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LOT 1103
Spectacular and Extremely Rare, Factory Documented Gustave
Young Factory Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 320 “Buntline Special” Revolving Rifle with Shoulder Stock and Case - Serial no. 221, 320 cal., 18 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. It is with great pleasure we at Rock Island Auction Company offer for sale this phenomenal S&W
320 Revolving Rifle. This gun has served as the centerpiece
to several world class Smith & Wesson collections: The Mac McCroskie Collection, The Gary Garbrecht Collection, and The
Dr. Don Anderson Collection to name just a few. Manufactured from 1879 to 1887, the Model 320 Revolving Rifle is one of the rarest Smith & Wesson firearms produced with a total production of 977. These firearms were serial numbered from 1 to 977, and out of the 977 manufactured, 514 had the 18 inch barrel. Only 840 of these were sold in the U.S., and the remaining 137 were exported. These revolving rifles were sometimes referred to as the Smith & Wesson “Buntline Special” in the combination of a long barreled revolver with attaching shoulder stock. This Model 320 was manufactured using the frame, cylinder and basic action of the New Model No. 3 revolver with some minor differences
in the hammer and trigger and the barrel made of two pieces.
A slot is cut into the butt and a hole drilled in the back strap to accommodate the shoulder stock. This rifle features an 18 inch barrel with a globe front sight with cross hair aperture and two leaf folding rear sight on a rib marked with the two line address/ patent date marking ahead of the rear sight and a scroll and punch dot engraving behind the rear sight which extends to the breech. The misplaced previously issued factory letter “confirms configuration and attributes the engraving to the master Mr. Gustave Young.” Further, it stated “this rifle was engraved at the time the factory was preparing a group of firearms to be sent to the World Exhibition being held in Melbourne, Australia.” Lastly and probably most pertinent Mr. Jinks stated: “Based on my research only one other factory engraved revolving rifle is known and it has been refinished.”
Let it be known that upon further examination it is my humble opinion that this revolving rifle has been period factory refinished. Based on the information given on this revolving rifle from the original factory letter one can conclude that this rifle was made for exhibition to be displayed by Smith & Wesson at the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880, and what better place to show it off than at the World’s Fair! Similar to the practices of other well known firearms manufactures known
for large exhibition displays, in particular Winchester, most
rifles and carbines not sold were returned to the factory to be restored, and would often times be a part of the next grand display which is what I surmise is the case with this particular revolving rifle. After the fair the gun was returned to the factory and restored to like new condition as was the practice for other exhibition guns of the period. While it is unknown exactly when S&W began applying markings such as the * (See Jinks and Neal “Smith & Wesson 1857-1945 which states the * did not appear in a factory catalog until 1900), this gun would no doubt predate those practices. The rear sides of the barrel and barrel lug also feature the engraved scrollwork. The beautifully executed scroll and punch dot engraved motif covers the sides of the frame and extends to the top and sides of the top strap, the area around and behind the hammer and on the back strap. The cylinder chambers are also engraved with the same scroll pattern. The matching serial number appears on the butt, cylinder, barrel and barrel latch. Blue finish with casehardened hammer and trigger guard. The barrel is fitted with a checkered hard rubber red mottled forearm with the S&W monogram on the underside. The grips are matching with S&W monograms in a circle at the tops. The stock is smooth Circassian walnut with blue finished attaching iron and a checkered black hard rubber buttplate
with S&W monogram. The stock attaching iron has a matching scroll and punch dot engraving that is featured on the firearm. The original leather case has a leather handle and nickel corner protectors. The lining is felt and there are three compartments (one for the rifle, one for the stock and one for a box of cartridges). The inside of the lid as a paper S&W caution label. Also with the gun are the following: stock peep sight, two extra sights (blade front and globe front sight), a box of UMC S&W .32 caliber revolving rifle cartridges and wooden cleaning rod.
Collector’s Fact
Of the 977 Smith & Wesson 320 Revolving Rifles manufactured, only 514 were produced with an 18 inch barrel. Based on research done by Smith & Wesson historian Roy Jinks, only two Smith & Wesson 320 rifles were factory engraved.