This rare and historically significant Winchester Model 1887 Lever Action Saddle Ring Shotgun is a documented American Express Company example chambered in 12 gauge. The accompanying factory letter records the shotgun with a 20-inch barrel, carbine sling rings, and a factory inscription for American Express Co. when it was received in the Winchester warehouse and shipped on May 25, 1892, along with two other American Express-marked Model 1887s. The receiver retains the standard “WRACO” monogram, factory saddle ring and bar on the left side, and the original factory inscription “Am. Ex. Co. 2” on the right side. The pistol-grip walnut stock is fitted with a checkered steel buttplate.
The barrel has been shortened slightly from its documented 20-inch length to approximately 19 1/4 inches, and the shotgun displays the honest character of a working American Express arm, with a dark mottled patina and age-related wear throughout. The wood likewise exhibits considerable period character consistent with long service. American Express was a major 19th-century freight company, and arms such as this were associated with the protection of valuable shipments during an era when train and stagecoach robberies remained a concern. With its factory-documented American Express inscription, saddle-ring configuration, period appearance, and accompanying factory letter, this Model 1887 is a particularly interesting surviving piece of Winchester and American transportation history.
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This rare and historically significant Winchester Model 1887 Lever Action Saddle Ring Shotgun is a documented American Express Company example chambered in 12 gauge. The accompanying factory letter records the shotgun with a 20-inch barrel, carbine sling rings, and a factory inscription for American Express Co. when it was received in the Winchester warehouse and shipped on May 25, 1892, along with two other American Express-marked Model 1887s. The receiver retains the standard “WRACO” monogram, factory saddle ring and bar on the left side, and the original factory inscription “Am. Ex. Co. 2” on the right side. The pistol-grip walnut stock is fitted with a checkered steel buttplate.
The barrel has been shortened slightly from its documented 20-inch length to approximately 19 1/4 inches, and the shotgun displays the honest character of a working American Express arm, with a dark mottled patina and age-related wear throughout. The wood likewise exhibits considerable period character consistent with long service. American Express was a major 19th-century freight company, and arms such as this were associated with the protection of valuable shipments during an era when train and stagecoach robberies remained a concern. With its factory-documented American Express inscription, saddle-ring configuration, period appearance, and accompanying factory letter, this Model 1887 is a particularly interesting surviving piece of Winchester and American transportation history.
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