November 5th & 6th 2016 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2016
These rifles were manufactured in Wilmington, Delaware from 1912 to 1914. They were one of the first dual operated guns in that they were both gas operated and slide action. Features blued barrel, sporting sights, high relief decorated wide brass grip cover with a tiger and a moose, walnut buttstock and a like decorated brass buttplate. This is a deluxe factory engraved presentation model. The left side is fully engraved with a hunter in a canoe, while the right side is engraved with scroll and decorative panel and is engraved “Charles W. Bartholmes”. The deluxe walnut buttstock shows highly figured grain, oil finish and fine hand checkered wrist. Brass buttplate and hand guard are perfect with no cracks. Rifle retains approximately 9% of the period reapplied rust blue finish with Nitre blue on rear sight. Visible rifling but some minor abrasion. High edge of frame has some age freckling. Stocks are near mint with original finish. This is the first deluxe presentation model of this rare rifle that we have seen. Charles W. Bartholmes was an American gun inventor that held a gun patent on April 23rd, 1907 for a semi-automatic rifle for the American Machine and Nance Company. The lack of serial number may indicate that it was made by the company for him and did not get a serial number applied.