November 17 & 18, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2021
Circa 1888. Considered to be rare in the collector market, Bullard were only produced from the mid 1880's to approximately 1890. The company fought for sales against the likes of Winchester, Marlin, and also the Whitney lever action rifles which were being built in this period. The heavy volume of competition really hampered their sales and with that, thus creating a very limited production run of approximately 10,000 to 12,000 pieces. This particular rifle is an excellent example of how good the Bullard rifles were. This special ordered extremely smooth operating rack and pinion large framed 28" octagon to round blued barrel is fit with a tangent rear sight marked "1873" with graduated lines marked "2" to "10" and a half nickel dovetail front sight. The top of the blued receiver reads "Cal 40" and the left side "BULLARD REPEATING ARMS COMPANY SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A. PAT. AUG.16 .1881.". The left side of the receiver has a small side plate that allows access to the mechanism inside and the loading gate for the tubular magazine is located on the underside of the receiver. Rifle features a full magazine and is equipped with a rifle-style ladder rear sight and a bladed front sight. Incredibly smooth operating lever, trigger and hammer are case hardened. The serial number (969) is on the rear of the frame just behind the hammer slot. The straight-grained, fiery, and feather-crotched smooth American walnut checkered serpentine pistol grip stock features a blued crescent steel buttplate. The matched checkered forend is capped by a matching blued steel tip. CONDITION: Very Good. Barrel with 95% original blue. Feeder tube with 95% original blue. Action and surrounding area with approximately 85% original blue with some light flaking on right. Lever action and trigger operate smoothly. Case colors strong with the slightest of fading. Stock and forend both very good with light handling marks. Beautiful and well-maintained rifle. CP
CORRECTION: "Cal 40" marking refers to the proprietary Bullard .40-70 cartridge, although the .40-60 Marlin and .40-65 WCF could be used interchangeably.