This is a rare deluxe Winchester Model 1873 rifle with factory engraving, inscription, and numerous special order features. The rifle was factory engraved by Master Engraver John Ulrich and is signed "J. ULRICH" in tiny letters on the lower tang behind the trigger. The rifle features Winchester "$4.00" engraving. The forearm cap, top, sides and bottom of the receiver, dust cover, cartridge elevator and buttplate heel are engraved with scrollwork and line borders. The right side plate is decorated with a detailed game scene featuring two deer and intricate scrollwork. The left side plate is inscribed: "DR. E.X. AMOSS" in an engraved panel surrounded by scrollwork. The barrel and magazine are blued, the forearm cap, side plates, hammer, lever and crescent buttplate are nickel-plated and the receiver and dust cover buttplate are casehardened. The forearm and pistol grip stock are deluxe, highly figured, fancy grain walnut with a piano finish. The forearm and pistol grip have "Style H" checkering, and the bottom of the pistol grip has an ebony inlay. Other special order features include a part-round/part-octagon barrel, matted barrel top and single set trigger. The rifle has Marble's blade front sight and adjustable rear sight. The rifle is complete with a Cody Firearms Records Office letter that describes the features and states that it was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on September 18, 1889. The factory legend on the top of the barrel is obscured by the factory matting. The left barrel flat is roll-stamped with the caliber "32 W.C.F.". "32 CAL" is roll-stamped across the bottom of the cartridge elevator and surrounded by engraving. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped "- MODEL. 1873.-" in fancy letters with flourishes at either end. The serial number is stamped across the lower tang behind the lever latch and highlighted with hand-engraved flourishes. The combination of John Ulrich signed factory engraving, factory inscription, special order blue, nickel-plated and casehardened finishes and other special order features make this rifle extremely rare. Dr. Edwin X. Amoss (1855-1900) was born in Markham, Ontario, Canada, to English born parents and received a doctorate of medicine from the University of Michigan in 1884 and became a leading physician and deputy coroner in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was listed at 703 E. 3rd Street. He was evidently an early collector of fine arms given this rifle and the very rare factory engraved Colt Lightning Express Rifle inscribed "DR. E.X. AMOSS" that is shown on page 273 of "The Book of Colt Engraving" by R.L. Wilson. That rifle was shipped in November of 1887. These two rifles would definitely make quite the pair! It makes you wonder what other incredible rifles and revolvers were in his gun room. He married in 1890 and had two sons. He was very popular in the community and was judged the most popular doctor at the St. John's church fair in 1889, and was a Democratic candidate for the legislature in 1890 and noted as "broad-mined and kindly to a fault" and "the best known man in the Second Ward," but, by 1892, he had severe drug and alcohol addiction problems. That August he reportedly fired a revolver to get a servant's attention when he wanted a glass of water leading to a false story of him attempting to shoot his wife and the servant and then turning the gun on himself. By 1895, he was committed to the Rochester Asylum for liquor and drug addiction and was committed again and adjudged insane in 1899. After being placed in home confinement under police watch in January 1900, he died in August 1900 at age 39. Provenance: The Dr. Edwin X. Amoss Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Very good. The rifle retains traces of the original blue, casehardened and nickel-plated finish. The barrel and magazine have a dark patina with blue finish in protected areas. There are traces of pitting on the bottom of the magazine and sides of the barrel. The forearm cap, side plates, hammer and trigger retain 75% of the original nickel-plated finish. The tip of the forearm and the contact points on the lever and hammer show scattered finish wear. The buttplate has a silver-gray patina with traces of plating in protected areas. The case colors on the dust cover and receiver have faded to a silver gray. The delicate engraved scrollwork and highly detailed game scene are sharp. The inscription on the left side plate has been expertly freshened. The lever latch is a correct replacement. The highly figured stock and forearm show handling wear with worn checkering and a number of shallow dents and scratches; however, most of the high polish piano finish remains. Although this fine rifle shows period use, it remains an exceptional example of 19th century craftsmanship and is a rare example of deluxe, special order, factory engraved and inscribed Winchester Model 1873 rifle signed by Master Engraver John Ulrich.