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LOT 1064
Scarce Roper Sporting Arms Co. Revolving
Shotgun - Serial no. 380, 12 gauge, 28 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is a very scarce example
of a 12 gauge Roper revolving shotgun, as manufactured between
1869-1876 by the Roper Sporting Arms Company of Hartford, Connecticut, per page 717 of
“Flayderman’s Guide, 9th Edition”. This shotgun used special steel cased cartridges. It features a four-
shot revolving cartridge carrier enclosed in the frame, a bolt connected to the cocking hammer, a smooth round barrel with a
silver bead front sight, equipped with the Roper patent removable choke ring at the muzzle. “ROPER SPORTING ARMS CO./HARTFORD, CONN./
PAT. APR. 10. 1866. JULY 14. 1868.” marked on the hinged loading gate, smooth walnut forearm with pewter end caps, and smooth walnut buttstock with an iron shotgun buttplate.
Matching serial number “380” marked on the bottom chamber area of the frame, barrel, interior of the forearm, and bolt.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% original blue finish, 50% plus vivid original case colors, with a crack in the upper frame tang (remains sound), light surface oxidation, and sharp loading gate
markings. Wood is also fine, with minor handling marks, and distinct edges. Mechanically needs work, requires manual assistance for functioning.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 1063
Desirable Burgess Gun Company “Folding Gun” Slide Action Shotgun - Serial
no. 3311, 12 gauge, 19 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured
c. 1892 to 1899, this is a rare and desirable example of a Burgess “Folding Gun” slide action shotgun
manufactured by the Burgess Gun Co. of Buffalo, New York. It is unknown what the total number manufactured
was, but it is estimated to be only a few thousand were made. This shotgun has the unique design invented by American
inventor Andrew Burgess who established himself in business in 1892 to manufacture this unusual repeating shotgun which has
an iron sleeve over the stock wrist that activates the bolt and breech mechanism when slid backwards. Burgess was also noted for his lever action
rifles made by Colt and Whitney. The shotgun was advertised as being especially adapted for police service, express messengers, U.S. Marshals, prison and bank guards.
Most notably, a similar example was recovered at the scene of Lawman Pat Garrett’s murder, reportedly Garrett’s sidearm at the time. This particular “Folding Gun” has a 19 1/2 inch barrel and
is hinged on the underside of the receiver with a lift lever on top which releases the barrel so that it can be folded in half.
The underside of the receiver is marked with the three-line patent dates and the serial number. The top of the dust cover has the two-line
Burgess Gun Co. address. It is fitted with a blade front sight and there is a dished out area in the top of the barrel release lever that serves as the
rear sight. It is mounted with a multi-point checkered forearm and pistol grip stock with a checkered hard rubber shotgun buttplate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% of the original blue finish with the balance a mix of brown and grey patina and some scattered minor handling marks.
The upper tang has a crack/repair concealed by the slide handle. The wood is also fine with some minor edge chipping at the frame juncture, scattered
minor dings/scratches, and mostly well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 1062
Scarce Burgess Gun Co. Damascus Slide Action Shotgun with
Extra Barrel - Serial no. 2012, 12 gauge, 27 inch solid rib bbl., brown/
blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured from 1892-1899, these shotguns were only
produced for a short time before the company and all the patents were purchased by the
Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The Burgess Gun Company was established in 1892 by Andrew Burgess,
a very prolific gun designer in the late 1890s. Burgess was credited as having numerous mechanical patents for various firearms used by several of the well-known arms producers of the day. Total production of
Burgess rifles and shotguns is estimated at only a few thousand pieces, with their rarity and unique design making them highly desirable in any condition. The Burgess Gun Co. address is marked on top of the breech
block on either side of the stippled panel. The top of the barrel rib is marked with the two-line patent dates. The serial number is marked on the floorplate of the receiver. The top of the barrel rib is matted with stippling for the
entire length and fitted with a German silver bead sight. It is mounted with a checkered forearm and pistol grip slide handle/stock with a checkered hard rubber buttplate. Includes an extra barrel/magazine tube set fitted with a
checkered forearm. The choke on the fitted barrel measures approximately cylinder while the extra barrel measures approximately full. The length of pull is 14 1/8 inches.
CONDITION: Fine, retains most of the original brown finish on the barrel with distinct twist pattern and 40% of the original blue finish on the receiver with mild handling wear, a few scattered patches of light surface spotting, and
a few light scratches. The wood is also fine with scattered minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. The extra barrel set is in similar condition with dents/dings on the period refinished forearm. This is a rare opportunity to
own a Burgess shotgun that is absent from many collections!
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500