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LOT 3046
Desirable and Historically Significant Browning Bros. 1879 Patent Model 1878 Single
Shot Rifle - Serial no. 536, 40-70 cal., 32 1/4 inch heavy octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut
stock. Manufactured c. 1878 to 1883, this is a solid example of John Moses Browning’s first firearm
design, which launched his legendary career in firearms innovation. Browning was born in Ogden,
Utah, in 1855. By around 1861, he was working his father’s shop repairing firearms. In 1878, Browning had developed his first
firearm design, these single shot rifles, and began producing them in a small shop in Ogden along with his brother Matthew. In 1880,
the area around Ogden, Utah was still very much untamed frontier, with the town itself only having around 6,000 residents. By 1883, the
Brownings had sold their patent to Winchester, having manufactured less than 600 rifles by most estimates. Only around 100 or less of these rifles are
estimated to survive today, having generally been used hard in the wild American West. The refined version of the original Browning design was manufactured
as the famous Winchester Model 1885 and launched Browning’s fruitful partnership with Winchester. Browning would go on to design some of Winchester’s most successful
rifles, including the Model 1886, Model 1892, Model 1894, Model 1895 lever actions. He also went on to design semi-automatic pistols for Colt including the iconic Model 1911,
machine guns, and the first semi-automatic shotgun. Several of his designs resulted in what are considered to be among the most innovative and significant firearms of the late
19th century and early 20th century. The top barrel flat in front of the rear sight is marked “BROWNING BROS.OGDEN, UTAH, U.S.A.” The patent date is marked behind the rear sight
along with “40 70” and the serial number “536”. There are no other visible markings. The underside of the barrel is fitted with two ramrod pipes and a cleaning rod. The top barrel flat
is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and an elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sight. The hammer cocks automatically when the breech is opened and closed. It is mounted
with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate. Includes a metal ammunition/accessories case.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 25% of the thinned original blue finish on the barrel with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, a few scattered patches of light pitting, and some scattered
minor dings. The wood is also very good with a period splice/repair visible near the tip of the forearm and some scattered minor chips and dings. Mechanically excellent. A rare opportunity to own a piece of the
beginning of John Moses Browning’s firearms legacy!
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
LOT 3045
Very Scarce and Historically Significant Browning Bros. 1879 Patent Model 1878
Single Shot Rifle - Serial no. 530, 40-70 cal., 30 1/2 inch heavy octagon bbl., blue finish,
walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1878 to 1883, this is a scarce example of the first firearm design
by the legendary John Moses Browning. Browning was born in Ogden, Utah, in 1855. By the second year of the Civil War,
he was working his father’s shop repairing firearms. By 1878, Browning had developed his first firearm design and began producing
them in a small shop along with his younger brother Matthew. By 1880, only a little over 6,000 residents lived in Ogden, and Utah was
still a relatively lightly settled western territory. By 1883, when the patent was sold to Winchester, the brothers had manufactured less than 600 rifles
by most estimates, with one hundred or less of these frontier built and frontier used rifles believed to still exist. The design was covered by his first of many
firearms patents. The refined version was manufactured as the famous Winchester Model 1885 and launched Browning’s fruitful partnership with Winchester that included
the design of the Model 1886, Model 1892, Model 1894, Model 1895 lever action rifles and carbines. He also went on to design semi-automatic pistols for Colt including the ever
popular Model 1911, machine guns, and the first semi-automatic shotgun. Several of his designs resulted in what are considered to be among the most innovative and significant
firearms of the late 19th century and early 20th century. The top barrel flat in front of the rear sight is marked “BROWNING BROS.OGDEN, UTAH, U.S.A.” The patent date is marked
behind the rear sight along with “40 70” and the serial number “530”. There are no other visible markings. The underside of the barrel is fitted with two ramrod pipes and a cleaning
rod. The top barrel flat is fitted with a German silver blade front sight, an elevation adjustable notch rear sight, and double set triggers. The hammer cocks automatically when the
breech is opened and closed. It is mounted with a smooth forearm with a very slight Schnabel tip and a straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Very good, the barrel retaining 30% of the original blue finish with the balance of the metal showing mostly a grey patina with some scattered light spotting/freckling and a few
scattered patches of light pitting. The re-varnished wood is also very good with a few hairline cracks, a few light edge chips, and some scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
A rare opportunity to add an example of the start of John Moses Browning’s long and legendary career in firearms design to your collection!
Estimate: 8,000 - 13,000