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LOT 1187
Rare, FRESH and Important Cased
Engraved Thomas W.G. Treeby Patent Percussion
Chain Rifle - Serial no. 291, 54 cal., 18 1/8 inch round
bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This mid-19th century
repeating rifle is one of the most unusual and impressive
firearms ever created, based on Thomas W.G. Treeby’s patent
no.1552 from July 11, 1855. A very important and desirable
gun, it is essentially an early (likely the first) belt fed firearm
design. In place of a revolving cylinder, the gun utilizes a series of individual chambers linked together like a chain for a total of fourteen shots. To ready the next shot, the shooter rotates the handle on the breech which turns the barrel and moves it forward freeing the mouth of the chamber which is chamfered to make a nice fit and gas seal. Then, they cock the hammer which simultaneously moves the next shot into position. The hammer is connected to a long striker. Then, the shooter rotates the breech handle back to the left closing the barrel over the mouth of
the chamber. The whole sequence can be done very quickly. Only a relatively small number of these interesting “chain rifles” were manufactured (likely four). The Royal Armouries in the U.K. has an example and notes that three are known to survive. The NRA Museum also has one shown and notes three survive. This rifle is unquestionably and by far, the finest of those known to exist. It is perhaps one of two remaining in private hands and also the only known cased example, accompanied with its original accessories.