Lot 1010

John Ulrich Master Engraved Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Rifle

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John Ulrich Master Engraved Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Rifle

Estimate: $95,000 - $170,000

Starting Bid: $85,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 22, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Extraordinary, Well-Documented, John Ulrich Signed Factory Polar Bear and Alligator Panel Scene Master Engraved Antique Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle in .44-40 W.C.F. with Factory Letter Manufactured in 1883, this rifle is a stunning example of the artistry produced by the Winchester company in the late 19th century, and their Master Engraver John Ulrich in particular, who signed this magnificent piece of firearms art. Special ordered, factory engraved, deluxe rifles such as this one are an awe-inspiring example of the bespoke craftsmanship that remained on offer by American companies during the period, despite a growing shift towards the mass production of the industrial era. The Model 1873 became iconic in its own right as "the gun that won the West", bringing reliable and powerful repeating firepower to the masses on the quickly expanding western frontier. These guns, like the Colt "Peacemaker" they were often paired with, have become synonymous with the West and remain valued treasures of America's period of westward expansion to this day. This particular rifle is quite possibly one-of-a-kind given the uniqueness of the engraving it exhibits. It represents tangible evidence of the skill of Winchester’s artisans, while the company also managed to produce hundreds of thousands of standard guns to satisfy the growing demand of a nation that continued to expand westward. 143 years later, incredible pieces of firearms art such as this remain highly sought after, collection defining pieces for the truly elite collectors of today, including public collections of fine art. John Ulrich, along with his brothers Herman and Conrad F., were some of the most influential engravers of the second half of the 19th century and into the 20th century, setting the standard for some of America’s most prominent firearms manufacturers. Conrad F. initially learned the art of engraving early to in the mid-1860s apprenticing under the renowned Gustave Young at Colt, where his brothers eventually joined him, learning the craft from their brother. Around 1869, the three brothers moved to New Haven, Connecticut, and began engraving for Winchester, before Conrad moved on to Marlin around 1875, and Herman returned to Colt around 1881. John, remained at Winchester, developing the engraving patterns for the company’s “Highly Finished Arms” catalog and producing some of the company's finest masterpieces into the 20th century. John essentially engraved for the company up until his death in 1924, creating an impressive portfolio included rifles such as this one and forging a legacy as one of the finest engravers this country has ever produced. The masterful engraving on this rifle is signed with John Ulrich’s typical minuscule “J.ULRICH” stamp just behind the trigger, leaving no doubt that this magnificent rifle was the work of the master himself. Having been manufactured in the early 1880s, the engraving on this rifle exhibits a more imaginative and less restricted design than some of the later pieces from the company once Ulrich’s shop had settled into more defined “grades” or patterns of engraving in the late 1890s with the release of their “Highly Finished Arms” catalog. Though all Ulrich engraved Winchesters remain extremely desirable, the extremely scarce, quite possibly unique, panel scenes on this particular rifle launch it into the stratosphere of the truly elite, essentially making it a one-off masterpiece. The left sideplate features a circular scene of a polar bear with a freshly killed seal, while the right sideplate exhibits a detailed American alligator sunning on a riverbank. These two scenes are certainly an interesting combination, representing extreme opposite ends of the environmental spectrum, and were quite possibly ordered by someone of means who was well-traveled, having witnessed these animals in their natural habitats. Both of these scenes are surrounded by the masterfully executed scrollwork of John Ulrich on beaded backgrounds, encompassing nearly the remainder of the receiver. There are additional flourishes of scrollwork on top of the receiver ring, bottom of the receiver and cartridge elevator, dust cover, buttplate tang, and forearm cap, making for a truly awe-inspiring piece. The rifle itself is well-documented in Winchester literature, being pictured and described in both “Winchester Engraving” by Wilson on p. 157, as well as “Winchester’s New Model of 1873: A Tribute Vol. II” by Gordon on p. 436-439. In Gordon’s book it is noted that the factory ledger listing for this John Ulrich signed masterpiece simply notes “eng”; the understatement of the century. In Wilson's book, it is noted that both panel scenes are rare, especially the alligator, which we can confirm as this is the only example we have ever cataloged or have found evidence of, meaning it is quite possibly a one-of-a-kind Ulrich masterpiece. The included factory letter lists the rifle with an octagon barrel, plain trigger, casehardened, engraved, “Winchester combination and Lyman and knife edge sights”, and a checkered pistol grip stock when received at the warehouse on 15 February 1883 and shipped the same day. Further, it lists a return and repair date of 20 June 1883 with the notation “special front sights installed”. It is extremely rare for a Winchester factory letter to detail what work was done when a gun returned to the factory, with this notation certainly referring to the sights which are now fitted on the barrel. The special ordered casehardened receiver is a Third Model with integral dust cover guide and dust cover with grip serrations at the rear. The top flat of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address and King’s patent marking, and the rifle correctly lacks caliber markings as .44-40 W.C.F. was considered standard for the model at the time. The model designation is marked on the upper tang, while the serial number is on the lower tang, correctly perpendicular to the line of the rifle. The left side of the lower tang is marked “XXX 4651 R”, with the “6” and “5” stamped over another number by the factory, and “4651” repeated in the stock inlet and inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a fairly unique beaded, “Rocky Mountain” shaped blade front sight, a three-leaf “Winchester Express” rear sight, and a combination peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a very finely figured forearm and magnificently figured pistol grip stock, both with factory deluxe H-pattern checkering, an ebony insert at the base of the grip, and a trapdoor crescent buttplate containing a four-piece metal cleaning rod.

Manufacturer: Winchester

Model: 1873

BBL: 24 inch octagon

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 44-40 WCF

Finish: blue/casehardened

Serial Number115148

Class: Antique

  • Provenance: The Dick Hammer Collection; A Private Collection
  • Condition: Exceptionally fine as an extraordinary work of art signed by Winchester factory Master Engraver John Ulrich. Retains 75% plus of the original blue finish, 60% plus of the original case colors, remaining vibrant in sheltered areas, and 70% of the original nitre blue on the loading gate with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, a few scattered patches of light surface pitting, a few light dings, and the engraving remaining extremely crisp. The wood is also very fine with a few scattered minor dings, a couple minor flat spots in the checkering on the left of the forearm, some scattered light scratches, most of the original varnish remaining on the buttstock, and the checkering otherwise mostly crisp. Mechanically functions. This incredible, deluxe Winchester Model 1873 rifle is quite possibly a one-of-a-kind piece of art by Master Engraver John Ulrich, which could easily be the centerpiece of even the most elite collections!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $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 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000