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Anyone know any info or details about this gun that sold at Cowan’s Auctions for $1,050,000. 😯
Thats more than any 1 of 1000 or 1 of 100 has ever sold for.
I guess my real first question would be; Is it real?
Ive never seen scrollwork quite like what is pictured. Also never seen scrolls blued and the relief between the scrolls gold plated (probably actually a gold wash of some kind). The barrel enlays looks similar too some deluxe model 66s Ive seen.
Sincerely,
Maverick
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If it sold for that amount of $$$$$$$, you can bet your sweet *** that it is original ❗
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
How did this gun come in under the radar all these years? I would have thought it would have shown up in one of Wilson’s books,at least.Or did I miss something?
A cool Million couldnt buy it, they had to throw in the extra $50,000 to get it. One would think such a gun would of went for public auction.
-Maverick
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You didn’t miss anything. As far as I’m concerned there is a reason it hasn’t been in any of the books or other references prior to this.
P.Muerrle said
You didn’t miss anything. As far as I’m concerned there is a reason it hasn’t been in any of the books or other references prior to this.
Can you elaborate ?
It seems very odd that they are listing it as a private sale. The engraving on that gun, from what I can see, doesn’t look like any typical design or pattern from that time period. It doesn’t look like any of the Ulrich’s style of work. I see no reference to any provinance. The whole thing seems very odd to me. Considering how elaborate this gun is, why has it not been referenced anywhere or why hasn’t anyone heard any mention of it prior to this?
The engraving looks like the work of Conrad Ulrich, and his work was superior to his younger brother John’s work.
Just because a gun has not surfaced in the past 30-40 years, or that it has not been pictured in a book, is no reason to discount it. It very well may have been locked up in a private collection for the past 40-years.
Again, I seriously doubt that any potential buyer would spend 1,000,000+ on a bogus gun.
That said, what was the serial number of that rifle in the auction listing? It will be real simple to call it in to Cody.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
The engraving looks like the work of Conrad Ulrich, and his work was superior to his younger brother John’s work.Just because a gun has not surfaced in the past 30-40 years, or that it has not been pictured in a book, is no reason to discount it. It very well may have been locked up in a private collection for the past 40-years.
Again, I seriously doubt that any potential buyer would spend 1,000,000+ on a bogus gun.
That said, what was the serial number of that rifle in the auction listing? It will be real simple to call it in to Cody.
Bert
The "looks like" part is correct but most assurdley need more to go on as far as the engraving goes.
Some times when a gun of this magnetude surfaces gives me caution to its validity. Back in the 80s a 1 of 1000 surfaced that had been "locked away" for 40 years. And for another 20 years it was that to be geniune until it was proven otherwise. But then again this could be the exception.
I have no idea what an excentric Millionare-Billionare would do with his money, I’m afarid I’m just an old poor country boy and am a few decimal places shy from being a millionare. The fore mentioned 1 of 1000 cost someone $80,000 for a fake gun in the 1980s.
That said, what was the serial number of that rifle in the auction listing? It will be real simple to call it in to Cody.
I would have but the only info I have is this monthly flyer from Cowan’s. I have searched there website and have not found the gun listed. Probably because it was never (or will be) listed. One would think though with such a prime sold piece that it would be more at the fore front of there advertising campaign. But I could imgaine that the purchaser of said gun might could be hesitant for that purpose.
One could fairly well easily narrow down the serial number of the gun. The description of such a gun would be in the ledgers, and should be easy to spot (that is if the gun is geniune). Probably wouldnt take long to search through the ledger. One would only need to search the records of gun made from 1873-1876. And then you could narrow the range even further due to the dust cover and other features of the gun.
Sincerely,
Maverick
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One thing I find very odd. The gold wash or plating that is in the recess between the blued scrolls of the engraving. Very out of the ordinary even for such a deluxe gun. Never seen that done before (period). One could come to the conclusion that the entire reciever was gold plated and wore off but that doesnt appear so.
And correct me if I’m wrong but typically when a gun is gold plated or has a gold wash applied to it. It is never done so over blueing, at least not what I have seen. Usually done over a highly polished or nickeled reciever.
–Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
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I think the gold is probably inlay and not a wash. Similar,but not as extensive,gold inlay was done on the highest grade D.M. Lefevers.That is the box lock and not the side plated models. Still curious as to why there is nothing about this gun in any literature of the last 50-60 years.
Robert Delk,
The buck and its ornamental pattern and the scrolls on the barrel are most assurdly "gold inlay". The rest of the receiver appears to be some what different to me. It also seems a little on the thin side to be an inlay between the scrolls.
Could you post a pic a D.M. Lefever that looks similiar to this 73? As far as the gold goes that is, obviously where talking two different animals here but with the same furr.
Sincerely,
Maverick
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I am basing my thinking that it is all gold inlay on my thinking that the picture is not the best and we are seeing the "gold inlays" not to their best advantage due to lighting and/or the angle of the photo.A really good picture would answer that question.It’s a heck of a gun and I hope it is legit as that would give hope that there are other undiscovered treasures out there.The"Czar’s Parker" showed that there is the expertise to make some really fine "fakes" out there and the willingness to do so.
I don’t like that the lower tang does not fit the receiver and it looks like the upper tang is high on the stock at the back. For a gun to be worth that much it should be right.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Having spoken to Cowen’s "Super Expert" on this particular 1873 this is what I was told. "It was "Factory Engraved" by none other than G. Younge for the exhibition, not by any of the Ulrich family. (See a Single Action Smith & Wesson New Model 3 engraved by Younge for the 1893 Exhibition. Very simular style of engraving) The "Private Buyer" purchased it because it had more Gold than any other 1873 rifle he’s seen. A few problems come to my mind. 1) Gustav Younge was NOT a Winchester Factory engraver. He also, unlike many "Experts" think was not a Colt Factory engraver. He did however rent space (a room, ie SHOP) from the Colt company. He had to give priority time to Colt pistols that were to be engraved. The Animals and scroll surrounding them are Gold inlays. The background gold is a "Gold Wash"or plating, and not inlayed. The process of being able to have the blue above the gold is really quite simple although time consuming. If I had that much cash to buy this rifle, would I? Not me bubba!! 
There is also another problem with this claim on such a marvelous gun. There is a known One of One Thousand 73 that was displayed at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition that was engraved by Ulrich. Why wouldn’t this prized gun be a One of One Thousand as well? And Why would Winchester use G. Young when they had three Ulrich brothers to do there work?
Maverick
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Why use the student, when you can have the teacher? More importantly, why is it no one’s seems to have ever seen this Winchester displayed or spoken about at the 1876 Expo? One would think this most magnificent work of the engravers art would have shown up someplace before it did at Cowan’s. Another thing to remember that the Ulrichs, Younges and other famous engravers worked at home for private individuals also. Why share the profit with Winchester, Colt, S&W etc, when you can keep it all? The truth just might be that this 1873 was a private contract job. Thus never seen at the 1876 Exposition at all. Just a thought. 😈 😈
Unless someone has unearthed them, all the photos of the Winchester display at the 1876 Exhibition have been lost and no one truely knows what was displayed at the 1876 Exhibition by Winchester.
So its very easy for someone to say, "Oh yeah of course it was displayed there."
The One of One thousand I’m referring too has documentation as too it being displayed and its engraved on the dust cover "Centennial".
Can also tell you this, The last time a very expensive Winchester turned up and hadn’t been seen or heard of before for close to 50 years. It was a fake!
Maverick
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