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LOT 3075
Extremely Rare Factory Exhibition Quality Engraved Remington- Hepburn-Walker No. 3 Schuetzen Match Rifle - Serial no. W.16, 30-40 cal., 34 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Remington- Hepburn was designed by
Remington mechanical
department superintendent and talented
marksman Lewis L. Hepburn in 1879 and introduced in 1880. A couple decades later, Remington modified the rifle for Schuetzen rifle
competition by fitting the ornate finger groove levers that operate the breechblock instead of the usual Hepburn side lever. These rifles are without
a doubt the finest target rifles ever offered by Remington and were brought out to compete with the other high end match rifles of the early 20th century. They
were originally known as the Remington Schuetzen Match Rifle - New Special Model. They were handmade at Remington’s Custom Gun Shop under the direction of Louis N. Walker, hence the
modern day collectors name of Remington Walker-Hepburn Schuetzen Rifle. These rifles were only illustrated in the Remington Arms Company catalog dated 1904-05 and in the 1904 M.
Hartley & Co. Illustrated Catalog. An original 1904-05 Remington Arms Co. catalog is included and
this model of rifle is found on page 29 where it is cited as “a match rifle of most improved expert design of high-class workmanship, material and finish, and of extreme accuracy.” Only 23 of these specially handmade rifles were ever sold: ten in
1904, one in 1906, eleven in 1907, and one in 1908, and they are extremely difficult to acquire. This rifle is made even rarer by having factory engraving. It is the writer’s opinion that the rifle returned to the Remington factory during the period of use at which time it was engraved and refurbished.
The beautifully engraved receiver features exhibition quality fine floral scrollwork on punch dot background along with animal heads. A wolf’s head adorns the left side, a bear’s head is on top of the chamber, and a mountain lion’s head is featured on the right side. The left side of the receiver is signed “REMINGTON/ Schuetzen.” The serial number is engraved on the lower tang. Additional scrollwork decorates the breech of the barrel, surrounding “REMINGTON/TRADE MARK.”The rifle is fitted with a flip up post sight (a second post is absent) on a high ramp, a C. Widmer adjustable notch rear sight on an extended sliding base, and a Vernier peep sight. The casehardened lever is the distinctive Walker style with finger grooves and encloses a set of double set triggers. The nicely figured walnut forearm and straight grip stock feature fine multi-point checkering. The forearm has a nickel forend tip. The buttstock has a cheekpiece and a nickel Swiss buttplate. Comes with a letter of provenance: “Jack Maloy & Al Kelly brought W-16 back from England in late 1960s & sold it to Pete Harvey. Pete sold the W-16 to Ron Peterson & Ron sold it to Bob Borchart in Early 1970s Has been in Bob’s collection since early ‘70s until 1996 when sold to Frank Kelly...W-16 went to Britain for Remington Exposition was sold there. Was equipped with European type target sights and used in Bisley matches. W-16 layed in private collection in Britain until returned to U.S.”This engraved masterpiece of Remington craftsmanship certainly has all the appearance of being a factory exhibition piece. CONDITION: Very fine overall as factory engraved and refurbished retaining 99% of the blue and casehardened finishes and 97% of the nickel finish, crisp engraving, some minor handling marks on the wood, and overall crisp stock and forearm checkering. Mechanically excellent. A testament to Remington craftsmanship and artistry, this factory exhibition quality engraved Remington-Hepburn-Walker No. 3 Schuetzen Match rifle is a must have for the serious single shot collector. Provenance: Jack Maloy and Al Kelly; The Pete Harvey Collection; The Ron Peterson Collection; The Bob Borchart Collection; The Frank Kelly Collection; Property of a Gentleman. Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000