Page 152 - 4094-BOOK3

LOT 3234
Incredibly Rare Documented Prototype Roper
Revolving Rifle, Pictured in Roy Marcot’s Book
“Spencer Repeating Firearms” - NSN, 36 cal., 19 1/4 inch round bbl.,
brown finish, walnut stock. This incredibly rare prototype Roper six-shot
revolving rifle was manufactured c. 1865-1866 by Sylvester H. Roper out of
his shop in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The rifle shows features outlined in U.S. patent
number 53,881 granted April 10, 1866 to Sylvester H. Roper; this was one of numerous inventions by Roper including
knitting machines, sewing machines, hot air furnaces, kitchen ranges, automatic screw machines and a steam
powered bicycle. This exact prototype rifle is pictured along with another prototype example on page 230 of the book
“Spencer Repeating Firearms” by Roy Marcot; on page 228 of the book the author states, “Two early prototype Roper rifles have survived and while both display many characteristics of later
production arms, they are diminutive in scale and unmarked. One, without a forend [this example], is believed to be the earlier of the two and has a hinged loading gate that lifts up from
the front. The other has a wooden forend and a loading gate that lifts from left to right, like all of Roper’s later production guns. The exact number of prototype rifles made is not known.”
In early 1866, in the early stages of the invention of this Roper prototype, Christopher M. Spencer, inventor of the famous Spencer repeating rifle among many other things, left Boston to
team up with Sylvester H. Roper in the further development of his invention, in which the pair operated out of Roper’s Roxbury shop. Once the pair was satisfied with the design of the Roper
firearm, they sought financial backing, in which they found in Amherst, Massachusetts, and the shop was relocated there to form the Roper Repeating Rifle Company. There are no visible
markings on this prototype rifle. It is chambered for use with .36 caliber ammunition with a rifled bore, and features a six-shot revolving cartridge carrier enclosed in the frame, a hinged
loading gate that lifts from the front located on top of the frame, a bolt connected to the circular shaped cocking hammer, a globe front sight mounted on the round
barrel, a fixed peep rear sight on top of the frame just ahead of the hammer, and a smooth walnut buttstock with an iron rifle buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, exhibiting a mix of smooth brown and gray patina, and a few patches of minor pitting. Stock is also fine with numerous scattered scratches and
dings, a few small cracks visible ahead of the buttplate, and defined edges. Mechanically fine. This incredibly rare prototype Roper revolving rifle serves as an important
evolutionary artifact, and would make a fine addition to any advanced antique American firearms collection!
Provenance: The Al Thompson Collection; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
LOT 3235
Very Scarce Roper Sporting Arms Co. Revolving Rifle - Serial no. 328, 41 CF cal., 28 inch
octagon bbl., blue/nickel finish, walnut stock. This is a very scarce example of a four-shot variant .41 caliber four-shot
revolving rifle, manufactured between 1869 to 1876 by the Roper Sporting Arms Company of Hartford, Connecticut. Roper rifles are encountered with far less
frequency today than the Roper shotguns based on the same design. This example features a shotgun type four-shot revolving cartridge carrier enclosed in the
frame, of which the shotgun type four-shot carrier is known in some of these rifles as factory made, a bolt connected to the cocking hammer, a rifled octagon
barrel with a dovetailed front sight base (absent front sight), a dovetailed folding ladder rear sight, “ROPER SPORTING ARMS CO./HARTFORD, CONN./PAT. APR. 10.
1866. JULY 14. 1868.” marked on the hinged loading gate, smooth walnut forearm with pewter end caps, and smooth walnut buttstock with an iron shotgun type
buttplate. Serial number “328” marked on the bottom chamber area of the frame and barrel as well as the interior of the forearm, with “388” (possible factory error)
on the bolt, and “425” marked on the right breech area of the barrel.
CONDITION: Very good, retains traces of original blue finish concentrated in protected areas of the barrel, traces of original nickel finish the frame
strongest in protected areas, with mostly smooth gray patina on the balance of the iron, scattered brown surface freckling, and distinct markings
on the loading gate. Wood is also very good with numerous scattered dents and scratches, and distinct edges. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3236
Very Scarce Roper Sporting Arms Co. Revolving Rifle - Serial
no. 360, 41 CF cal., 28 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This
is a scarce example of a .41 caliber six-shot revolving rifle, manufactured between 1869 to 1876
by the Roper Sporting Arms Company of Hartford, Connecticut. Roper rifles are encountered with far less
frequency today than the Roper shotguns based on the same design. It features a six-shot revolving cartridge carrier enclosed in the frame,
a bolt connected to the cocking hammer, a rifled round barrel with a dovetail mounted combination flip-up globe and blade front sight, a dovetailed
folding ladder rear sight on the barrel, a second folding ladder rear sight on top of the frame just ahead of the hammer, “ROPER SPORTING ARMS CO./HARTFORD, CONN./PAT. APR. 10. 1866. JULY 14.
1868.” marked on the hinged loading gate, smooth walnut forearm with pewter end caps, and smooth walnut buttstock with an iron rifle buttplate. Matching serial number “360” marked on the bottom
chamber area of the frame, barrel, bolt, and on the interior of both the forearm and buttplate.
CONDITION: Very good, retains traces of original blue finish concentrated in protected areas of the barrel, with some silvering on the casehardened frame and smooth brown patina on the balance of the
iron with scattered surface freckling, and distinct markings on the loading gate. Wood is also very good as revarnished, with a reglued crack visible on the left of the wrist, a few cracks on either side ahead
of the buttplate, some light handling marks, and defined edges. Absent small stop screw at the top of the rear frame sight ladder. The cartridge carrier does not properly rotate, mechanically needs work, otherwise the hammer/bolt
cocks and the trigger functions.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
As pictured and described in the book
Spencer Repeating Firearms by Marcot
150