October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/23/2019
Designed by James Herbert Bullard in early 1879 with his patent being awarded on August 16, 1881. The company started in 1882 located in Springfield, Mass, as the J.H. Bullard & Co. later that year the name was changed to Bullard Repeating Arms Association, and on October 11, 1883 changed to Bullard Repeating Arms Co. Considered an exceptionally well designed and built lever action rifle, the company simply could not compete with Winchester and Marlin and shut the doors on January 1891. This example, serial number 2602, is marked two line on left side of receiver "BULLARD REPEATING ARMS COMPANY/SPRINGFIELD MASS. PAT. AUG.16,1881" and three line on front of receiver "CAL/45/85" receiver right side marked "MODEL 1886". Special ordered half octagon to round 28-inch barrel with half length magazine tube. Blue with case hardened receiver, lever, hammer, forearm cap, and rifle style crescent buttplate. Plain straight grip walnut stock and forearm. Standard barrel sights with tang mounted long-range elevator sight. CONDITION: Excellent overall with 95+% original thinning blue on barrel and magazine tube, elevator, and bottom tang. Most all the original fading case color is present on receiver, lever, and hammer. Wood is fine with most original finish remaining showing moderate wear with scattered light dents and scratches, with one sizable gouge on right side of stock at the heel of the buttplate. Bore is excellent, clean and bright. Overall a very fine special ordered and scarce Bullard large frame sporting rifle. -MKS-