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LOT 3043
Factory Acid Etched
Stevens Ideal No. 49 “Walnut Hill” Falling Block Single Shot Rifle -
Serial no. 4804, 32-40 WCF cal., 30 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1896 into
the 1930s, Stevens’ No. 49 “Walnut Hill” rifles were one of the more premium target rifles in their extensive lineup. Competitive shooting was an extremely
popular pastime around the turn of the century, particularly in American, and these “Walnut Hill” rifles would have been highly prised by competitive shooters.
The top barrel flat has the two-line address and patent date, and the caliber marking is on the upper left. The barrel is marked “1” on the bottom under the
forearm and “49” is marked on the front face of the frame. The serial number is on the lower tang and partial matching serial number, “804”, is inside the buttplate. The
frame has extensive factory acid etching covering most of the surface which features a shooter scene on the left and a stag on the right, both surrounded by floral scroll. It
is fitted with a windgauge front sight, no provision for a rear sight on the barrel, and a Vernier peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a checkered, Schnabel tip forearm with
two additional holes drilled in the bottom (likely for a palm rest which is now absent) and a pistol grip stock with prominent cheekpiece and a nickeled Swiss buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 85% plus of the original blue finish and 70% of the vibrant original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a grey patina and the acid etching remaining crisp. The
bottom of the barrel has had a marking removed forward of the forend and is cold blued in that area. The wood is very good with some scattered light handling marks, two additional holes in the forearm (see above),
and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 3042
Scarce Documented Sharps Model 1878
Borchardt Short Range Single Shot Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no.
17536, 40 1 7/8” cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock.
Manufactured in 1879, only 153 are estimated to have been manufactured per Frank
Sellers in “Sharps Firearms” on page 275. The included factory letter confirms this “short range” rifle
was invoiced at the Bridgeport factory on 8 December 1879 to John P. Moore’s Sons, a large gun dealer/distributor in
New York. The letter indicates that the rifle was shipped with five other short range models, as well as three mid-range
models. The left side of the frame is marked with the standard three-line Sharps address and Borchardt patent. The top of the barrel is marked “Old Reliable” without a boxed border and with the Sharps
address, while the caliber marking “CAL 40 1 /78” (.40-45 Rem. or .40-50 Sharps) is on the left. The serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame in front of the trigger, on the bottom of the barrel
along with “L/L/L” in script, and on the rear face of the forearm. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight, folding ladder rear sight, and a Vernier peep sight mounted on the upper tang in an integral base. It is mounted with a
checkered, Schnabel tip forearm and a checkered pistol grip stock with a checkered, hard rubber shotgun buttplate. “JAB” (“B” is backwards) is faintly stamped on the bottom of the grip.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 40% of the thinned original blue finish and faint patterns of the original case colors with small patches of light pitting scattered throughout. The refinished wood is also very good with a few small
patches of filler in the wrist, a few minor chips, some scattered minor handling marks, and crisp recut checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 3041
Desirable Marlin Firearms Co. Ballard No. 5 Pacific Single Shot Rifle in Desirable .45-
70 Gov. - Serial no. 25105, 45-70 Government cal., 32 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut stock. This model was manufactured around 1876 to 1891, with this example
being made after 1881 with the two-line Marlin Fire Arms Co. address and patent marking on the left side of
the frame and the serial number on the bottom (forearm could not be removed to check barrel serial number
due to a marred screw). The top of the barrel is marked “45 Govt” at the breech. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight, elevation adjustable
buckhorn rear sight, a long range Vernier peep sight on the upper tang, and a pair of double set triggers. There is a cleaning rod fitted under the barrel retained by two
dovetailed ramrod pipes. It is mounted with a smooth forearm with a very slight Schnabel tip and a straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 80% of the original blue finish on the barrel and 40% of the original case colors on the frame with the balance having thinned to mostly a grey patina and
some scattered patches of very light spotting. The wood is fine with a couple hairline stress cracks in the wrist, a minor chip at the toe, and some scattered light handling marks.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 3040
Exceptionally Fine Massachusetts Arms Co. Maynard Patent
Percussion Sporting
Rifle with William
Read & Sons Retailer
Case - Serial no.
13609, 35 cal., 26 inch part octagon
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
stock. Manufactured c. 1863-1865, these Maynard patent
sporting rifles and shotguns were produced congruently with
the military carbines which were widely fielded during the American
Civil War. Sometimes referred to as the Model 1865 in period catalogs, many of these rifles and shotguns were assembled using extra wartime production actions, with many of the post-war
examples said to be marked “M. 1865” on the lower tang. This very fine example appears to have been made during the war as it lacks the previously mentioned marking. It has the standard three-line
Massachusetts Arms Co. address on the right of the frame, while the left is marked with the four-line Maynard patent marking. The matching serial number is marked on the lower tang and on the bottom of the barrel. It is
fitted with a blade front sight, now provision for a rear sight on the barrel, and a peep sight mounted on the upper tang. The stock shows some nice “tiger stripe” figure and is fitted with a military pattern buttplate, similar to
those found on the second model military carbines. Includes a hardwood case with William Read & Sons retailer label inside the lid, ball mold, cap tin, cleaning rod, reloading tool, screwdriver, bore brush, and key.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 97% plus of the original blue finish and 70% of the original case colors with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina. The buttplate shows mostly a brown patina with some light oxidation.
The wood is very fine with some scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. The relined/refinished case is very good with some light handling/storage wear.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
According to "Sharps Firearms" by Sellers,
only 153 Sharps Model 1878 Borchardt
Short Range rifles were produced.
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