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LOT 3056
Extremely Rare
Documented
Prototype Swingle
& Huntington (San
Francisco, California) Model
1874 Lever Action Rifle, as Featured on
the Cover of “The Gun Report” November 1962
Issue - NSN, 44 RF cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue/bright finish, walnut stock.
Offered here is an extremely rare example of a prototype Swingle & Huntington Model 1874 lever action rifle, as manufactured in
the mid-1870s. This well made rifle is the only example of its kind ever offered for sale by Rock Island Auction Company, and serves as a significant evolutionary
example of a unique lever action firearm developed during the height of the popularity of the Winchester lever action and the beginnings of the California gold rush.
It is the first type of lever action rifle known to have been manufactured in the state of California. This rifle is covered under the designs illustrated in U.S. patent number
150,102 originally filed March 11, 1874 and granted April 21, 1874 to Alfred Swingle and Frank A. Huntington of San Francisco, California. This exact rifle is featured on the
cover of November 1962 edition of “The Gun Report” magazine and is described in detail on pages 6-9 in the article “The Swingle & Huntington Rifle Model of 1874” by
Tommy L. Bish, in which the author refers to this rifle as “California’s Own Yellow-Boy.” The article indicates that Alfred Swingle was listed in the San Francisco directories
as a pattern maker with the Aetna Iron Works in 1867-1868, and subsequently listed as a “machinist and model maker” in 1870 at 20 Fremont Street, then later listed at
13 Fremont Street in 1876 as a “machinist and gun manufacturer.” Frank Atwood Huntington is also listed in the San Francisco directories at 17 and 19 Fremont Street as a
“machinist,” and in 1876 he is listed as the proprietor of Globe Iron Works. The article further states, “It is known that the Huntington family was prominent in the goldfields
and in railroading circles of early California, so it is safe to assume that Alfred Swingle was the gunsmith and designer in this venture and that Huntington was the financial
partner.” Single and Huntington patented their first lever action firearm in 1873, covered under U.S. patent number 135,947 granted February 18, 1873, with this 1874
patented example offered being slightly refined and improved. This lever action rifle uses a “friction lock” lever that locks and unlocks with a finger actuated latch, and once
unlocked, the barrel is manually slid forward by the other hand of the operator for ejection and chambering of another round, with the barrel assembly manipulated in a
similar manner to a pump action. The breech face is stationary with a firing pin and extractor. It has an internal tube magazine inside the buttstock that loads from the rear
with a removable threaded plug at the toe. The hammer has a button on top that requires pressing in order to unlock the hammer for cocking. The internal cartridge elevator
mechanism is absent. “PAT. APR. 21. 1874” marked on the top flat of the octagon barrel with a dovetail mounted blade front sight, dovetail mounted notch and ladder rear
sight graduated to 900 yards, magazine cut-off switch on the right side of the frame, and a hickory/steel cleaning rod mounted below the barrel.
CONDITION: Fine, exhibits a mix of original blue finish thinned to a plum brown patina and scattered freckling on the iron surfaces, highly attractive evenly aged golden
patina on the brass with some minor dings around the tip of the forend, with defined barrel patent markings. Stock is also fine with a few light scratches and dings, some
cracks at the toe ahead of the buttplate, and defined edges. Absent cartridge elevator mechanism, otherwise mechanically fine. This is a rare opportunity to acquire this
neat prototype Swingle & Huntington Model 1874 lever action rifle, referred to as “California’s Own Yellow-Boy.”
Provenance: The Tommy L. Bish Collection; The Doug Baneck Collection; Private Collection.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
As pictured & described in "The Gun
Report" from November 1962.
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