Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout us
Log InCreate Account
Rock Island Auction CompanyRock Island Auction Company
Contact us
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
Locations
Bedford, TX
3600 Harwood RoadBedford, Texas 76021, USA
Rock Island, IL
7819 42nd Street WestRock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
Hours
Monday - Friday8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Navigation
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout usAccount
More Info
Terms & ConditionsPrivacy PolicyJob postings & CareersOrder a catalogContact
Social media
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
Disconnected
Unable to connect to live update server, attempting reconnection. If this persists, please try refreshing your browser.
Disconnected state indicated by at top of page. If you cannot see this icon, you are connected.
Rock Island Auction Company
Hello.
Please Log In, or .

Home
Auctions
Consignment
Latest
FAQ
About us

  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 1015

Lot 1015:Factory Exhibition Engraved Winchester Model 1866 Rifle

June 6th, 2020|Rock Island, IL
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 1015

Lot 1015:Factory Exhibition Engraved Winchester Model 1866 Rifle

June 6th, 2020|Rock Island, IL
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Estimated Price$130,000 - $190,000
Log In to use Wishlists
Share

Well-Documented and Stunning Herman Leslie Ulrich Signed Factory 1876 Centennial Exhibition Relief Panel Scene Engraved, Gold Plated Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle Masterpiece

Manufactured in 1873, this extraordinary factory exhibition Winchester Model 1866 rifle has been identified in R.L. Wilson's "Winchester Engraving" (pages 150-151), "Steel Canvas" (page 163) and "Book of Winchester Engraving" (page 144) and "Antique Arms Annual" edited by R.L. Wilson (pages 128-130). All mention this rifle, 109651, as a factory display piece from the famous 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. Several other 1866 relief engraved, panel scene rifles are also attributed to the factory display at the Centennial which include the example maintained by the Cody museum as well as serial number 107209, 104463 and 103672. In 1969, the rifle was loaned to the Winchester Museum for display. The profuse engraving on this rifle has long been attributed to Master Engraver John Ulrich. However, the writer could not locate a signature. It’s a well published fact the Ulrich's, namely Conrad and his brother John had a tradition of signing their work, particularly special scenes, deluxe or exhibition guns. Furthermore in several documented cases and certainly in many undocumented cases, the Ulrich's would hide their signatures, sometime in plain sights and sometimes "camouflaged" within a scroll or within a game scene. After several long "sits" with the rifle, studying every panel scene and scroll, we removed the buttstock to reveal the very small hand signed "HLU" initials, the hand and initials of Herman Leslie Ulrich. This very rare and spectacular rifle has now been properly identified for the first time in its long and well published history. In the book "Winchester Engraving" by Wilson he writes, "Herman's firearms work has yet to be identified positively, because no signed examples are known". Upon further study Herman certainly used similar scenes and had many parallels to both his older brother Conrad and younger brother John but there is an unquestioned nuance to his hand, his scrolls, his motifs, his use of the canvas and depth in his cuts, in this case "ultra" high relief. The gold plated frame, forend cap and buttplate are richly decorated and are of extremely high grade, best quality work from the Winchester factory. A stag head and a dog head are cut on the sides of the forend cap. The highly desirable four, "ultra" relief, engraved stag panel scenes are equally divided among both sides of the frame. As Wilson notes, "Relief cut Winchesters are considered by collectors as among the ultimate in embellished American Arms." The borders were influenced by Victorian and neo-Gothic art and architecture, and these motifs are extended to the forend cap and buttplate tang. The top barrel flat is marked "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860" ahead of the rear sight, and the barrel is equipped with a gold washed combination Beach front sight and a folding ladder rear sight. The action retains the original rimfire bolt. A long range peep sight is mounted to the upper tang. Sling swivel eyelets are attached to the underside of the forend cap and buttstock. The buttplate has a trapdoor (cleaning rod not included). The forearm and "fish belly" type stock are nicely figured walnut.

ConditionExtremely fine. The barrel and magazine tube retain 60% original blue finish thinning to a brown. 95% plus original gold plating remains on the forend cap and frame and 85% original gold plating remains on the buttplate. 30% original nitre blue remains on the loading gate, and traces of original nitre blue remain on the screw heads. The hammer and lever retain traces of darkened original case colors. The engraving is crisp. The professionally made replacement wood is very fine with chipping at the tangs and buttstock eyelet and minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. An incredible and rare opportunity to own a world class, well-documented, and iconic, one of very few known signed works by Herman Leslie Ulrich which also happens to be an absolute masterpiece.
Details
ManufacturerWinchester
Model1866
TypeRifle
Serial number
ClassAntique
Caliber / Gauge44 rimfire
Barrel24 inch octagon
Finishgold/blue
Stockwalnut

Item LocationRock Island, IL
Views5126
Catalog page20
Find MoreRelated Items
Lot 3013L.D. Nimschke Engraved Gold Gilt Winchester Model 1866 Rifle
View Lot
Lot 31Gold Inlaid Factory No. 5-3 Engraved Marlin Model 1893 Rifle
View Lot
Lot 349A. Griebel Engraved and Gold Inlaid Colt Gov't Model Pistol
View Lot
Lot 3063Presentation Exhibition Quality Relief Engraved Savage 99 Rifle
View Lot
Show More