Catalog Auction info Auction #137 - Two-Day Sale, March 25th & 26th (#137) 03/25/2023 9:00 AM EDT Closed Starts Ending 03/25/2023 9:00 AM EDT Auction Info Lot #159 Winchester Model 1873 Rifle Buffalo Bill Presented to Performer Dudley Smith Click image to enlarge PreviousNextSimilar Items Lot closed - Sold Price (Including Buyer`s Premium):$21,600 Estimate: $25,000 - $40,000 Description Description: Description Update 03/23/2023: In addition to the extensive original photographs and documents, the consignor located the W.A.C.A. 2010 “Outstanding Display” award from the Cody show that year. Also, an original 1888 First Edition of “Stories of the Wild West” by Buffalo Bill is included. serial #306623, 44 WCF, 24” round barrel with an about very good smooth bore (measures .4365” by slugging), showing scattered light oxidation or light pitting. A very storied and clearly daily-used but cared-for rifle. The arm was given to one, Dudley Smith, performer, translator, business affairs manager, and gunsmith-armorer in Cody’s Wild West Show, in 1913, upon the dissolution of the show and its troupe, by Cody himself. The barrel and magazine tube retain perhaps 50% fading, what appears to be original nickel, the balance is a soft brown patina, the barrel address lost to the years with only portions legible. The receiver is similar with crisp, unrounded edges, showing perhaps a bit more nickel, with a bit of pitting on the flats, with hammer showing strong nickel, the lever primarily a soft patina. The buttplate would appear as though it were standard case-hardened, the action cover is no longer present and there is no caliber marking remaining on the lifter. The smooth walnut buttstock and forend rate perhaps very good, showing the expected dings, scuffs and handling marks that come from a daily-used arm. The original Rocky Mountain sights are intact, the elevator a later replacement, and a very interesting modification has been done in the area of the trigger and lever. The notarized documents included with the arm, mention that Smith, in addition to other duties, would help to take care of the firearms used in the show. It was related by Smith, that he himself made the modification on this rifle, to aid Cody in hitting aerial targets from the hip, by merely closing the lever on the gun. There is a clever stop screw and trigger extension fitted in the tang area. The stop screw allows the rifle to be fired normally when in place. With it removed, the lever contacts a trip bar at the trigger’s rear, immediately dropping the hammer when the lever is brought closed, allowing a user to effectively empty the guns magazine, simply by rapid manipulation of the lever. Consigned by Dudley Smiths grandnephew, the chain of custody goes from Cody, to Dudley Smith, to Dudley’s nephew Carl H. Buchenroth, then to his son, Carl W. Buchenroth. Perhaps the most interesting part of the story is a piece of provenance found within the butt trap of the gun, years after its gifting by Dudley Smith to Buchenroth. Family legend had always told of the story, and the fact that Dudley worked for Bill was known by them and is indeed documented, but years after his passing, in 1990, opening of the butt trap revealed three 44-40 WCF shot cartridges, two live, one empty, wrapped together in a piece of pillow-ticking, so as not to rattle about. Upon inspection, a tiny note was found rolled up within the empty shot cartridge which read simply “Received from / W F Cody 1913 / D Smith”, scrawled in pencil. The included copy of a page from the August 8, 1913 “Report of Appraisers” examining the assets of the Wild West Show for its bankruptcy proceedings, indeed lists: “9 Long-barreled Winchesters – Col Cody claims these”, while not by serial number, the time frame fits perfectly. Included with the arm are numerous copies of pictures of Dudley Smith throughout his career, some in the Wild West Show, some in his later ventures with Tom Mix, in-which he co-starred in some of Mix’s movies, most notably “The Circus Ace” which he received billing in. Smith was a long-time performer, and did stints in Europe as well, he can be found in trade directories in the nineteen-teens, “Billboard” of April 1914 shows him still finding work as a showman after the close of the Wild West Show: “Dudley Smith, broncho buster and roper, is on his way to Berlin, Germany, to join the Bush Circus….” . The family holds that the rifle was gifted some time around 1918, when Smith was involved with the Mix Circus and productions. Nephew Carl H. Buchneroth, also a western performer billing himself as “Handsome Buck Herolds of Hollywood”. He engaged in trick shooting, both with long gun and handgun, primarily at aerial targets, and as a boy actually accompanied his uncle on some of Mix’s sets. He was taught trick shooting by Dudley himself, and taught trick roping by Dudley’s brother “Colorado Cotton” Smith. He would later gift the rifle to his son, Carl W. Buchenroth, who followed in his father’s and uncle’s footsteps, billing himself as “Beau Hickory”, who along with his wife Tinnell, operated their own wild west show complete with trick riding, roping, knife throwing and shooting; the rifle spending its entire life in the hands of trick-shooter western showmen. Included are two aerial target moulds, purportedly given to Smith by Cody at the same time as the rifle, one brass, one aluminum-like metal (nearly identical to the Ed McGivern mould sold by this house some years ago). Included are two signed, notarized statements, one dated 2015 from Beau and Tinnell Hickory, and another from just Tinnell Hickory, dated 2023, signed and notarized, after beau’s passing in 2022, all detailing the above. Smith’s original performers contract is included, the name at the top has faded but a professional forensic document analyzer confirmed the signature as Dudley Smith’s (a complete report of the examination and findings is included, but in truth, the name is faint but can be read). The included factory letter shows shipment in August of 1889, but with no mention of nickel or smoothbore. The rifle was exhibited for many years at the Cody Wyoming show, one year winning “Best of Show Award” and a 1990 Gun World magazine article entitled “The Fine Art of Trick Shooting” details the feats of Beau and Tinnell Hickory in their performances. Mechanically the rifle works as-designed and Smith’s rapid fire modification still functions as well; the rotary dovetail which supports the magazine tube hanger is a bit loose, but could no doubt be tightened by a good Winchester man. A large dossier of photos and images will be included with the rifle, with many images of Dudley Smith throughout his life and career. A very storied and long serving rifle, with a solid connection to that “Showman of Showmen”, the venerated “Buffalo Bill Cody”, owned by a dedicated and talented western showman in his own right. Cody arms do not come to market often, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own one, field- modified for performance in that celebrated Wild West Show. (3H10526-7) {ANTIQUE} (25,000/40,000) Categories: firearm Terms and conditions TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE The following paragraphs represent the terms under which all sales by Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. are conducted. Bidding on any item in the sale indicates the bidder’s full acceptance and understanding of all terms and conditions of sale. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. has taken great care in the preparation of the descriptions in this catalog. Although we believe everything in the descriptions to be true, we do not guarantee any part of any description. We recommend that the bidders view the items in person and form their own opinions as to condition, originality, origin, etc. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will consider all requests for refunds. If a customer is unhappy with a purchase, we will be happy to discuss a remedy with them. All requests for refunds must be made within 30 days of the sale date. Therefore, it is important that absentee bidders pay for their items in a timely fashion. All requests for refunds received after 30 days of the sale date will not be considered. Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. reserves the right to reject any bid in order to protect our consignor’s interests. 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New Hampshire residents over the age of 21 may take possession of any firearm, on day of sale, provided the proper paperwork is completed and the transfer has been approved either through the N.H. State Police or the FBI NICS System, whichever is appropriate based upon the type of firearm(s) purchased. Non-resident individuals from states without waiting periods may take possession of long guns on day of sale after completing the proper forms and successfully completing a NICS check. If you reside in a state with a waiting period, your items will need to be shipped to a dealer in your state. No modern handguns will be delivered to non-resident individuals. All modern handguns purchased by non-resident individuals will need to be delivered to or shipped to an FFL holder in the buyer’s home state. Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and all items must be paid for on day of sale. Bidders should be familiar with their local and state laws as Amoskeag Auction Co., Inc. will not be responsible for any parties purchasing items which may not be possessed in, or shipped to their state of residence. Some states have restrictions on transfers to C&R License holders, study your state and local laws before bidding. If you are the winning bidder of an item that you find does not comply with your state’s laws, you will still be required to pay your invoice, Amoskeag Auction Co. will then re-offer the arm on your behalf. FIREARM CLASSIFICATION: ANTIQUE - no paperwork required MODERN - Post-1898 firearm which requires an FFL or 4473 with corresponding successful background check in order to be delivered. C&R - for firearms that fall under the ATF Curio & Relics licensing and if purchased by a person with a “C&R License” no paperwork is required. NOTE: Items that meet the age requirements but have been altered from their original configuration may NOT be delivered on a C&R License. ABSENTEE/TELEPHONE/ON-LINE BIDDING • As a service to our buyers, Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will accept absentee bids from bidders who cannot attend the sale. Bidders without prior credit approval are required to submit a 20% deposit prior to bids being accepted (credit cards may be used for absentee deposits). Absentee bids will be bid in a competitive manner and an absentee bidder needs only to outbid another buyer i.e. bidding will not be opened at the maximum bid unless that is the next competitive bid. Because we do not open at the absentee bidder's top bid (unless that is the next competitive bid) there is a chance that the absentee bidder's bid may tie with a bidder using a different bidding method (live, Proxibid or telephone bidder). 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All items not paid for within 20 business days from sale date shall be considered abandoned as well as any deposit that was made on those items and Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. shall have sole discretion as to their disposal. SAFETY WARNING Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. does not warranty the safety of any article it sells. Therefore, it is imperative that, before you use any firearm, purchased here or anywhere else, you have it examined by a qualified gunsmith to determine whether or not it is safe to use. SHIPPING • Amoskeag Auction Company, Inc. will make every effort to ship items in a timely fashion. All items, with the exception of modern handguns, are shipped via UPS Ground unless other arrangements have been made. All merchandise is shipped Signature Required. • All modern handguns are shipped via UPS Next Day Air service. • Buyer is responsible for any and all shipping charges and for insurance on the items being shipped. Purchasers who self-insure can forego insurance charges if Amoskeag Auction is notified of your intent to self-insure. PICKING UP MERCHANDISE • Pickup will be by appointment only. • No merchandise will be delivered Monday through Wednesday after the sale. We will start pickups on Thursday, March 30th. • Our office hours are Monday through Friday - 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
