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LOT 1116
Massive James Rodgers Sheffield Bowie Knife with Attractive Silver Horsehead and Stag Grip
- This impressive mid to late 19th century Bowie knife features a 12 1/4 long by 1 1/2 inch wide blade
with false edge and “JAMES RODGERS/SHEFFIELD” marked on the left ricasso. The scroll pattern cross
guard and horse head pommel are silver, and the grip is stag. The horse head pommel was also used on
some of Rodgers’s highly sought after “DEATH to ABOLITION” knives from the Civil War.
Scabbard absent.
CONDITION: Very fine with mostly bright blade with minor patination and light scratches, attractively
aged patina on the silver, faint cracks in the grip, and minor wear from age.
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
LOT 1115
Colt Large Frame
“Express Model”
Lightning Slide Action Rifle in .45-85-285 Caliber - Serial no. 4450, 45-85-285 cal., 28 inch octagon
bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Large Frame Lightnings are the scarcest group of Colt’s slide action rifles; only 6,496 of these were manufactured
between 1887-1894. This desirable example was manufactured in 1890. The barrel is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and an elevation adjustable
buckhorn rear sight. The top barrel flat has the two-line Colt legend ahead of the rear sight. The left side of the barrel has the caliber marking, “45-85-285”
(essentially an “improved” loading of the .45-70). The purpose of the Express Lightnings was Colt’s way to compete with Winchester’s Models
1876 and 1886 rifles as well as the various single shot big bore rifles of the day. The left side of the receiver is marked with a Rampant Colt. The
slide handle features multi-point checkering. The plain straight grip stock is fitted with a crescent rifle buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine. The receiver retains 70% original blue finish with smooth brown-gray patina on the balance. The barrel and magazine tube
retain 85% of the original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance and some scattered light spotting. The buttplate has a gray patina.
The buttstock is very good with a hairline crack on the wrist (left side), minor dings and scratches. The forearm has a chip of wood absent on
the rear and some softened checkering otherwise. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 1114
Factory Game Scene Engraved Colt Model 1883 Grade 2 Double
Barrel Shotgun with Factory Letter - Serial no. 7369, 12 gauge,
32 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The gun was built with
blued Damascus steel barrels featuring a single bead sight on the matted concave solid rib
which is marked with the Colt address, single bands of engraving at the breech, and 2 5/8 inch
chambers with automatic ejectors. The barrels are fitted to a casehardened boxlock action which displays
attractive scroll engraving at the edges around a setter flushing a quail on the left, a pointer poised to flush
a quail on the right, and a solitary goose on the triggerguard. The action is
marked with the “PATENTED AUG 22, SEP 19 1882” marking on the underside and features double
triggers and a tang mounted automatic safety. The gun is fitted with a beautifully figured and multi-point checkered splinter forend with
engraved fittings and an ebony tip inlay, as well as a pistol grip stock with checkered flats, a blank silver inscription oval, and hard rubber grip
cap and factory buttplate. The included factory letter confirms the above gauge, barrel length, Grade 2 configuration, blue finish, pistol grip
stock, and weight when the gun was shipped to H&D Fulsom Arms Co., New York, NY, on May 11th, 1894. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L):
bore diameter nine inches from the breech both .730 inches; choke constriction .015/.018 inches; minimum wall thickness .031/.032 inches; 1 5/8 inch drop at comb; 3
7/16 inch drop at heel; 14 inch length of pull; weight 7 lbs. 13 oz.
CONDITION: Very good, retaining most of the refurbished brown Damascus twist pattern finish on the barrels turned a handsome brown, some thinning, attractive
silver patina on the action, and a few patches of cleaned oxidation. The wood is refinished with a crack at the wrist from the upper tang, a few marks, and sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1113
Fine Colt Burgess Lever Action
Rifle - Serial no. 2319, 44-40 WCF
cal., 25 1/2 inch octagon 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 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, as the Burgess is arguably more advanced and
refined than the Winchester Model 1873. This example has standard markings and is fitted with a German silver blade front sight and elevation adjustable notch rear sight. It
is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor crescent buttplate, containing an included four-piece cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Fine, with 40% plus of the original blue finish, the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth brown-grey patina
and some scattered small patches of light pitting on the magazine tube and buttplate. Patterns of case colors visible on the
hammer and lever. Traces of nitre blue visible on the loading gate and trigger. The wood is also fine with a small hairline grain
split in the left of the forearm and otherwise some scattered minor dings. Mechanically excellent. Fine original examples of Colt
Burgess rifles like this are seldom found!
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
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