2020 September Premier, Volume I

26”
LOT 92
Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle
with Extra Length Barrel and Factory Letter - Serial no.
114148A, 44 WCF cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut
stock. Manufactured in 1883 as a third model with integral dust
cover rail and dust cover with grip serrations at the rear. The rifle
is fitted with a special order 26 inch barrel. The accompanying
factory letter lists this rifle with a 26 inch octagon barrel and plain
trigger when received in the warehouse on February 2, 1883
and shipped on June 24, 1883. As explained by George Madis,
“Special lengths, such as [26 inches], are rare in all models. Few
gun buyers were so particular that they would order special
barrel lengths, especially a barrel only two inches longer than
standard” (see “The Winchester Book,” page 133). The barrel is
fitted with a dovetail Lyman beaded blade front sight and an
elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sight and is stamped with the
two-line address/patent dates marking. There is a folding tang
peep sight. The rifle correctly lacks caliber markings. A leather
sling is included. The straight grip stock is fitted with a trapdoor
crescent buttplate. A small collector tag in Mr. Fox hand writing
list this rifle as “W.S. Negus Rancher”. William S. Negus & Co. was a
Marysville, Montana dealer in “groceries, clothing, dry goods and
general miners’ supplies.” According to a period advertisement
the dealer “keep[s] one of the largest stocks of any house in Lewis
and Clarke Country.” Founder of the company, William Negus, also
held interests in Montana mining and operated a 1,200 acre farm
and livestock ranch near Canyon Creek. When he died in 1888 it
was said, “He was rated among the wealthy pioneers of Lewis and
Clarke country and leaves an estate estimated
at from $50,000 to $75,000.”
CONDITION: Very good plus, retaining nearly 40% original blue
finish with the balance a smooth brown-gray patina. Traces of
original case colors remain on the hammer and lever. Traces of
original niter blue remains on the loading gate. The stock wrist
has been period repaired, otherwise the wood is good with
chipping along the grain, dings and scratches. Mechanically
excellent. A very solid example of a special order Winchester
1873, “the gun that one the west”, that certainly looks to have
played the part.
Estimate: 4500 - 6000
Collector’s Fact
Explained by author George Madis, “Special
lengths, such as [26 inches], are rare in all
models. Few gun buyers were so particular
that they would order special barrel lengths,
especially a barrel only two inches longer
than standard”.
The John Fox Collection
109