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LOT 3545
Historic Factory Master Game Scene Engraved
and Signed Pair of Browning Model 1885
Bicentennial Single Shot Rifles Presented
to President Gerald R. Ford Jr. with Case
-A) Gold Inlaid Browning 1885 Rifle - Serial
no. 1776#0001, 45-70 Government cal., 24 inch
octagon bbl., blue/coin/gold finish, walnut stock.
Originally designed by John Moses Browning, the
Model 1885 is among the most quintessential
American firearms, playing a role in the taming of
the American West in the late 1800s. This pair of
rifles shows gorgeous America themed engraving
and beautiful craftsmanship putting them on
a different level than most. The pair is made
even more extraordinary by its lineage, as it was
presented to the 38th President of the United
States Gerald R. Ford Jr. for the U.S. bicentennial in
1976. Ford served as president from August 1974
to January 1977, quite a tumultuous time for the
country in the wake of Vice President Spiro Agnew’s
resignation due to conviction for tax evasion and
President Richard Nixon’s resignation following
the Watergate scandal. Ford was quickly propelled
from House Minority Leader to Vice President and
after only eight months, to President of the United
States, having never even had the chance to move
into the Vice President’s residence. Ford is the only
President to have never been elected to the office
or the office of Vice President and also remains the
only President from the great state of Michigan.
Both rifles were built with blued steel octagonal
barrels featuring a blade front sight and an
elevation adjustable rear sight. The barrel of gun
“A” bares standard factory markings along with a
gold inlaid scroll flourish at the base and gold inlaid
“PROPERTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”
while the “B” gun has standard markings along
with wedges of scroll engraving at the breech
and muzzle. The barrels of both rifles are fitted
to highly attractive coin finished actions, both of
which show highly attractive floral scroll engraving
surrounding circular game scenes on either side.
Rifle “A” depicts a magnificent bald eagle on the left
side and a proud American Bison on the right both
inlaid in highly detailed semi-relief gold with gold
inlaid line borders, while rifle “B” shows the same
engraving to match cut directly into the action
with no gold inlay work. Rifle “A” is signed by two of
Browning’s engravers on the left side of the action
with “VRACKEN” signed beneath the game scene for
Master Engraver Louis Vracken and “J. BAERTEN” in
the scroll for Master Engraver Jose Baerten. The “B”
rifle is signed on the right side of the action “R. BEE”
for factory Master Engraver Rosa Bee. Both of the
rifles are mounted with exceptionally well-figured
and multi-point checkered forends with blued
fittings and straight grip stocks with blued steel
crescent buttplates.
Included is a full length leather bound case that
houses both rifles and a pair of numbered coins
with a brass plaque marked “PRESENTED/TO/
PRESIDENT/GERALD R. FORD/BY THE/REPUBLICAN/
NAT’L COMMITTEE” on the lid along with the canvas
cover which is marked “PRESIDENT/GERALD R.
FORD/UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 99% original
blue and gold finishes, 95% plus original coin finish,
some minor thinning and slight oxidation on the
action in the coin primarily on the left side, and
overall light handling evidence. There are a few
flakes of varnish absent from the edges of the wood
to metal fit, otherwise the wood is excellent with a
few minor scratches and sharp checkering. The case
is very fine. Mechanically excellent.
B) Browning Model 1885 Rifle - Serial no.
1776#0002, 45-70 Government cal., 24 inch octagon
bbl., blue/coin finish, walnut stock. As
described in “A”.
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