ONE OF THE FINEST & WELL DOCUMENTED DELUXE 1ST MODEL WINCHESTER 1873 “ONE OF ONE-THOUSAND” CASE COLORED LEVER ACTION RIFLES W/ EXTENSIVE PROVENANCE, & FORMERLY ON DISPLAY AT THE CODY FIREARMS MUSEUM.
inv# 01-17686
Cal. .44-40. S# 27141.
Desirable 30” octagonal barrel engraved “One of One Thousand” on the top flat at breech with attractive engraved arabesque scrolls on adjacent flats and around muzzle. Breech and muzzle both have inset silver bands. Case colored frame, hammer, lever & mortise thumbprint dust cover. Niter blued loading gate. Lower frame tang on the left side factory marked “27141 XXX 292”. Matching “292” assembly number present in the upper channel of the fancy XXX grade figured stock. Crescent steel buttplate retaining an original 4-piece steel & brass cleaning rod. Set trigger. Full magazine. Rocky Mountain front & rear sight. Vintage thin based 4” tang peep sight.
The Winchester “1 of 1000” is among the most iconic of American arms. Oliver Winchester marketed these superior rifles by stating that of every 100 barrels manufactured, proved and tested for accuracy, the best 1 of 100 would be put aside. Once 10 superior barrels were gleaned, they would be tested for accuracy and the best of these would be marked “one of one thousand” and the other 9 barrels “one of one hundred” (though few 1 of 100s were marked). This long gleaning process produced guns of highest accuracy and were priced at $80-100 when standard model was $30. Only 124 are noted in factory records. The gun was made really famous among gun collectors when Universal Studios was filming “Winchester 73” starring Jimmy Stewart. This rifle was the 3rd of the “1 of 1000s” reported during the nationwide search by the movie company in 1950 (23 “1 of 1000”s were located during this search).
The extensive documentation included with this rifle intimately details its extensive history & timeline. This rifle was the third discovered in June of 1950 during the Universal Studios search. It was submitted by Louis Ostendorp of Berwyn, Illinois & is accompanied with the original letter from the owner responding to the American Rifleman article, a copy of the original envelope, a copy the notarized letter certifying the ownership, a copy of the original photograph of the 1 of 1000 inscription, the original response letter from Steve Hannagan Publicity confirming the receipt of the notarized submission indicating that there will be a confirmation process by the R & D Division of Winchester prior to awarding the new model 94 to the owner, copy of the June 1950 RD & C Division handwritten record of the ownership & configuration of the 1 of 1000.
The original confirmation letter from the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. verifying that it was indeed a 1 of 1000, an original transcript of the press release prepared by Steve Hannagan Publicity for Olin Industries. Also included are further original correspondences to the owner requesting the negative of the image used for the submission & confirming receipt for the loan of the negative. An original letter inquiring what the owner felt the rifle was worth in 1950, a letter requesting permission to use the owners’ information in promotional pamphlets, and additional follow up correspondences from Steven Hannagan and Olin Industries.
This is a truly magnificent iconic Winchester with deluxe features shipped September 17, 1877 (order number 10038).
