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The fancy checkering on the stock is unique
and shows the rare two-size pattern. The
nickel plating is also a very rarely found
feature. The rifle was probably originally
made for an exposition. This is believed to be
the rifle shown in Flayderman’s Guide.” The
rifle appears to be 5E-112 in the 9th edition
of “Flayderman’s Guide” in the “Remington-
Hepburn No. 3 Long Range Military Rifle”
section on page 187 and is identified as
“Fancy grade.” Flayderman notes that the
Long Range Military rifles were manufactured
around the 1880s in “extremely limited” quantities. This rifle is
equipped with a spirit level globe target front sight and a military
style tangent rear sight. The rear sight is graduated from 1-4 (100-
400 yards) on the side of the base with the face of the ladder
graduated from 1-12 (100-1200 yards). In addition, the rifle is also
fitted with a long range Vernier peep sight mounted on the upper
tang (with a screw absent). The staff is graduated from 0-5 on the
side and has a locking eye-cup aperture. The lower left side of the
receiver is marked “HEPBURNS PAT./OCT. 7TH 1879”, and the serial
number is stamped on the lower rear part of the tang. The entire
rifle has a special order nickel finish aside from the blue sights and
small parts. It is fitted with straight grain walnut stock and forearm
that have been beautifully checkered in a fine line pattern on the
side of the pistol grip and in five different panels on the sides of the
forend. The forend is secured by two nickel-plated “U” marked barrel
bands. Sling swivels are mounted on the forward barrel band and
front of the trigger guard. It also has a steel cleaning rod and iron
shotgun buttplate, both also nickel-plated.
CONDITION: Excellent with 97% plus original nickel finish remaining,
slight wear on the right side of the receiver, and a slight frosted
appearance. The spirit level is cracked, and the fluid is absent. The
wood is also excellent and has a few scattered minor dents and
sharp checkering. The markings are clear. Mechanically functions.
An attractive and extremely rare Remington Hepburn No. 3 Special
Military Creedmoor “Any Rifle”
Provenance: The Remington Museum; The John Puglisi Jr.
Collection.
Estimate: 9,000 - 16,000
LOT 3087
Well-Documented, Exceptional, and Rare Remington
Hepburn No. 3 Special Military Creedmoor “Any Rifle” -
Serial no. 3316, 44 2 6/10 cal., 34 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, walnut stock. This is
an exceptional and rare variation of the Remington Model No. 3 Hepburn rifle. These rifles were
produced at Remington starting in 1879 and were developed by Lewis L. Hepburn, a master mechanic,
gunsmith, and competitive target shooter. Hepburn worked for the Remington factory circa 1871-1886 as the
superintendent of the mechanical department and sporting arms. In 1873-74, the Irish shooting team challenged
the U.S. to an international long range rifle match. The U.S. won that match, but Hepburn set out to design a
new rifle action for target shooting. All Hepburn rifles were manufactured in limited numbers, and special match
target rifle variations such as this one were manufactured in extremely limited numbers to meet the needs of
marksmen participating in various matches. After Remington’s bankruptcy, Hepburn worked for Marlin and
developed their lever action rifles. This rifle is pictured and discussed on pages 192 and 193 of “Remington’s No.
3 Hepburn” by Tom Rowe and is listed as a “Special Military Creedmoor ‘Any Rifle’” in .44-74-220 2 6/10 Remington
with a 34 1/2 inch long, 3-4 weight, round barrel. “Notes: A small
tag on the underside of the stock indicates that this rifle was in
the Remington Museum at one time. Being
fitted with the target sights makes this an
Any Rifle.
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