kid inherited one from his uncle back in 1975 and turned it into a floor lamp in his high school shop! His mom wouldn’t let him put it in her house so he brought it down to me when I was managing the Old Sacramento Armoury to see if I would be interested in buying it. I was sick when I saw what it was. He’d drilled right through the 1 of 1000 designation on the barrel to run the wire for the lamp attachment on the end of the muzzle! AAAARRRGGGHHHH!

This auction is overflowing with gun porn for collectors including a Gattling Gun!


2 posted on 09/09/2016 2:30:40 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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To: Swordmaker

Horse whipping would be too good for the kid.


3 posted on 09/09/2016 2:40:38 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: Swordmaker

AAARRGGHH! is right!


4 posted on 09/09/2016 2:49:36 AM PDT by Eagles6 ( Valley Forge Redux. If not now, when? If not here, where? If not us then who?)
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To: Swordmaker


5 posted on 09/09/2016 2:53:03 AM PDT by Daffynition (*If you're not gonna tell the truth, then why start talking?*~ Gene Wilder)
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To: Swordmaker
I'm impressed with Flanders offhand shooting at 400 yards given the ballistics table below with modern powders.

Did you explain to the shop student the destruction he wrought? Hope that hangs around his neck like the Ancient Mariner's albatross.

6 posted on 09/09/2016 2:53:21 AM PDT by Covenantor (Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern. " Chesterton)
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To: Swordmaker

Approximately how much is this worth?


7 posted on 09/09/2016 2:59:19 AM PDT by poobear (Socialism in the minds of the elites is a con-game for the serfs, nothing more.)
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To: Swordmaker
I had to post this, it's soooooo nice.

Lot 254: Desirable U.S. Inspected and 1887 Dated Colt Model 1883 Gatling Gun with Field Carriage

Just the thing for your picture window in front. Keep the neighbor kids in line. . .

8 posted on 09/09/2016 3:02:20 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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To: Swordmaker

My 3rd Model Winchester model 1873 was turned out of New Haven in 1882. It is not 1 of 1000, not 1 of 100. It is an old shooter, lots of dings and bumps and much of the rifling was rusted out. It will hit into a liberty silver dollar at 50 yds and around 4-5” at 100. I have put thousands of rounds down range through this piece, most for cowboy action shooting. I e broken 3 springs in doing so and bought replacements from some guy down in Texas who has them parted out. Though the main spring is now from a 92 (same mainspring). It shoots my own smokeless .44WCF loads which are very mild. I use .430” bullets as opposed to the stock .427” ones due to the worn out bore.

God I love shooting this thing. This 134 year old relic might have been held by Earp, Masterson....who knows? Probably though by some farmer up in NH where I picked it up.


9 posted on 09/09/2016 3:03:15 AM PDT by Vaquero ( Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: poobear
Approximately how much is this worth?

Auction estimate is $80,000 to $150,000. $80k is minimum bid.

10 posted on 09/09/2016 3:05:09 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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To: Swordmaker

Winchester ‘73. Great movie!


11 posted on 09/09/2016 3:05:50 AM PDT by Gamecock (There is always one more idiot than you counted on.)
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To: Covenantor
Did you explain to the shop student the destruction he wrought? Hope that hangs around his neck like the Ancient Mariner's albatross.

I did. . . I tod him he took a $25,000 to $30,000 collector's item gun (at that time) and turned into a $500 to $1000 piece of kitschy art that I didn't want in my store. I didn't want it becaus too many of my customers would have been just as upset and pissed off as I was about what he'd done to one of the rarest and most desirable collector's pieces in existence. I'd spend too much time talking about it and defending why I had it. Truthfully, the kid was ignorant, I was much more irate at the shop teacher who let him do it without getting the gun appraised. That gun would have paid for his college tuition back then! It was almost new condition!

12 posted on 09/09/2016 3:13:57 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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To: IncPen

ping


13 posted on 09/09/2016 3:40:41 AM PDT by Nailbiter
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To: Swordmaker

Super! Thanks.


14 posted on 09/09/2016 3:42:23 AM PDT by poobear (Socialism in the minds of the elites is a con-game for the serfs, nothing more.)
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To: Swordmaker

See? There really is at least SOME justification for not letting kids bring guns to school!


15 posted on 09/09/2016 3:47:13 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Hillary: Go to jail. Go directly to jail. Do not pass GO. Do not collect 2 billion dollars.)
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To: Swordmaker
"He’d drilled right through the 1 of 1000 designation on the barrel to run the wire for the lamp attachment on the end of the muzzle"

Should have bought it: a proficient restorer would not have had a problem taking care of a hole in the barrel. I have seen many rare but damaged firearms re-done so well that they were exactly the way they should be. Costs money but it's worth it.

16 posted on 09/09/2016 4:04:05 AM PDT by Chainmail (A simple rule of life: if you can be blamed, you're responsible.)
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To: Swordmaker

Neat!


17 posted on 09/09/2016 4:24:38 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Talk less. Smile more.)
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To: Swordmaker

18 posted on 09/09/2016 4:34:19 AM PDT by GreenLanternCorps (Hi! I'm the Dread Pirate Roberts! (TM) Ask about franchise opportunities in your area.)
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To: Swordmaker

My grandfather had one of these. It was passed down by my great-great-grandfather, who had it delivered to him after he and his family pioneered to northern Michigan shortly after the Civil War. He used it on the farm and we have some old pictures of him holding it in front of the cabin (which still stands, by the way). I remember it still worked when I was little. Unfortunately, I have no idea what happened to it. It wasn’t among my grandfather’s possessions when he died at age 100 a couple of years ago.


19 posted on 09/09/2016 4:38:43 AM PDT by Magnatron
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To: Nailbiter
The patinated metal surfaces have light pitting overall.

Even with this flaw, it's out of my price range...

20 posted on 09/09/2016 4:48:20 AM PDT by IncPen (Hey Media: Bias = Layoffs)
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