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I’ve been following the RIA auction since Friday morning. As usual, many nice pieces. This M1873 comes up today. When I saw it was a documented 1 of 1000 I was surprised to see such a low estimate. Detailed reading revealed it is indeed a very well-documented 1 of 1000 rifle but no longer has the original barrel – apparently replaced at the factory during a return and repair. I am surprised a faker didn’t pick this up long ago as putting a correctly marked barrel on the rifle… and voila… you have a documented 1 of 1000. Of course, maybe that will still happen – we may see it again.
How appealing is this rifle to others here?
kevindpm61 said
That’s a pretty rifle.
I agree.
And arguably, all Winchester.
Well… apparently bidders felt favorably on this one. Auction estimate of $18,000 to $27,500 and it hammered at $80,000. Very few (if any) of the RIA offerings exceeded the high auction estimate by that percentage. I was also following David Royal’s Savage 1895/1899/99 collection. Many beautiful, rare, and high condition rifles in that collection. Nearly all of them fit that description. Unfortunately (for him) there were plenty that didn’t even hit the low estimate.
This is the first time this gun has surfaced according to my records so no one has had a chance at it for a long time but what I find interesting is the R&R on that letter is the same R&R date as the serial 11218 that is listed in Gordons book and 11413 just below in the list does not list a R&R for this gun. A double check with Cody would be in order to confirm this gun has a R&R before buying. It could be Gordon got the R&R on the wrong line. Since it does not have the right barrel on it will greatly affect its value and the barrel is the 1 of 1000 part of the gun. Nice gun otherwise. I’m would of thought RIA would of had more pictures of the gun especially the barrel in question.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
I would guess it will go for well above the high estimate.
I would also bet we shall all see it again, with the barrel engraved with the appropriate One of One Thousand flourishes. The person who has deep enough pockets to win this auction certainly has deep enough pockets to find and commission an ACGG engraver with the requisite talent to reproduce the original engraving. Just my best guess, of course.
BRP
EDIT: I typed too slowly; as I was typing this, Steve & Bob posted theirs.
steve004 said
I was also following David Royal’s Savage 1895/1899/99 collection. Many beautiful, rare, and high condition rifles in that collection. Nearly all of them fit that description. Unfortunately (for him) there were plenty that didn’t even hit the low estimate.
Any thoughts as to why?
Had I known about these and thought I might have been able to acquire some of these reasonably (which is tough to do at RIA), I might have placed a bid or two.
The ACGG is a guild of gunmakers with some engraver members. The Firearms Engravers Guild of America FEGA, would be the guild to go to and find an engraver specializing in Winchesters
I’m new into the Winchester collector arena. Out of curiosity, how many 1 of 1,000 rifles did Winchester produce?
Since the rebarreling was done by Winchester, I would be inclined to leave as is.
135 1 of 1000″s, 1 of 100’s are more scarce only 8
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
mrcvs said
steve004 said
I was also following David Royal’s Savage 1895/1899/99 collection. Many beautiful, rare, and high condition rifles in that collection. Nearly all of them fit that description. Unfortunately (for him) there were plenty that didn’t even hit the low estimate.
Any thoughts as to why?
Had I known about these and thought I might have been able to acquire some of these reasonably (which is tough to do at RIA), I might have placed a bid or two.
In all seriousness, I would say because they were not Winchesters.
1873man said
135 1 of 1000″s, 1 of 100’s are more scarce only 8Bob
Depending on what source your using the counts for the Model 73s can be as high as 148 – 1of1000s, and 10 – 1of100s. But obviously as to why is not a straight forward answer.
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I’d personally would leave well enough alone with that rifle. It is as how it was when it last left the factory. To do anything to it otherwise would negate that fact. Not the same could be said of other such rifles.
I agree with Bob and that as far as I’m aware its the first time for that rifle to surface.
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Maverick said
I’d personally would leave well enough alone with that rifle. It is as how it was when it last left the factory. To do anything to it otherwise would negate that fact. Not the same could be said of other such rifles.I agree with Bob and that as far as I’m aware its the first time for that rifle to surface.
I suspect that’s what the high bidders were thinking. There was a chance to do some fakery with this rifle and that didn’t happen. As this rifle seems to not have previously surfaced, someone could have added the appropriate engraving and they would have had a 1 of 1000 rifle that lettered.
They would of had to remove the caliber stamps or start with a nice first model style barrel.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Assuming it originally had all the 1of1000 markings, I’m surprised the factory didn’t return it in the former design’s condition, but then again, it was 25 years old at that point and they weren’t a collectible “craze” just yet…
November 7, 2015
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For me the barrel makes it a 1 of 1000 so it will never truly be one again. Idle question but I’m wondering why the barrel was replaced. I suppose it has never surfaced because the previous custodian realized it was no longer a 1 of 1000. If it had been properly restored before attempting to sell it I suspect the results would have been quite different.
Mike
Online
I think RIA had the price estimate right, $18,000-27,500. That’s what a 1 of 1000 is worth without the barrel or a first model deluxe with a standard barrel. RIA has a lot of buyers and they found at least two to push it to $94,000. Good for them and the owner. I fail to see how the new owner gets his money back someday.
This type of event is why collectors put their guns in RIA Auctions. RIA sure does a good job of estimating sale prices. This was not a sleeper, it was the result of a huge customer base, they found at least two buyers willing to go the distance. Sometimes an under valued gun will get bidders going, it happen to me once and I still own it. T/R
If the previous owner didn’t letter it he my of not known it was a 1 of 1000. The letter with it is only a year old.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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