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LOT 1066
Very Rare and Highly Attractive Factory Game Panel Scene Exhibition Engraved and Gold Inlaid Remington Rolling Block Shotgun with Elaborately Relief Carved Stock - Serial no. 15, 16 gauge, 32 1/4 inch solid rib bbl., brown/ gold/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This early production Remington No. 1 Rolling Block sporting shotgun, bearing serial number 15, was factory made and embellished around 1875-1880. We have previously cataloged number 11 which featured very similar engraving but had a much plainer stock. During the post-Civil War era, E. Remington & Sons had outside salesmen in Europe, including in person appearances by Samuel
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
Remington himself, to perform demonstrations to officials of all different countries, pushing for sales of Remington Rolling Block Rifles during a time of
unrest between the European powers and a period of innovation in firearms designs as countries increasingly shifted towards breech loading rifles. Very few of these high end Remington Rolling Block Shotguns are known today. R.L. Wilson described one of them as manufactured in Liege for Samuel Remington (1819- 1882) as a showpiece and for his personal use while in Europe. He became president of E. Remington & Sons in 1866 and was in Paris for the World’s Fair in 1867 (Exposition Universelle d’Art et d’Industrie de 1867) where the company received a silver medal for firearms and lived mainly in Paris in 1866-1877 while successfully promoting the sales of Remington products abroad. Remington’s promotional efforts paid off, and Remington Rolling Block Rifles in various configurations were used in large quantities across the globe. This attractive embellished Rolling Block shotgun features a bead front sight and “E. REMINGTON & SONS ILION NEW-YORK. U.S.A.” gold-inlaid on top of the raised rib of the Damascus barrel. A “C” in a circle is marked on top at the junction of the barrel rib and frame (also noted on number 11). The barrel also has a variety of Liege proofs including a “17.0” marking (17 mm = 16 gauge) and “15” on the underside, and “15” is also marked on the left side of the lower tang. The action is casehardened and is engraved with scrollwork along with scenes with a pair of dogs on each side with the right depicting them pursuing a rabbit and the left pursuing a pheasant, a motif based on the Great Seal of the U.S. is featured on top of the frame, and a scene with a buck is featured on the trigger guard. “REMINGTON’S ILION. N.Y. U.S.A./PAT. MAY 3D. NOV. 15TH 1864 APRIL 17TH 1866” is marked on the upper tang. The buttplate tang, forend cap, and the screw heads are also engraved. The buttplate includes a door for the double compartment in the buttstock which holds the included bore brush and slotted jag. The forearm and buttstock feature extensive relief carving. The forend has scroll and floral designs and a textured background. The buttstock has the same texturing on the wrist which has “Mohawk” in script on the right and floral patterns on the left. The right side of the butt has “SR” in script, and the left side has a cheekpiece, scroll engraving, and a Mohawk hunter kneeling taking a shot at a running buck. Two mother of pearl inlays are at the heel. There is a sling swivel on the underside of the buttstock, and there is a tap for another swivel on the middle ramrod ferrule. The length of pull is 15 inches. CONDITION: Excellent with crisp engraving, 90% plus brown finish remaining on the barrel along with bright gold inlaid markings on the rib, 90% plus case colors on the frame and furniture, bright heat blue colors on the breechblock and hammer, and minor overall wear. The wood is exceptionally fine with distinct carving, minor flakes and repairs at the edges of the wrist, minor scratches and dings, a couple of deeper scrapes on the cheekpiece, and smooth oiled finish. Mechanically excellent. This is a rare and desirable exhibition quality Remington shotgun. Remington Rolling Block Shotguns are already very hard to acquire, and examples of this high quality are rarely even seen!
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