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LOT 1115 Desirable Colt Burgess Lever Action Rifle - Serial no. 3046, 44-40 WCF cal., 25 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Colt Burgess rifles and carbines were only available from 1883 to around 1885, and only 6,403 were manufactured. They were designed by Andrew Burgess who held 894 patents by the end of his life. It has long been rumored that Colt and Winchester came to an gentleman’s agreement that Colt
would exit the lever action market and Winchester would not release a revolver. There seems to be little other reason for Colt to have discontinued these fine repeating arms so quickly after they introduced them. The Burgess is arguably more advanced and refined than the Winchester Model 1873. This example is marked with the standard
two-line address and patent dates on the top barrel flat and correctly lacks caliber markings as it was only offered in .44-40 W.C.F. The left side of the receiver is marked with the iconic Rampant Colt and the serial number is marked on the lower tang. It is fitted with a blade front sight and elevation adjustable notch rear sight. It’s mounted with a smooth forearm and straight
grip stock with a crescent buttplate. CONDITION: Good, retains traces of the original blue finish with the balance having been cleaned and artificially aged to a smooth brown patina, typical of arms frequently carried on the Western
Frontier. The refinished wood is also good with some scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Southern Clergyman.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1116
Scarce Antique Factory Engraved Winchester Model 1879 Match Gun Double Barrel Hammer Shotgun - Serial no. 1213, 12 gauge, 30 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured from 1879 to 1884 for the Winchester Repeating Arms Co., who believed the U.S. market did not have an ample supply of fine sporting shotguns. To remedy this they bought 10,000 shotguns across five grades (A, B, C, D, and Match) built by a small group of English master gunsmiths and exhibited the highest quality of craftsmanship available. Built
with browned Damascus steel barrels featuring concave solid rib marked “WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS Co (Match Gun) NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A.”, chambers measured 2 5/8 inch with extractor, and period Birmingham proofs. The barrels are fitted to a casehardened hammer action which displays attractive scroll engraving with oval setter scenes at the rear of either lockplate. The gun features rebounding hammers and double triggers. The gun is mounted with a nicely figured and multi-point checkered splinter forend with
engraved fittings and a round knob pistol grip stock with checkered horn buttplate. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .741/.740 inches; choke constriction .029/.029 inches; minimum wall thickness .048/.047 inches; 2 inch drop at comb; 3 1/8 inch drop at heel; 14 7/16 inch length of pull; weight 8 lbs. 2 oz.
LOT 1118
Very Fine Documented Factory Engraved Colt Model 1883 Grade I Double Barrel Shotgun with Factory Letter - Serial no. 7224, 12 gauge, 29 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Built with blued Damascus steel barrels featuring dual white bead sights on the matted concave solid rib which is marked “COLTS PT F A MFG CO HARTFORD CT U S A”, chambers measured 2 5/8 inches with single extractor, and choke constrictions of .003/.007 inches.
The barrels are fitted to a casehardened boxlock action displays some border engraving and the stylized “PATENTED/AUG
22.. SEP. 19. 1882.” marking on the underside and features double triggers and a tang mounted automatic safety. The gun is mounted with a nicely figured and multi-
point checkered forend with ebony tip inlay and pistol grip stock with “T. WILSON” in the inscription oval and a factory hard rubber buttplate. The included factory letter confirms the current gauge, grade, “blue” finish, wood stock, and weight when it was shipped on July 13, 1895, to
J. Weston & Son. The barrel is listed at 30 inches, indicating that the barrels where shortened one inch at some point in the
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CONDITION: Fine, retaining most of the professionally reapplied brown finish, 50% refurbished case colors, silver triggerguard, slightly softened barrel markings, and light handling evidence. The refinished wood is also fine with a few light dings and scratches and crisp recut checkering. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The James Windy Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 1117 Colt Large Frame “Express” Lightning Slide Action Rifle in .40-60-260 Caliber with Factory Letter - Serial no. 4968, 40-60-260 cal., 28 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1890, this is a fine example of Colt’s “express” large frame lightning rifle. These “Express Model” rifles were the rarest of the series, and only 6,496 were manufactured in 1887- 1894 compared to nearly 90,000 each of the Small and Medium frame versions. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration
as well as shipment to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. in Chicago on 27 January 1891. The top barrel flat is marked with the two-line Colt address and patent dates, while the caliber marking is offset on the upper left flat. The left side of the receiver is stamped with the Rampant Colt trademark and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a Lyman beaded blade front sight and an elevation adjustable notch rear sight. It is mounted with a multi-point checkered slide handle and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate. CONDITION: Fine, retains 40% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey-brown patina and a few scattered patches of very light surface pitting. The wood is very good with a couple hairline cracks, a chip on the top right, and scattered minor handling marks throughout. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
guns life. Stock measurements: 1 7/8 inch drop at comb; 3 inch drop at heel; 14 3/8 inch length of pull; weight 7 lbs. 4 oz.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 90% original blue finish, 70% original case colors, strong Damascus patterns, light handling evidence. The wood is very good with scattered dings dents, some areas of absent varnish at the rear of the stock, and overall sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750