ENGRAVERS OF THE LATE 1800s; WINCHESTER 1873 LEVER ACTION RIFLE BY MASTER ENGRAVER MIKE DUBBER. Please note as of 4/30/25 this item description has been updated. Please revisit this description and contact us with any questions. Cal. 44-40. S# 338450B. Bbl. 24" Octagon. This rifle was awarded "Best Engraved Rifle" at the January 2025 FEGA Convention in Las Vegas, NV. This masterpiece stands alone as the only Winchester 1873 ever to be engraved by noted FEGA Master Engraver Mike Dubber. As noted in accompanying letter, the inspiration for this rifle was none other than L.D. Nimschke's renowned Solid Silver 1866 which was commissioned by President Jose Balta of Peru for presentation to President Mariano Melgarejo of Bolivia in 1868. French grayed action, which was restored to original specifications by Bruce Farman, Riflemaker of Bremertonn, WA, features traditional Nimschke style full coverage hand engraved Germanic scroll set amongst #4 dot punch background. Front right side of receiver bears left facing profile of bestial face which is present on the Silver '66. Left front of receiver is adorned with the Nimschke eagle. In addition to the Nimschke elements of this piece, the Ulrich representation comes in the form of well executed game scenes on both sideplates with right side featuring a walking bear and left side showing a charging bison. Additionally, Ulrich can be found on sides of hammer which display the Ulrich style wolf. Top of receiver transitions from cross hatched punch dots and star bursts into the Germanic scroll terminating at front with emblazoned "1873" Bottom of receiver displays engraver's signature "M DUBBER" in rolling scroll which is nearly identical to the fashion of Nimschke's signature on the bottom of the Silver '66. Case hardened forend cap, buttplate & lever are all engraved with foliate scroll. Brass parts such as bottom of carrier block and trapdoor for cleaning rod are fully engraved. Action engraving has ornate borders throughout. Loading gate, lever latch and all visible screws are a bright and vivid nitre blue with all visible screw heads showing tasteful floral bloom engraving. as stated in letter, barrel is a rust blued replacement with lettering applied by Turnbull Restorations. Barrel has silver bands inlaid at both breech and muzzle end with each flat having either floral scroll, cross hatched star burst, intertwining scroll and sun bursts appearing at muzzle end. Stock set is highly figured English walnut with 32 line per inch checkering, all of which has been done by Turnbull Restorations and finished in hand rubbed oils. Final finishes were applied by Gunsmith John Powers of Duson, LA. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Letter of authenticity from engraver detailing work done to this rifle. CONDITION: all aspects near excellent as professionally rebuilt and expertly customized. (01-26503/BH) ANTIQUE. $17,500-25,000

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

19. SHIPPING: Poulins makes every attempt to ship your goods in a timely fashion. Because of the high volume of items being shipped and delays that shipping carriers deal with, please allow 2-3 weeks for your items to be delivered after all paperwork and full payment is received and applied. We do not attempt to make money on shipping but neither do we wish to lose money on shipping. The following is our shipping policy and shipping/handling/box and insurance charges.
SHIPPING CHARGES:
The shipping cost is calculated at the time the package has been prepared so we have accurate dimensions and weights. This includes the carrier shipping cost, handling insurance. Insurance is required and provided through Poulin's insurance carrier. If you have your own insurance or do not want insurance you will need to fill out a Poulin Insurance Waiver and submit it. Please be aware if you do not utilize Poulin's insurance and decide to self-insure, there is no compensation for any damage or loss.
*ASAP Orders: Are available on small quantities of 10 guns or less, however there is an additional charge of $50.00
*Hard Cases: There is a $20.00 charge for hard cases.
*Handling charges: Handguns are $8.00 per gun. Longarms are $15.00 per gun. Miscellaneous items and larger Class III items will vary depending on material used and time it takes to package. Labor rate is $30.00 an hour on these other items.
*Insurance Charges: A rate of $8 for the first $800 and 95 cents PER each $100.00 after $800. This covers the Hammer & Buyers Premium only. This does not include shipping, nor does it include what you expected to get for the item if resold.
*Shipping cost: Carrier cost plus all firearms (including antiques) are shipped with adult signature required. Any item(s) shipped with a value of $1000.00 and up is shipped with signature required.
*Boxes: $7.50 per box used in your shipment. No charge if it is a free box supplied by the carrier. (We do not carry all box sizes from these carriers, only generally sized ones).
POLICIES:
*Multiple winning bids will be combined to save buyer money.
*We reserve the right to not ship an item if we feel that it is too fragile or bulky to be done safely. (i.e. Bronzes, frames, delicate and/or oversized items, etc.)
*Poulins will not pack or ship anything that consists of a frame with glass or mirror. We recommend using a company that specializes in handling these types of items, such as Sure Express or a similar company. Prior to the release of the items, it is required that a Poulin insurance waiver be signed by the customer and it would be understood that insurance on said shipment is the sole responsibility of the customer and or the specialized company they choose to handle their shipment.
*We are happy to assist you in your shipping needs. Please understand that we will try to expedite your shipment when requested, but we make no guarantee that it can be completed in such a time frame as you may request or in the manner that you may request.
4/1/25

by Poulin Antiques & Auctions
May 11, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
199 Skowhegan Road
Fairfield, ME, US 04937

Poulin Antiques & Auctions

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 28% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000