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LOT 65
Exceptional and Rare Deluxe Special Order Casehardened Bullard Lever Action Rifle
with Special Order Tapered Barrel in Desirable 45 Caliber - Serial no. 1015, 45 cal., 28 1/8 inch octagon
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, deluxe checkered walnut stock. This is a beautiful example of a Deluxe Special
Order Bullard lever action rifle with the special order tapered 28-1/8 inch full octagon barrel. Bullard rifles are considered very
rare on the collector market today as they were only produced from 1886 to 1890 and competed for sales directly with the Winchester, Marlin and Whitney Arms Company
lever actions rifles also produced during this time. This fierce competition really stymied their sales creating a very limited production of Bullard rifles. This rifle employs a very long receiver/ action that houses a brass cartridge lifting mechanism (very similar to the Winchester Model 1876 rifles) to accommodate the larger and longer cartridges. It has a 6 1/4 inch straight cylindrical bolt (similar to the 1873 and 1876 Winchester rifles). This bolt has a unique two-tooth, gear mechanism on the rear that engages a similar two-tooth geared mechanism on the front of the breechblock. This geared mechanism functions off the loading lever and basically acts as the locking lug for
the rifle bolt which gave it far more strength to withstand higher pressure of the larger cartridges. The left side of the receiver has a small side plate that allows access to the mechanism inside, and the loading gate for the tubular magazine is located on the under side of the receiver. This specific rifle is a “deluxe” version that has the special order 28-1/8 inch tapered sporting barrel (1.0 at the breech and .75 inch at the muzzle) that is fitted with a sporting front sight with a nickel blade insert (almost identical to the Winchester sights) and a semi-buckhorn, adjustable rear sight. The left side of the receiver is marked “BULLARD REPEATING ARMS COMPANY/SPRINGFIELD. MASS. U. S. A. PAT. AUG. 16. 1881”, and the top of the receiver is marked “CAL/45”. The stock is deluxe “fancy” grade American walnut with a very nice, fine cut, wrap around checkering pattern on the pistol grip area with a fancy maple buttplate (stained dark red) to give it the appearance of rosewood. The forearm is also a better grade of American walnut with nice straight grain pattern as factories tended not to use real deluxe fancy wood on the forearm because they saw more use and had a tendency to crack. The forearm is checkered with six panels; two on each side of the forearm and two panels on the underside. The rifle has the factory blued finish on the barrel, magazine tube,
the edges of the receiver, barrel, nose cap and forearm. These Bullard rifles are very scarce and to find a deluxe/special order casehardened rifle in this condition is near impossible.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
65
dust cover, lower tang and loading gate with the complete
action, loading lever and nose cap being color casehardened.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine overall with the barrel retaining
90% plus original blue with slight muzzle and sharp edge wear and a few
scattered spots. The magazine tube retains 85% of its original factory finish,
strong and bright in sheltered areas, with the balance turning an old age plum
color. The receiver retains 85% plus of the brilliant casehardening colors just
starting to fade with a slivery patina on the front underside, while the forearm
tip retains 60% strong casehardening colors. Lever and hammer retain most of
their original bright casehardening colors, thinning on outside edges. The stock has a professionally repaired crack that runs from the rear of the upper tang, down both sides
of the stock, directly through the lower rear section of the checkering. There is also a short crack ahead of the carrier opening and a small chip by the forearm tip, none of which really distract from the rifle; otherwise, the wood is sound and retains most of its beautiful factory oil finish with light handling marks. Mechanically excellent. There is some old age dried grease and oil around