July 30th 2016 Premier Firearms Sale (20)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/30/2016
22" barrel forward chamber with 5-1/2" barrel in .22 percussion caliber. This rifle has matching numbers on forward barrel section, rear barrel section, and under forward handguard. Grant & Co. operated in Newark, New Jersey from 1869 to 1880 and manufactured parlor guns on the Jacob Widmer patent. It is an interesting rifle. The first we have seen. It appears to have a 22" barrel, but the rear portion of the barrel is actually a shroud for the cocking mechanism of which the forward nickel ring is pulled back to cock the single trigger. The barrel itself screws into the end and measures 5-1/4" with a nipple attached. You would load the loose powder and ball, place the cap on the nipple, screw the barrel back in, cock the trigger by pulling back on the underside ring, and fire. Barrel has a single leaf rear sporting sight, and adjustable dovetail front sight, an engraved nickel plated frame, forend, and trigger guard. Stamped "Patent 1869" and a walnut stock with nickel plated and engraved buttplate. Barrel is basically brown patina. Nickel plated brass frame retains about 50% original nickel. Buttstock is excellent but does have some chips at top tang and is a little loose. With some attention to the minor problems at wrist, this would be a beautiful and extremely rare .22 caliber black powder single shot rifle. An unusual American-made oddity.