This is an incredibly rare special order factory engraved Winchester Model 1873. The included factory letter lists this rifle in .32 caliber with an octagon barrel, set trigger, checkered pistol grip stock, $2.50 engraving, gilt trim, balance nickel, and name engraved on the side plate. It was received in the warehouse on November 22, 1883, and shipped the same day in order 8792. The barrel is equipped with a dovetailed front sight base with a bead style brass blade and a dovetailed sporting rear sight and is marked with the two-line address and patent marking ahead of the rear sight and the caliber designation "32- CAL" at the breech, and "32/CAL" is also marked on the cartridge elevator. The action has the Third Model dust cover and integral guide rail and is equipped with an adjustable single set trigger. The model marking with foliate accents is marked on the upper tang. The rifle is fitted with a deluxe walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with checkering, contrasting inlay in the grip, and a rifle buttplate. The forend cap, frame, elevator, and buttplate display classic Ulrich pattern scroll engraving and includes a dog's head on the right side plate, and the left side plate is inscribed "W.H. Tucker/North Platte,/Neb." In "Winchester's New Model of 1873: A Tribute, Volume II," James D. Gordon wrote that "personal inscriptions on Model 1873s are quite rare, particularly when authenticated in the warehouse ledgers." He further noted, "Sometimes, factory inscriptions will be made on guns that are fully engraved, but that is not usually the case." His survey found only 82 rifles with personal inscriptions, including 66 rifles. This rifle was not one of those included on his survey list. This rifle was reportedly gifted by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody who also ordered serial number 121153 which was factory engraved and inscribed "Presented by Buffalo Bill (W.F. Cody)/to/Robbie Campbell Adams/1883" and shipped in 1883. That rifle was sold at auction by Rock Island Auction Company in September 2016. We found the rifle discussed in the Omaha Daily Bee on November 28, 1883, in the article titled "A SPLENDID GUN: Made by the Winchester Arms Company for a North Platte Man." The paper states: "When Mr. A. G. McAusland, the agent of the Winchester Repeating Arms company was in Omaha about a month ago, he received from Collins & Petty, the agents in this part of the west for that company, an order for a fine 32 calibre Winchester rifle, patent of 1873, for W. H. Tucker, of North Platte, Nebraska. Mr. McAusland Monday arrived in Omaha with the gun and turned it over to Collins & Petty. It is certainly one of the handsomest rifles ever made in this country. It is silver-plated, with gold trimmings, is handsomely engraved, and has all the late improvements. The cost was $100." The same day, the paper also reported Tucker shooting 99 our of 100 clay pigeons with Mayor Buck, John Hancock, Dell Huntington, and other friends as witnesses. In 1883, Andrew McAusland also notably sent one of John Browning's single shot rifles back to the company ultimately leading to the purchase of the design and Browning's influence on Winchester's lever action rifles. Other newspaper reports from 1883 when the rifle was shipped gave other news concerning Tucker, including that he received another inscribed rifle. The Columbus Telegram on December 22, 1883, wrote: "On Thursday of this week W.H. Tucker received a new and beautiful Colt's patent repeating rifle as a present from Dr. C. H. Bullock of Hartford, Conn., who was the Guest of Hon. and Mrs. William Cody this fall, and is recognized as one of the leading sportsman [sic] of the east. The rifle bears the following inscription: 'To William H. Tucker, from Dr. C. H. Bullock, in remembrance of our hunt on the plains.' It is needless to say that Tucker is very proud of his beautiful present." He must have been very proud of his flashy nickel and gold Winchester as well. Given it shipped in the fall of 1883, perhaps it was a gift of Buffalo Bill to Tucker for the hunt with Bullock. The rifle is accompanied by consignor research on William H. Tucker (1843-1886). This research along with our own paints the picture of quite the western character. He was born in Iowa and served in the 6th Iowa Infantry and the 4th Iowa Cavalry during the Civil War. After the war, he headed west to Nebraska. There he became a noted gambler and gunman and purchased the OK Saloon in Ogallala in the late 1870s and renamed it the Cowboy's Rest Saloon. He was noted as a tall, attractive man who adopted a similar style as Buffalo Bill Cody. Buffalo Bill established the Scout's Rest Ranch nearby in the 1880s. Tucker was also a rambunctious and quarrelsome man known for his pride, shooting abilities, and willingness to fight. Bill Thompson, the younger brother of notorious gunman Ben Thompson, and Tucker got into it on June 21, 1880, after Thompson apparently insulted Big Alice who ran Tucker's saloon. Thompson returned and fired at Tucker from across the saloon hitting him in the hand and taking off at least one of Tucker's fingers and damaging multiple others. Tucker fell to the floor. Thompson left thinking he had fatally wounded Tucker, but Tucker got back to his feet, retrieved a shotgun, and ran after him and shot Thompson in the back. Thompson was severely wounded and was arrested. Naturally, there were concerns he would die from his wounds, be lynched if he survived, and/or that his brother would ride into town seeking revenge. Instead, Bat Masterson came on Ben Thompson's behalf to get his brother out of town before more trouble and with the help of Buffalo Bill kept him safe until they could get him back to Dodge City. Tucker also owned a saloon in North Platte and found himself in trouble again in 1883 when he was accused of assaulting a fourteen year old girl and trying to buy the family's silence per the newspapers, but ultimately no charges were made. The Hamilton County News in covering the situation noted him as "William H. Tucker, a notorious rowdy of North Platte, who is engaged in the saloon business" and also called him a scoundrel. He met his demise with the help of booze a few years later when he fell twenty-five feet into the Blue River while crossing a railroad bridge on foot on December 19, 1886. His son dove into the icy water after him but was unable to save him, and William H. Tucker drowned. The coroner determined the case to be an "accidental death brought about while under the influence of liquor." Provenance: The Ralph Cindrich Collection; The Charles Marx Collection

Very good with 50% of the original nickel plating remaining and heavily concentrated on the barrel, loading gate, lever, and lever latch; gray and brown patina on the balance, light pitting, mostly crisp engraving, replaced front sight blade, absent rear sight elevator, and general moderate wear. The wood is good with worn checkering, some attractive figure, loss at the edges, cracks at the toe, and general scrapes and dings. The rifle mechanically functions, but the hammer drops occasionally when the action is cycled. Overall, an attractive and very historic special order Winchester Model 1873 rifle factory inscribed for a "notorious rowdy" in the American West in the late 19th century.