4082 SPECIAL ORDER WINCHESTER 1894 NO. 6 ENGRAVED

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 10,000.00 USD
Estimated at 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
DELUXE TAKEDOWN LEVER ACTION RIFLE INSCRIBED TO CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR PRESIDENT JOHN FITZPATRICK. Cal. 30 WCF, (30-30). S# 159800. Bbl. 26" octagon. Lyman no. 4 hunting sight w/ filler in rear dovetail & no. 21 "Climbin Lyman" receiver sight. Full length takedown mag. Action has no. 6 engraving featuring vignettes of deer on right & bighorn sheep on left. Scenes are surrounded by arabesque scroll & fancy borders. Complimenting engraving extends to upper & lower action areas along w/ bbl. extension, breech end of bbl. & crescent steel buttplate. Although the letter does not state factory engraved, this engraving is undoubtedly period and done in the hand of Ulrich. "WINCHESTER ENGRAVING" by R.L. Wilson states 378 model 1894s in the serial number range 1-353999 were engraved and only 25 featured No. 6 engraving. Rifle features include double set triggers. Forearm & hard rubber capped pistol grip stock of XX fancy walnut w/ style "H" factory checkering & German silver nameplate in toeline. Left inside of lower tang is marked w/ assembly number "15557" followed by wood grade marking "XX". Back of stock is stamped "94/T/15557". Floorplate of rifle is engraved initials "C.F.L. / Chicago, 1902". John Fitzpatrick was an organizer of the Chicago Federation of Labor "CFL". He served as President of the CFL in 1900 & again from 1906 until his death in 1946. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a Cody Firearms Museum letter listing the following information, "Type: Rifle. Caliber: 30. Barrel Type: Octagon. Trigger: Set. Takedown. Received in warehouse on December 16, 1902. Shipped from warehouse on December 17, 1902, Order number 168765". 2 Pages of info including a photo of John Fitzpatrick are also included. CONDITION: action retains 40% original blue fading to gray overall however sides of action in areas of engraving show a greater degree of bluing than bottom (carry area) and around takedown ring. Mag. tube has 80% lightly faded blue. Bbl. has 60% dull blue showing light pitting & edge wear. Wood retains a majority of its original glossy finish with occasional scattered light to moderate handling marks and scratches. Notable losses to finish appear at rear of forend, forward portion of wrist and around tangs as one would expect to see from a gun that was used but not abused. Toe of stock has cracks extending from both sides. Sound action & triggers. Bore has darkened appearance retaining sound rifling. (23-4785/BS). CURIO. $20,000-30,000.