July 30th 2016 Premier Firearms Sale (20)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/30/2016
22" barrel in .45-70 caliber. This lovely short rifle was manufactured in 1891. Features a round barrel; full magazine; case colored frame, lever, hammer, and forend cap; walnut stocks; and smooth steel shotgun buttplate. The rifle was rechambered to .45-70, you can plainly see it restamped over the original caliber on barrel. Barrel legends are sharp. Barrel retains approximately 60-70% thinning blue, starting to blend soft patina. Tube is basically soft patina. Nose cap retains approximately 50% case colors. Frame retains approximately 90% case colors on left side with areas of original varnish, top left high edge of frame has freckling. Top of frame and tang have most of the original case colors with varnish. Brilliant colors on lever and hammer. Right side of frame has approximately 20% color with freckling and aging. Bottom of frame has traces of color but basically grey. Stocks are excellent, proud to metal, perfectly fit, with extra finish. Buttplate is a mix of blue and gun metal grey. Has the scarce Winchester full buckhorn rear sight with German silver knife blade front sight. Action is perfect. Strong clean rifled bore. The stocks have been refinished. According to the factory research, this left as an octagon .38-56, which was probably an error, as you can plainly see the .38-56 under the .45-70 and the barrel is round. Also has a shotgun butt not mentioned in letter. All work was performed by a professional gunsmith.