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AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK VOLCANIC FIREARMS BY LEWIS & RUTTER
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LOT 3076
Rare, Documented and Significant Factory Engraved Robbins & Lawrence Second Model Smith-Jennings Repeating Rifle with Automatic Pill Primer - Serial no. 3C, 54 cal., 26 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This was Horace Smith’s (later Smith & Wesson) improvement on the Jennings “Rocket Ball” rifle. He was issued a U.S. patent in 1851 for an improved action, and the repeating rifle was manufactured by Robbins & Lawrence. This particular Smith-Jennings
rifle is a Second Model with the pronounced bulge on the underside
of the frame, resulting in the nickname “pregnant frame Jennings.” Less than 400 second models were manufactured circa 1851-1852. The pill primer and cartridge carrier position spring were improved over the
First Model. Features blade front and notch rear sights, seven-groove rifling, tubular magazine mounted underneath the barrel, automatic pill primer operated by the ring trigger which connects to a rack and pinion mechanism, and light floral engraving on the receiver, hammer, German silver oval plaque on the right of the buttstock, and on the buttplate tang. The left side of the receiver is marked “PATENT 1849/C.P. DIXON AGENT/ NEW YORK,” and the top of the barrel is marked “3C” at the breech. The removable magazine tube plug is marked “2C”. A circular collection tag stamped “0084” is hanging from the ring trigger. The Jennings and the Smith-Jennings rifles are important in the evolution of Winchester, having brought together the talents of Benjamin Tyler Henry (who later played a major role in the development of the rifle and ammunition for Volcanic, New Haven and Winchester Arms companies), and Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson (later Smith & Wesson), whose efforts ultimately led to historic developments in the lever action repeating firearms. The Jennings and Smith-Jennings rifles have been properly classified by a detailed study in “Evolution of Winchester” by R.B. McDowell. The majority of
these Smith-Jennings repeating rifles were converted to single shot with a ramrod in place of the magazine tube, with this example remaining unconverted and in its original repeating configuration; making it far more rare and desirable than the few surviving examples left today! The rifle is pictured and identified in Lewis and Rutter’s “Volcanic Firearms: Predecessor to the Winchester Rifle” on page 17.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus original blue finish, strongest on the barrel with a plum appearance, and showing strong traces of bright blue finish on the action flaking to a smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, with a few scattered patches of light pitting and sharp engraving overall. The stock is very fine with an attractive lightened appearance, some scattered scratches and nicks, and defined edges. Mechanically fine. An attractive, rare and historically significant rifle that serves as one of
the earliest American repeaters and an important piece in the evolution
leading up to the famous Henry and Winchester repeating rifles!
Provenance: Stephen Rutter Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000 7