A DELUXE JOHN ULRICH ENGRAVED PRESENTATION WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SADDLE RING CARBINE,

A DELUXE JOHN ULRICH ENGRAVED PRESENTATION WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SADDLE RING CARBINE, 1870. Serial number 44046, .44 rimfire caliber blued barrel marked on the top 'WINCHESTER-REPEATING-ARMS-NEWHAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866, OCTOBER 16, 1860' and with folding sight; gilded brass frame engraved all over with foliate scrolls against a stippled background, the left side with a finely rendered Mexican eagle grasping a snake in its beak and talon and inscribed within a shield 'DOCTOR/CARLOS/ROBERTSON/LAVALLE' and the right side with shields inscribed 'REDUERDO/DE AGRADECIMIENTO/11-ENERO 1918' and 'PROFESOR/Y/DIRECTOR/del HOSPITAL/RAMOS MEJIA'; the top and bottom of the frame also with engraved foliate scrolls; figured walnut stock with sling swivel on the bottom side and barrel retaining band with sling swivel, gilded brass butt plate engraved on the tang with foliate scrolls; the inside of the frame tang marked 'G,' 'V' and 'X' and the tang mortice in the stock marked '4064.' Barrel lg. 20, overall lg. 39 1/2 in. Condition: Barrel and sight band retain approx. 90% bluing with thinning at the muzzle and near the breech with some spots and small areas transitioning to plum, magazine tube is toned to gray/brown; frame gilding shows wear on the corners and sharp edges but is otherwise excellent, frame screws, saddle ring, and loading door retain most of their bluing; hammer case colors are strong, lever and trigger is toned to brown, with a trace of case color remaining on the lever near the frame; stock has scattered dings, dents and scratches, especially on the underside of the butt; butt plate gilding is worn with the remaining gilding being primarily on the edges of the plate and upper portion of the tang; sling swivels are transitioning to brown; bright bore with sharp rifling, action functions properly. Footnotes: Provenance Greg Martin, 1995. Note Dr. Charles Robertson Lavalle (1874-1956) was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He served as Adjunct Professor of Surgical Pathology (1907-1927) and was Director of the Ramos Mejia Hospital (1915-1943) in Buenos Aires and presided over the Argentine Medical Association (1917-1918).   R.L. Wilson suggests that this carbine may have been a sample piece that remained at the factory for many years after originally being produced in 1870. Winchester is known to have sold obsolete arms to foreign markets including Mexico, Central and South America and it is possible that this carbine was sold in the early 20th century shortly before the presentation inscriptions were applied. Lot includes an extensive narrative of this carbine by R.L. Wilson. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing