June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
Tapered round barrel chambered for the .30 US Army cartridge (.30-40). Style VIII or $14.00 engraved with dual game scenes of a pair of caribou running with a forest scene in background. This vignette is bordered by a scroll and arabesque foliate and a chiseled rope border at edges of receiver. Right side of receiver is engraved with a matching vignette off a profiled bull moose with same floral and rope bordering. Two piece deluxe highly figured crotch walnut stocks are checkered with pistol grips and ebony tip. Buttstock is numbers matching to rifle and tang of rifle is marked with XXX indicating the high grade of the select walnut stocks. Blue finish overall with case colored hammer and trigger. Appropriate sporting front sight with elevator adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight. Sling eyes are mounted in buttstock as well as on barrel. Accompanied with this rifle is a factory letter from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center dated May 6th, 2002. Letter list the rifle as: Model 1895 rifle, .30 caliber, oil finish, checkered pistol grip stock with shotgun butt and rubber buttplate; with five return and repair notes dated 1907, 1903, 1909, 1916, and 1916. This would account for the return of standard deluxe rifle being returned to the factory and engraved and the addition of the sling eyes. Very fine overall with most all blue finish remaining slight finish loss is observed at muzzle and edges of magazine assembly from carry at balance point. Bore is very fine with sharp rifling. Mechanics are crisp and functioning properly. Stocks are very good with typical light period wear at checker ring points and several very minor bruises in the oil finish. Rubber buttplate and pistol grip cap are very good with no material loss. This rifle is from the Ray Bentley collection of extraordinary firearms.