Lot 6

Iconic Winchester First Model 1873 "One of One Thousand" Rifle

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Iconic Winchester First Model 1873 "One of One Thousand" Rifle

Estimate: $450,000 - $700,000

Starting Bid: $400,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 21, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Scarce, Iconic, and Exceptionally Fine, Well-Documented Antique Special Order Factory Engraved and Silver Banded Winchester First Model 1873 "One of One Thousand" Lever Action Rifle, the Cover Gun of "Winchester: The Golden Age of American Gunmaking and the Winchester 1 of 1000" by Wilson Manufactured in 1876, the same year as the centennial celebrations of the United States of America, this is an exceptional example of the immensely historic, incredibly rare, and relentlessly pursued "One of One Thousand" Winchester Model 1873s. Along with the Colt Walker and Colt Paterson revolvers, these "One of One Thousands" stand tall as one of the three elite pillars of 19th century American arms collecting. Out of the approximately 720,000 Model 1873 rifles produced between 1873 and 1923, only 132 of them were a "One of One Thousand", clearly illustrating their illusive nature, even during the period they were being produced. These "One of One Thousand" rifles carry with them the profound weight as historic treasures to elevate collections and collectors into the truly elite fraternity of fine arms collecting. When originally special ordered in the late 19th century, these rifles marked those who purchased and carried them as an individual who spared no expense in their pursuit of perfection and did not waver in their exceptionalism; two things these extraordinary rifles continue to bestow upon those who own them to this day. While the Winchester Model 1873 itself forged a legacy as an iconic piece of Americana and the "gun that won the West", these "One of One Thousands" upheld that legacy while forging their own paths, with each individual example having its own unique story as a legendary individual weapon, a fact that this particular rifle illustrates beautifully. Officially announced in the 1875 Winchester catalog, the "One of One Thousand" program is believed to have been planned from early in the development of the Model 1873. At its core, the goal of the program was to produce exceptionally accurate rifles that would appeal to those who valued accuracy, but also lavish deluxe features to set their personal weapon apart from the rest. In a Winchester advertisement under a section titled "Variety of Arms" the program is described as follows: “Every Sporting Rifle we make will be proved and shot at a target, and the target will be numbered to correspond with the barrel and be attached to it. When one hundred barrels are thus proved, the one making the best target will be selected and set aside, and another hundred proved in the same way, and so on until one thousand have been tested and ten targets selected with the barrels with which they were made. They will then be made up into Guns, in which each part is selected with the utmost care and finished in the finest manner. They will then be again subjected to trials for accuracy, and the best of the ten selected and marked ‘One of a thousand,’ the price of which will be $80.00 to $100.00. The other nine will be marked ‘one of a hundred,’ and the price will be from $60.00 to $75.00 each. Sportsmen will readily see that this severe process of gleaning will be a slow and expensive one, and the result be but a limited number of choice Guns, and that orders should be given in advance of their wants, or patience exercised with the necessary delay of filling them.” At the time of their announcement, these "One of One Thousand" rifles were listed at a price that was essentially double that of a standard Model 1873, significantly limiting the pool of potential customers who could justify such a cost. Due to the immense cost, as well as the program unintentionally implying the company's standard rifles were not accurate, Winchester stopped advertising the program in 1877. By 1880, orders for "One of One Thousands" had drastically trailed off, with the final examples being ordered in 1893. As previously stated, only 132 of these special rifles were listed as produced in the factory ledgers, and when Gordon published "Winchester's New Model of 1873: A Tribute" in 1997, only 57 were known to the author to have survived. This particular Model 1873 "One of One Thousand" is well-known among the collecting fraternity and well-documented, having multiple features that set it apart from even the prestigious company of other "One of One Thousands". Beyond the special physical features of this particular rifle is its documented history of ownership, which can be traced back in an unbroken chain to the man who originally ordered it, E.A. Alden, an owner of a large woolen mill in Boston, Massachusetts. This particular rifle is pictured on the cover of "Winchester: The Golden Age of American Gunmaking and the Winchester 1 of 1000" by R.L. Wilson, as well as on p.72 where it is noted as part of the John R. Woods Collection. Featuring on the cover of this profound book by Wilson is certainly a glowing endorsement of the rarity and quality of this renowned "One of One Thousand" rifle. It is also pictured on p. 46 of "The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles" by Edmund Lewis, where it is listed as having been part of the Robert M. Lee Collection. This rifle was also listed in a 1950s article in "The American Rifleman", copies of which are partially included, searching for surviving "One of One Thousands", a search that was spurred on by the famous Hollywood film "Winchester '73". In that article, the rifle is listed as being owned by Charles A. Alden and that his father had purchased the rifle around 1880. An included letter from R.L. Wilson details the special features of this deluxe rifle, noting that it is "among the finest examples of the One of One Thousand Model 1873 in existence" and that "This is a rifle fitting for the finest museum or private collection.", making it very clear why he featured this rifle so prominently on the cover of his book. An included photocopy of a 1950 dated notarized letter from Charles A. Alden lists this rifle by serial number and states that it was originally purchased by his father, E. Ames Alden, some time around 1880. It goes on to state that the rifle was used for several years during summer vacations in the Adirondacks and that many deer were killed with it. He states that his father died in 1887 and left the rifle to him. Another typed document lists the chain of ownership from Charles A. Alden on up to R.L. Wilson, from where this rifles ownership can be traced to today as listed in the provenance. Even among these illustrious "One of One Thousand" rifles, such a complete chain of ownership from its original manufacture is extremely rare, making this particular rifle a truly historic time capsule and further adding to the prestige it can bring to a collection. Three factory letters are included with this incredible rifle, being dated 1971, 1977, and 2017, all essentially listing the same information. The most recent of the factory letters lists the rifle with a half octagon barrel, set trigger, casehardened finish, "sling and swivel", "Peep and Beach" sights, an XXXX checkered stock, and "1 of 1000" when received at the warehouse on 26 February 1876 and shipped on 28 February 1876 to order no. 5363. The letter from R.L. Wilson further details some of the special features on this rifle, listing the engraved and fully inscribed barrel with the classic hand-cut "One of One Thousand" marking, and silver inlaid bands on the barrel at the muzzle and breech. It also notes that both the half octagon barrel and the half magazine are rare, even on these "One of One Thousands". Out of all the "One of One Thousand" factory ledger listings, reproduced in the previously mentioned book by Gordon, only seven are listed as having been ordered with a half octagon barrel. The letter further notes the XXXX grade deluxe wood, the set trigger, rare peep and Beach sights, and rare sling swivels. Having been manufactured in the centennial year of our nation, this Winchester Model 1873 "One of One Thousand" represents a true American treasure, standing tall as an exceptionally high condition example in a rare configuration, as well as being steeped in history from its original ownership, through the hands of some of the most legendary figures of the collecting fraternity, to now being offered here today for the next chapter of its story to be written. The rifle itself has the highly desirable First Model receiver with the very attractive, special ordered casehardened finish, exhibiting the integral dust cover guides on either side of the ejection port, as well as a dust cover with the impressed checkered "thumbprint" grip area. The rare part octagon barrel has the extremely attractive panels of floral scroll engraving at the muzzle and the breech, with the fourth style "One of One Thousand" marking hand engraved on top at the breech. There are silver bands inlaid at the muzzle and the breech. The top flat of the barrel also has the standard two-line Winchester address and King's patent marking, and the rifle correctly lacks caliber markings as .44-40 W.C.F. was the only caliber initially offered for the model. The model designation is marked on the upper tang and the early production style script serial number is marked on the lower tang. Out of respect for this rifle the stock was not removed, but Wilson confirmed in his letter that the lower tang confirmed the "XXXX" grade wood. It is fitted with a gold washed Beach combination front sight, an elevation adjustable No. 22 notch rear sight, a graduated long range peep sight on the upper tang, a single set trigger, and sling swivel eyes on the forearm cap and the bottom of the stock. It is mounted with an extremely attractively figured forearm and straight grip stock, both with early pattern factory deluxe checkering, and a trapdoor crescent buttplate containing an included four-piece metal cleaning rod.

Manufacturer: Winchester

Model: 1873

BBL: 24 inch part octagon

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 44-40 WCF

Finish: blue/casehardened

Serial Number18070

Class: Antique

  • Provenance: E. Ames Alden; Charles A. Alden; The Norman L. Pratten Collection; The Arnold Chernoff Collection; The N. Conner Tempelton Collection; The Greg Martin Collection; The Reverend Lester Meyers Collection; The Lang Spraggins Collection; The Kenny Karnak Collection; The R.L. Wilson Collection; The John R. Woods Collection; The Robert M. Lee Collection; A Private Collection, South Texas
  • Condition: Exceptionally fine as a scarce and iconic example of Winchester's "One of One Thousand", retains 80% of the original blue finish with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, a few minor dings near the rear sight dovetail, and both the engraving and "One of One Thousand" inscription remaining extremely crisp. 60% of the original case colors remain with the balance mostly a silvery-grey patina and a few scattered small patches of extremely light surface spotting. 85% plus of the original nitre blue remains on the loading gate. The wood is also exceptionally fine with a few scattered minor dings and scratches, a slight chip at the toe, and a few minor blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically functions. This Winchester Model 1873 "One of One Thousand" stands tall as truly elite, even when measured against the prestigious company of the other surviving "One of One Thousand" rifles. This rifle is the sort of treasure that can truly define a collection and the life's work of a collector; do not miss this opportunity!

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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