GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
RARE POSSIBLY ONE OF A KIND G.W. MORSE LEVER ACTION RIFLE. G.W. MORSE LEVER ACTION RIFLE NSN 45-70 Cal. 45-70. Serial number not visible, if there is one. Extremely rare, important development in the progression of lever action rifles. This rifle has a 28″ oct bbl, nickel silver Rocky Mountain front sight and semi-buckhorn rear sight and it has the caliber marking between rear sight and receiver. The bbl address, forward of rear sight, reads left-handed, “G.W. MORSE / PATENTED OCT 28TH 1856″. It has a full magazine with a magazine band dovetailed into the bottom flat near the muzzle. It has highly figured uncheckered American walnut with straight stock & crescent buttplate with Winchester style sliding brass trap. The forearm is secured with a wedge & also has a small screw through steel escutcheons. The receiver, although very similar to the early Whitney with flat side and raised front and rear edges with an S-shaped lever. It differs in that it has a right hand loading gate and the carrier stays in the up position until forced by forward pressure on the lever into the lower position to receive a fresh cartridge from the magazine. The top tang is marked “A. BURGESS” with patent dates of January 7 & October 19. The year is not complete having only the first two numbers “18″. The bolt is very unusual in that it has a locking block attached to the solid lever and employs a carrier similar to Winchesters. PROVENANCE: From the collection of the late Bruce McDowell. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Overall retains 96-98% strong bright orig blue with minor handling & storage marks and a few light scratches on the receiver. Wood is sound with a series of small gouges on the bottom along with other light handling & use marks and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 49450-5 JR (6,500-8,500)