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LOT 3093
Fine Documented Winchester Model
1876 Lever Action Rifle with Factory
Research - Serial no. 35465, 45-60 WCF
cal., 28 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1883 as a Third Model with integral dust cover guide and dust cover with grip
serrations at the rear. These Model 1876 rifles were valued by those on the frontier who believed that .44-40 did not provide enough stopping power for whatever
they may encounter in the American West. The top barrel flat has the two-line address and King’s patent marking in front of the rear sight and the caliber marking at
the breech. The caliber marking is repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator. The model designation is marked on the upper tang, and the serial number is on the lower
tang. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and a folding ladder rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate
(cleaning rod not included). The included Cody Firearms Museum Records Office report appears to confirm the current configuration as well as shipment on 25 August 1884.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 40% of the original blue finish, faint traces of the original case colors, and 25% of the original nitre blue on the loading gate with the balance having thinned to a grey- brown patina and a few scattered patches of light pitting, all commonly seen on well-cared for western working guns. The wood is also fine with some minor handling marks scattered throughout. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3094
“Frontier Used” Sharps
“Meacham Conversion” Style Sporting Rifle - Serial no. C,47688, 45-70 Government cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. This Sharps sporting rifle appears to have been period assembled using a Civil War era New Model 1863 action with its pellet
primer system on the lock filled in and deactivated, and rebarreled for the .45-70 Government cartridge. These conversions are often associated with E.C. Meacham
of St. Louis who built rifles like this in the 1880s. This rifle also could have possibly been converted by Sharps specifically for the western market in the late 1870s
to 1881. Sharps sporting rifles are considered to be one of the classic western firearms and were particularly popular with buffalo hunters. This rifle offered is full of
unmistakable frontier character, and would display well in any antique American arms collection. The barrel has a Rocky Mountain blade front sight in a dovetailed base, “Old Reliable” in a boxed
border and “SHARPS RIFLE CO. BRIDGEPORT, CONN.” marked on top ahead of the notch and folding ladder rear sight, “CAL 45 2 1/10” on top of the breech, serial number “C,47688” marked on top of the
receiver tang with matching number “47688” on the bottom of the barrel and inside of the forearm channel which also has initials “EC” carved inside, two open drilled and tapped holes for use with a peep sight on top of the receiver tang, double set triggers, period modified enlarged lever, smooth walnut forearm and straight grip stock with smooth iron
carbine buttplate.
CONDITION: Good as period modified with a mix of brown and gray patina, scattered patches of mild oxidation, and numerous nicks, scuffs,
scratches and minor cracks in the wood typical of a rugged working gun. The set trigger is nonfunctional, otherwise mechanically fine. This
“frontier used” Sharps sporting rifle has the desirable “been there done that” look of a true working gun that saw some interesting things.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3096
LOT 3095
Bullard Repeating Arms Co. Large Frame Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 858, 45 cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. An estimated 10,000-12,000 Bullard repeating rifles and carbines were manufactured between 1886 and 1890 in numerous variations. They used a rack and pinion design that is smoother than the toggle link used on most lever actions and were very well made firearms. Theodore Roosevelt is even known to have used one. Unfortunately, Bullard simply jumped into the lever action market too late to successfully compete with Winchester and Marlin. This example is a large frame sporting rifle. The receiver has “Cal./45” on top and the two-line address/patent date marking on the left side. The caliber marking indicates the rifle is chambered in either .45-70 or .45-85 Bullard. Fitted with dovetail blade front sight and folding ladder rear sight graduated from 2-12. The serial number is stamped behind the hammer. Mounted on smooth walnut forearm and straight grip stock. The stock is fitted with a hard rubber buttplate. Included is a copy of Jamieson’s “Bullard Arms.” CONDITION: Very good, retaining 30% plus original blue finish with a smooth dark brown patina on the balance, typical of a rifle that saw honest frontier use. The wood is also very good with a repaired stock, a few stress lines, and minor handling marks. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
Fine Civil War Era Corsan, Denton, Burdekin & Co. Marked “The Hunters
Companion” Bowie Knife with Stag Grips Inscribed to L.W. Umstad - NSN.
Manufactured c. 1852-1863 by Corsan, Denton, Burdekin & Co. of Sheffield, England.
The Sheffield firm found vast markets for their cutlery in both the northern and southern
United States prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. With the secession of southern states and war breaking out, much of the firm’s
southern business was lost, and contacts with former merchants in the south were broken. Due to this, William Corsan took it upon
himself to visit the southern U.S. in October of 1862 to, in his own words, “...ascertain whether our old friends were living or dead, and
solvent or ruined.” Upon his return to England in 1863, he penned “Two Months in the Confederate States, including a Visit to New Orleans
under the Domination of General Butler”, which is still widely acclaimed as an important account of wartime conditions in the South. The
knife itself is 12 1/4 inches long with a 7 3/4 inch drop point blade. The left ricasso has the maker’s mark in two lines, and “THE HUNTERS
COMPANION” is stamped on the left near the spine. There is a “112” collection marking in red paint on the right ricasso. The elliptical guard
is of German silver, and the hilt has a floral German silver bolster and pommel, and is fitted with stag grip scales. The escutcheon on the left grip is inscribed “L.W.Umstad”, who could not be identified at this time. Includes a brown sheath with German silver mountings.
CONDITION: Fine, the blade mostly bright with a few scattered patches of light pitting and most of the markings clear. The German silver is mostly bright. The grips are very fine with a few scattered light handling marks. The sheath is fine with some small repairs and mild wear. Knives such as this were highly valued as both a tool and a last resort in the case of firearm failure during the Civil War and during America’s push westward.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
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