4082 ARTISTRY IN IRON, BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM ENGRAVED & GOLD

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 May 11 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 2,500.00 USD
Estimated at 5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
INLAID WINCHESTER 1892 SRC LEVER ACTION 19TH CENTURY INCREDIBLE FRONTIER TRIBUTE. Cal. 44-40 (44 WCF). S# 876953. At first glance, this gun appears to be an elaborate and fancy upgraded Winchester. If one looks again, they will plainly see the story being told on this Winchester. Two sides of the same story, set on the North American frontier in the 1800s. The left side tells the story of hope, ambition & the chance for a better life. As settlers worked west, taming the frontier bit by bit, the discovery of gold placed in the minds of countless pioneers and prospectors, the hope for a brighter and more secure future for both their families and themselves. Gold inlays show one such hopeful prospector crouched next to a creek, gold pan in hand while his trusty pack laden burrow looks on. Figures are set on a finely engraved and nicely shaded coniferous woodland background, all of which is surrounded by an elaborate full coverage vine type foliate scroll with fancy borders. The right side tells a much more somber story. "End of the Trail" by James Earle Fraser is a famous sculpture depicting a lone Native American warrior on his travel weary horse, slouched over, still maintaining hold of his spear. A doleful image representing the last vestiges of a revered but dying culture and way of life. The right side of the receiver bears a single gold inlay depicting this famous sculpture. Right side inlay is also surrounded by elaborate vine type foliate scroll over finely stippled background with fancy borders. The engraving continues to upper & lower receiver areas along with lever & breech end of bbl. Muzzle end of bbl. has a single gold band. Lever has an elliptical gold inlay with rough pebbled surface. Top tang bears engraver's signature "R. Alpen". Left side of receiver has staple attached saddle ring. Bbl. 20" with pinned blade front sight & carbine leaf rear sight. Full length mag. Post-64 Model 94 style shortwood replacement forearm & straight grip stock w/ checkered steel buttplate. Both are of extremely fancy burl figured walnut w/ high gloss finish. Mfg. 1919. Ralph O. Alpen (1931-2013) was a master engraver working from 1950's - 1970's. He was an Ithaca engraver until about 1970, then on to Pederson Customs until 1973. He was later employed with the Franklin Mint, Media, PA, as a model maker and master engraver. Ralph was commissioned to engrave commemorative guns for the Apollo 8 astronauts and for the President of the Soviet Union, Leonard Breshnev. He also designed & engraved several Baseball World Series rings according to his obituary. Out of the Navy after the Korean War, he worked in Cincinnati as a jewelry engraver before doing the custom work for Ithaca. CONDITION: near excellent as upgraded, retaining 99% blue. High gloss stock finish shows a few handling marks w/ open grain checks on left side of stock. Very good bright bore. PROVENANCE: Don Armstrong, Atlanta. Formerly displayed at the Booth Western Art Museum, a Smithsonian Institute associate located in Cartersville, GA. Also recently displayed at the Marietta Cobb Museum in Marietta, GA. (25-1144/DS). CURIO. $5,000-7,000.