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LOT 1190
Very Scarce Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer Breech Loading Percussion Rifle - Serial no. 147,
42 cal., 26 1/4 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, highly figured walnut stock. Less than 500 of these rifles are believed to have been manufactured c. 1855-1860, with less surviving today. These “faucet”
mechanism rifles are easy to identify thanks to the massive square stud on the right
side of the round action and the distinctive lever that rotates up allowing the rifle to be loaded through the
breech. It has a large blade front sight, adjustable sporting notch rear sight with elevator, “ALLEN & WHEELOCK.
CAST-STEEL 147/WORCESTER” on the upper left barrel flat, “ALLEN’S PATENT/JULY 3./1855.” on the lever, nicely figured buttstock, rifle buttplate with trapdoor. Matching serial number “147” marked on the left of the frame breech, sight elevator, forearm and bottom of the barrel.
CONDITION: Very good plus, retains 20% original blue finish concentrated on the breech end of the barrel with mottled gray and brown patina on the balance, scattered patches of light oxidation, and smooth gray patina visible on the casehardened components. The wood is fine with scattered mild scratches and dents, a few small chips on both sides at the rear of the forend. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000
LOT 1191
Very Scarce Orvill M.
Robinson/Adirondack Arms Co. Type II Breech Loading Tube Magazine Repeating Rifle - Serial no. 30, 44 RF cal., 24 1/2 inch octagon
bbl., blue/brass finish, walnut stock. Fewer than 600 total repeating rifles based on Orvill M. Robinson were manufactured in the early 1870s. There were two major variations based on the action design, but many of these Type II rifles also
show considerable variation between rifle to rifle making each an interesting example of scarce early cartridge repeater. They were only manufactured c. 1872-1874. This design is based on U.S. patent number 125,988 “Improvement in Breech-Loading Firearms”, granted April 23, 1872 to Orvill M. Robinson of Upper Jay, New York. A.S. Babbitt of Plattsburgh, New York, may have manufactured these arms while the Adirondack Firearms Company of Plattsburgh, New
York, was formed to market them. Winchester purchased the company in 1874 and did not use the design. This rifle is a later variant and features a hammer at the rear, a hand-operated pivoting rear breechblock connected by a link to a sliding breech bolt, tube magazine, and a built in cartridge elevator. A sliding lever on the left limits the length of cartridges that will feed into the cartridge elevator allowing the use of different length .44 rimfire cartridges. The
barrel features traditional blade front and sporting rear sights (rear elevator
absent). The bottom of the frame at the front is marked “30.” The bolt is marked “ROBINSON’S PAT. APR. 23D 72./MF’D BY
ADIRONDACK FIRE ARMS Co./PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.”The rifle has a smooth walnut buttstock with a crescent brass buttplate.
CONDITION: Good. The iron features dark brown patina overall and some mild pitting. The brass has a deep aged patina. The refinished stock is fair and has some repairs and loose fit in the wrist. The mainspring will slip off the hammer if the tension screw is loose, but if it is tighter, the hammer is locked in place. With the screw just right, it will mechanically function. This is a very rare and interesting piece of American firearms design history and early Winchester history. The company purchased
some of their potential competitors early on to solidify their hold on
the repeating rifle market.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
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