Page 452 - 4091-BOOK1

LOT 536
Historic Factory Master Game
Scene Engraved and Signed Pair of
Browning Model 1885 Bicentennial
Single Shot Rifles Presented to
President Gerald R. Ford Jr. with Case
-A) Gold Inlaid Browning 1885 Rifle -
Serial no. 1776#0001, 45-70 Government
cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue/coin/gold finish, walnut stock. Originally designed by John Moses Browning, the Model 1885 is among the most quintessential American firearms, playing a role in the taming of the American West in the late 1800s. This pair of rifles shows gorgeous America themed engraving and beautiful craftsmanship putting them on a different level than most. The pair is made even more extraordinary by its lineage, as it was presented to the 38th President of the United States Gerald R. Ford Jr. for the U.S. bicentennial in 1976. Ford served as president from August 1974
to January 1977, quite a tumultuous time for the country in the wake of Vice President Spiro Agnew’s resignation due to conviction for tax evasion and President Richard Nixon’s resignation following
the Watergate scandal. Ford was quickly propelled from House Minority Leader to Vice President and after only eight months, to President of the United States, having never even had the chance to more into the Vice President’s residence. Ford is the only
President to have never been elected to the office or the office of Vice President and also remains the only President from the great state of Michigan.
Both rifles were built with blued steel octagonal barrels featuring a blade front sight and an elevation adjustable rear sight. The barrel of gun “A” bares standard factory markings along with a gold inlaid scroll flourish at the base and gold inlaid “PROPERTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” while the “B” gun has standard markings along
with wedges of scroll engraving at the breech and muzzle. The barrels of both rifles are fitted to highly attractive coin finished actions, both of which show highly attractive floral scroll engraving surrounding circular game scenes on either side. Rifle “A” depicts a magnificent bald eagle on the left side and a proud American Bison on the right both inlaid in highly detailed semi-relief gold with gold inlaid line borders, while rifle “B” shows the same engraving to match cut directly into the action with no gold inlay work.
450