Page 45 - 89-FLIPBOOK1

LOT 38
Spencer Repeating Sporting Rifle - Serial no. 12850, 56-46 cal., 26 inch
round bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Very few sporting rifles
were manufactured by Spencer, and educated estimates put total production well under
a few thousand. The action first went into production in 1860, and, as soon as the Civil War
started, all of the machinery and manpower was devoted to turning out rifles and carbines for the
Civil War. George Armstrong Custer and others are known to have taken Spencer sporters to the West. It is chambered for the
56-46 Spencer cartridge (.44 rimfire) which was suitable for small to medium game. The matching serial number is marked on the top of
the frame (the “1” is taken out by a screw hole) hidden underneath the tang peep sight and on the bottom of the barrel under the forearm. Marked
NOTICE THE KILL NOTCHES ON THE WRIST
“SPENCER REPEATING/RIFLE CO. BOSTON MASS./PAT’D MARCH 6, 1860.” on top of the receiver. The assembly number “72” is stamped on various parts
including the barrel, forearm, lever, breech block, buttplate, and buttstock (some require disassembly for viewing). Blade front sight, folding leaf rear sight, and tang mounted peep sight both without graduation markings. Mounted with a smooth walnut forearm with pewter tip secured by two screws and straight grip stock with steel buttplate.
CONDITION: Very good, exhibiting strong signs of genuine period use on the plains, with a mix of smooth gray and brown patina overall. The top of the hammer has been period modified, shortening the spur. The period refinished wood is also very good with scattered scratches and dents, re-glued cracked sections on either side at the rear of the forearm, a large crack on top of the wrist starting beneath the rear peep sight, a few small cracks around the buttplate, and defined edges. 11 “kill notches” marked on the right side of the wrist. Absent cartridge keeper lever on top of the breech block, otherwise mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 39
Scarce Blued Finish Remington Model 1875 Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 5615, 44 Remington CF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. While limited in production to only approximately 25,000-30,000 revolvers between 1875-1889, many of these “Improved Army” or “Frontier Army” revolvers saw hard use in the hands of Native Americans, settlers, and lawmen in the West. The Model 1875 was Remington’s answer to the Colt Single Action Army and is arguably a more solid firearm with fewer main components than Colt’s revolver, but it simply suffered in the famous “Peacemaker’s” shadow. Handling one of these revolvers, it is easy to see that a gunslinger in the American West that truly knew their firearms might prefer one of these over the hype of the Colt Single Action Army. “E. REMINGTON & SONS. ILION.N.Y. U.S.A.” marked on top of the barrel. There is a lanyard ring and stud fitted to the butt. The serial number “5615” is marked on the left of the grip frame and loading gate. The assembly number “30” is marked on the rear face of the cylinder, left of the grip frame, and stamped inside each grip. CONDITION: Very good, retains 30% plus of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey or plum brown patina, having the look of a gun that spent much of its life as a holstered sidearm. The grips are also very good with some scattered minor handling marks, moderate wear, and a minor chip absent from both bottom from corners, typical of a revolver that saw frontier use. Mechanically excellent. One of the lesser known, but no less desirable, gunslinger revolvers of the America west! Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 41
LOT 40
Documented Omaha, Nebraska, Shipped Antique Colt Black Powder Frame Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 98958, 45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. The Colt Single Action Army Revolver is arguably the most iconic handgun of Americana. In the hands of ranchers, cavalrymen, Native Americans, lawmen, and outlaws, the Peacemaker’s legacy was forged out in the hostile American West and continues to gain popularity among today’s collectors. This example was manufactured in 1886, when the West was yet to be tamed. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration, grips not listed, as well as shipment to Lee Fried & Company of Omaha, Nebraska, a distributor that was often merely a stop for guns on their way headed farther west. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard one-line address, three- line patent dates on the left of the frame, and “45 CAL” on the left of the trigger guard. Matching full serial numbers are visible on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, and the partial matching number is on the cylinder. The inside of the loading gate has the assembly number “6648”. It has standard features and is fitted with a pair of later production replacement, checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colt logos at the top. CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus of the original nickel finish with the balance having thinned to a mix of smooth grey and brown patina, typical of a western working gun, as well as a few scattered patches of very light surface pitting. The cylinder pin is a non-factory replacement. The slightly undersized later production replacement grips are fine with some scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
Fine Remington Hepburn No. 3 Single Shot Rifle with Special Order Heavy Barrel -
Serial no. 7231, 45-100 cal., 33 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured from
1883-1907, these Remington-Hepburn rifles would have made a very desirable long range hunting rifle on
the American western frontier. The rifle features a special order heavy octagon barrel with a wind gauge globe
front sight with spirit level, no rear seat, marked “REMINGTON ARMS CO. ILION N.Y.” on top, “45.2 6/10” on the bottom, the serial number “7231” behind the forend lug on the bottom of the barrel, rear of the forend, and on the lower tang. “1463” on the bottom of
the barrel at the breech. The frame is marked with the Hepburn patent marking on the left, and the serial number on the lower tang. A peep sight base is mounted to the upper
tang. The rifle has a Schnabel tip forearm with contrasting tip inlay, and a semi-pistol grip stock with a checkered wrist. The consignor indicated the original owner was John D. McDonald, a
major Jones Co. land owner in the late 1800s. A rifle such as this would have been highly valued by a western land owner or rancher for its long range accuracy and firepower to protect a herd. CONDITION: Fine, 60% plus original blue finish, patches of minor oxidation present on barrel, 50% original casehardened finish on the receiver with speckled brown patina on the bottom, and the buttplate has mottled gray patina and traces of original finish. The stock is also fine with light scratches and dings, defined checkering, and an empty sling attachment hole. Mechanically excellent aside from weak breech lockup. Overall, it has the look of a rifle that may have spent significant time in the American West but was well-cared for by the landowner or rancher who likely owned it.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
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