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LOT 3077
Desirable Colt Burgess Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 1342, 44-40 WCF cal., 25 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This model is one of approximately 3,810 made between 1883-1885 and represents Colt’s only attempt to compete with Winchester for the lever action rifle market, which was booming due to westward expansion in North America. It features a Beach folding combination front sight and an adjustable semi-buckhorn sporting rear sight. The top barrel flat is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A./+PAT. JAN. 7. 73. OCT. 19. 75.APR. 1. 79. DEC.7.80. DEC. 13. 81. JAN. 3. 82.+” with the serial number on the lower tang just behind the trigger. The Rampant Colt is marked on the left side of the receiver. The rifle was finished blue with a casehardened hammer and lever. It has a full length 15-round tubular magazine and is mounted with a smooth walnut forearm and straight grip stock with a steel end cap and crescent buttplate with buttstock compartment (empty). CONDITION: Good, showing the look of a well-used frontier working gun. The rifle has a smooth even brown patina overall with a few traces of the original finish. The revarnished wood is also good with very flaked patches of varnish, some minor scratches, and a few small pressure marks. Mechanically excellent with clear markings. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,000
LOT 3078
Antique Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 365791B, 44 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, highly figured walnut stock. The Model 1873 is one of the most famous of all American firearms and has been popularly known as “the Gun that Won the West” due to its popularity with pioneers. It was often paired with a Colt Single Action Army or other revolver chambered for the popular .44-40 W.C.F. cartridges. This made carrying ammunition for both your rifle and your revolver simple and allowed an individual to be ready to defend themselves against man or beast in a variety of tough situations. Manufactured in 1890, this Model 1873 has that classic frontier look of a true survivor of the American West. The rifle has a third model receiver with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with grip serrations at the rear and standard markings including the caliber designation on the barrel and cartridge elevator. It is fitted with a combination Beach front sight and an elevation adjustable rear sight. The walnut forearm and straight grip stock feature select grade type figure. The sides of the tangs are unmarked. Mounted on the underside of the buttstock and forend cap are factory pattern sling swivels. The buttstock is fitted with a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included). CONDITION: Good with a mixed overall mottled patina consistent with age and use, some applied blue on the barrel and magazine, and traces of silvered out original case colors in and around the protected areas of the receiver. The re-oiled wood is fine with scattered handling marks. Mechanically excellent. A well-traveled frontier issued Winchester Model 1873 that certainly saw period use. Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 3079
Scarce Burgess Gun Co. Damascus Slide Action Shotgun -
Serial no. 1752, 12 gauge, 30 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Burgess Gun Company was established in 1892 by Andrew Burgess, a very prolific gun designer in the late 1890s. Burgess was credited as having numerous mechanical patents for various firearms used by several of the well-known arms producers. These shotguns were manufactured only from 1892-1899 before the company and all the patents were purchased by
the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Total quantity is estimated at only a few thousand. Single bead sight on a matted solid rib, Damascus barrel, bolt hand engraved “BURGESS GUN CO./BUFFALO N.Y., U.S.A.”, hand engraved serial number and stamped two-line patent dates marking ahead of the trigger guard, checkered forearm and pistol grip, and factory serrated buttplate. CONDITION: Very good. The barrel has a smooth brown patina over the faded Damascus pattern, otherwise traces of original blue finish remain in the protected areas with a smooth brown patina on the balance. The refinished wood is good with worn checkering, a few filled repairs near the buttplate, and some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
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LOT 3080
Fine Antique Black Powder Colt Single Action Army Revolver in .41 Long Colt with Factory Letter and Holster -
Serial no. 134927, 41 Long Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Colt introduced the .41 Colt caliber to its famed Single Action Army revolver line in 1885. Colt author David Brown passionately summarized the .41 Colt caliber’s alluring image as: “The .41s were favorites in the West among men who wanted something a bit less husky than the .45 or the .44-40, yet something still dependable for man-stopping power at short ranges. The lawmen for the most part, clung to the bigger bores; but several famous outlaws are known to have liked the .41 Colts” (see “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” p. 146). Among First Generation Single Action Army revolvers, only 16,402 left the factory chambered for .41 Long Colt compared to 150,683 in .45 Colt, making it comparably scarce. This example was manufactured in 1890 and has a classic look of a well seasoned sidearm that spent a lifetime carried at the hip of its previous owner. The barrel has the two-line Hartford address on top and “41 COLT” on left side. The frame has the three-line patent date marking. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration (grips not listed) as well as shipment to Simmons Hardware Co. in St. Louis on 23 August 1890. Simmons Hardware, like many St. Louis arms distributors, was the final stop for many Single Action Army revolvers before heading farther west to the frontier. Includes a lightly tooled leather holster. CONDITION: Fine, retains 40% plus of the original blue finish and 25% of the original case colors in sheltered areas with the balance mostly the smooth grey patina of a holstered, trusted sidearm. There are light vise marks on the sides of the barrel, likely from period frontier maintenance. The grips are also fine with some scattered light handling marks and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster is fine with some mild wear. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500