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There is a 12″ ’92 coming up at R.I.A.’s next sale
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Henry Mero said
There is a 12″ ’92 coming up at R.I.A.’s next sale
I saw it. It’s a bit rough. I never forgot the one Huntley/Merz had – such nice condition. That one has always been in my mind. At least the one Rock Island is offering comes with mittens 😉
Here’s the link if anyone wants to take a look:
More blue on this one:
https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/82/1029/atf-exempted-winchester-model-1892-trappers-carbine
My holy Grail Winchesters I either still own or have owned in the past. Most already know about my Historical 1866 Carbine used in two of the most famous battles of the Sioux War period. (1862-1890) I over the past 55 years have owned a 1 of 1000 (sold many years ago), a 1873 Small Caliber Smoothbore in 32-20 caliber, a British Proofed 1876 Short Rifle firing a 40-60WCF cartridge. (most British Proofed 22″ Short Rifles are in 50 Express Caliber), an 1885 Low Wall in 32-20WCF that was shortened to 18″ and sent to Stevens Firearms to be “Re-Rifled” by Pope. The most accurate Winchester I’ve ever owned. ( I cut an arrow shaft in half at 40 yards using standard iron sights on the 7th round fired from an Off-Hand position. This was against my 2 competitors using Model 52’s with scopes, also firing Off-Hand. None of these Winchester’s had been in “Collector Condition”, but I cherished them all the same.
Apache (ya ta hey)
My holy grail is a Model 1892 in .44-40 with 1/2 octagon barrel, deluxe with straight stock, antique s/n, Lyman folding front sight and ladder rear sight. 80-90% condition so I know it’s real. I’d also like a Model 1894 in .23-35 in the same configuration.
Erin Grivicich said
According to CFM records, there was one first model 1890 that was full Nickel plated. That is my “holy grail”.Erin
Can’t disagree Erin about a 1 of 1 having holy grail status. Nice piece!
RickC
RickC said
Can’t disagree Erin about a 1 of 1 having holy grail status. Nice piece!
RickC
Like Henry’s M1894 with the extra heavy barrel – a 1 of 1 and indeed a holy grail. My holy grail – a .33 WCF in SRC. Bert’s surveys/records show only one made. A while back someone mentioned a M55 in .38-55. For me, one of the few made in .38-55 or .32-40 would be wonderful. And I haven’t forgot the very few M71’s in .33 WCF or .45-70 Rifle to dream about.
That 12″ 1892 Trapper coming up at RIA is rough, but I like the fact that it letters as a 12″ barrel.
tionesta1 said
That 12″ 1892 Trapper coming up at RIA is rough, but I like the fact that it letters as a 12″ barrel.
Yes, that is a very favorable factor. I seem to recall the one Merz/Huntley had did as well. And given that one was in very very nice original condition, it really stands out in my memory.
The three high-wall rifles in my signature picture are as close to “holy grail” as it gets for me.
Top rifle is a Thick-side frame 50-95 W.C.F. with about 20% case color remaining.
Middle rifle is a 405 W.C.F., 30-inch No. 3½ barrel, shotgun butt, Lyman No. 103 tang sight
Bottom rifle is a Fancy Sporting Rifle, 40-90 Ballard, 30-inch octagon, SST, 3X H-checkered stocks. Has the early style P.G. with the ebony wedge
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
The three high-wall rifles in my signature picture are as close to “holy grail” as it gets for me.Top rifle is a Thick-side frame 50-95 W.C.F. with about 20% case color remaining.
Middle rifle is a 405 W.C.F., 30-inch No. 3½ barrel, shotgun butt, Lyman No. 103 tang sight
Bottom rifle is a Fancy Sporting Rifle, 40-90 Ballard, 30-inch octagon, SST, 3X H-checkered stocks. Has the early style P.G. with the ebony wedge
Bert – those are three very exceptional single-shots. I love all three of the chamberings. I’d love to own any of them. I’d have to say for me, the very pinnacle of a holy grail in the single-shot, would be the .577 Eley.
steve004 said
Bert – those are three very exceptional single-shots. I love all three of the chamberings. I’d love to own any of them. I’d have to say for me, the very pinnacle of a holy grail in the single-shot, would be the .577 Eley.
Steve,
I too would love to own one of the (11) known .577 Eley rifles. Years ago (at a show in Reno) I actually had my hands on the only one of them made with a No. 5 barrel. I passed on it because it had been totally refinished (decent job) and the fellow who had it wanted $20K for it.
Another high-wall I wanted to own (the owner was not yet ready to sell it) was a beautiful Special Sporting Rifle in 45 Sharps 3¼… see the pictures below. The owner is holding the rifle in the last picture. Some of you will undoubtedly recognize the venue (the Cody WACA show). We used the tailgate of my old Dodge truck to take the pictures. I offered him $15K cash for that rifle, but he was unwilling to part with (yet)… it was originally purchased by his grandfather.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Steve,
I too would love to own one of the (11) known .577 Eley rifles. Years ago (at a show in Reno) I actually had my hands on the only one of them made with a No. 5 barrel. I passed on it because it had been totally refinished (decent job) and the fellow who had it wanted $20K for it.
Another high-wall I wanted to own (the owner was not yet ready to sell it) was a beautiful Special Sporting Rifle in 45 Sharps 3¼… see the pictures below. The owner is holding the rifle in the last picture. Some of you will undoubtedly recognize the venue (the Cody WACA show). We used the tailgate of my old Dodge truck to take the pictures. I offered his $15K cash for that rifle, but he was unwilling to part with (yet)… it was originally purchased by his grandfather.
Bert – $20K sounds like plenty for a refinished single-shot. However, a better one (with a No. 5 barrel) will never come along because there isn’t another one. But wow – that deluxe case colored .45 Sharps – what a beautiful rifle that is. Hard to imagine letting a rifle like that go, much less when it was originally purchased by his grandfather.
My concern would be ammo for the .577 Eley, unless it’s available. Only need one box but I’m guessing it’s very rare.
RickC said
My concern would be ammo for the .577 Eley, unless it’s available. Only need one box but I’m guessing it’s very rare.
I can’t say I know the answer. While Winchester may have only chambered two handfuls of rifles in the .577, it was a British cartridge and surely they must have chambered a variety of them across the pond. There was a .577 Howdah cartridge as well. I’ve always admired the four-barrel Lancaster Howdah handguns.
RickC said
My concern would be ammo for the .577 Eley, unless it’s available. Only need one box but I’m guessing it’s very rare.
I have never seen a box of .577 Eley cartridges. I own one single cartridge for my collection. It is a massive beast. Based on an email conversation with Dan Shuey, and collector in England, Winchester did not make ammo for any of the Eley cartridges, even though they made a fair number of rifles in both 45 Eley and 50 Eley.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
I have never seen a box of .577 Eley cartridges. I own one single cartridge for my collection. It is a massive beast.
Bert I can imagine it is a whopper of a cartridge. Shotgun butt please!!
Bert H. said
Yes, they are. One is listed as a “308 Mag”, the other as “308 WCF. Dan Shuey wrote an article that appeared in the Winter 2018 Magazine with a lot of details about serial number 16572, 308 WCF. It was essentially a .348 case necked down to .308 caliber. I discovered the second 308 (serial number 36640) in the published book that lists entire contents of the original Winchester Museum when it was still in New Haven. I have not actually seen either rifle in the flesh, but they are supposedly in the vaults at the CFM. Serial number 16572 was collection item #1426, and serial number 36640 was collection item #2626.
Bert
Bert – that experimental .308 Model 71 is intriguing. Just about 40 years ago I was in the Cody firearms museum and saw on display a Model 1886 in .31 caliber. I assume this was a 45-70 necked down to .31 caliber. One wonders if it was “.30” caliber (.308) or something like .311. I assume when the Model 71 came out, they went through the same thought process as they had on the Model 1886, necking the .348 case down to .308. It’s also interesting that the same thing was done by Jim Busha of Heavy Express Magnum cartridges. Jim developed a line of cartridges for bolt action rifles based on the .348 case (with the rim turned off). MAST technology out of Las Vegas had made the brass for him. There were several cartridges in his line – about eight if I recall – starting at .260. One was a .308 caliber – so it was likely identical to the experimental .308/.348 Winchester cartridge (with the exception of the rim turned off).
Bert H. said
RickC said
My concern would be ammo for the .577 Eley, unless it’s available. Only need one box but I’m guessing it’s very rare.I have never seen a box of .577 Eley cartridges. I own one single cartridge for my collection. It is a massive beast. Based on an email conversation with Dan Shuey, and collector in England, Winchester did not make ammo for any of the Eley cartridges, even though they made a fair number of rifles in both 45 Eley and 50 Eley.
Bert,
If it’s not to bothersome, would you be so kind as to post a pic. of the 577 along side a common cartridge for comparison.
Erin
Erin Grivicich said
Bert,
If it’s not to bothersome, would you be so kind as to post a pic. of the 577 along side a common cartridge for comparison.
Erin
Erin,
I will give it go sometime tomorrow…
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
The three high-wall rifles in my signature picture are as close to “holy grail” as it gets for me.Top rifle is a Thick-side frame 50-95 W.C.F. with about 20% case color remaining.
Middle rifle is a 405 W.C.F., 30-inch No. 3½ barrel, shotgun butt, Lyman No. 103 tang sight
Bottom rifle is a Fancy Sporting Rifle, 40-90 Ballard, 30-inch octagon, SST, 3X H-checkered stocks. Has the early style P.G. with the ebony wedge
I have been a long time admirer of the Fancy Sporting Rifle (deluxe) on the bottom of your signature page – the caliber would not matter to me.
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