Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout us
Log InCreate Account
Rock Island Auction CompanyRock Island Auction Company
Contact us
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
Locations
Bedford, TX
3600 Harwood RoadBedford, Texas 76021, USA
Rock Island, IL
7819 42nd Street WestRock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
Hours
Monday - Friday8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Navigation
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout usAccount
More Info
Terms & ConditionsPrivacy PolicyJob postings & CareersOrder a catalogContact
Social media
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
Disconnected
Unable to connect to live update server, attempting reconnection. If this persists, please try refreshing your browser.
Disconnected state indicated by at top of page. If you cannot see this icon, you are connected.
Rock Island Auction Company
Hello.
Please Log In, or .

Home
Auctions
Consignment
Latest
FAQ
About us

  • /Auctions...
  • /Premier Firearms Auction #81

Premier Firearms Auction #81

December 04, 2020 to December 06, 2020
This auction has ended.
Log In to download catalog
Log In to download catalog
  • /Auctions...
  • /Premier Firearms Auction #81

Premier Firearms Auction #81

December 04, 2020 to December 06, 2020
This auction has ended.
Log In to download catalog
Log In to download catalog
Auction Time Summary
Preview DayThursday, Dec 3rd10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
SESSION IFriday, Dec 4th9 AMLots 1 through 712
SESSION IISaturday, Dec 5th9 AMLots 1000 through 1694
SESSION IIISunday, Dec 6th9 AMLots 3000 through 3625

To Be Sold At Auction


Preview Day Thursday December 3rd
Open at 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

SESSION I - Friday December 4th 
TIME: Commencing at 9 a.m. selling between Lots 1 and 712

SESSION II - Saturday December 5th
TIME: Commencing at 9 a.m. selling between Lots 1000 and 1694

SESSION III - Sunday December 6th
TIME: Commencing at 9 a.m. selling between Lots 3000 and 3625


Phone: 1-309-797-1500
Rock Island Auction Company
7819 42 Street West
Rock Island, Illinois, 61201, USA

For questions call us 309-797-1500 or email [email protected]

If you have questions on items in the auction please login to your account and click the button 'Ask a question' located under the detail description for each items detail page.

Phone: 1-309-797-1500

Toll-Free: 1-800-238-8022

Email: [email protected]

Rock Island Auction Company - Rock Island

7819 42nd Street West

Rock Island, IL, 61201, USA

Page 1 of 41
Showing 1-50 of 2,034 results
Lot 1
Factory Engraved Smith & Wesson No. 1 Repeating Pistol
This Volcanic, No. 1 Lever Action Repeating Pistol was manufactured by Horace Smith & Daniel B. Wesson in Norwich Connecticut c. 1854-55. This early No. 1 Type II pistol has the rarely encountered spur loading lever. The .31 caliber, four-inch, part-round/part-octagon barrel with integral magazine has a crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, steel clam-shell magazine follower and nickel-silver, pinch top front sight. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "SMITH & WESSON/NORWICH CT." in two lines. The right barrel flat is roll-stamped "CAST-STEEL", and the left flat is stamped "PATENT/FEB. 14.1854" in two lines. The iron receiver has two-piece, bag-shaped, rosewood grips, loading lever with finger hole and spur, single cartridge elevator spring screw, small semi-circular cut-out at the front of the ejection port and pinch top rear sight. The hammer has fine hand cut knurling on the spur. The serial number is stamped on the receiver in front of the lever and on the inside of both bag-shaped grips. "B 67" is stamped on the left side of the butt beneath the grip. All of the visible serial numbers match. The receiver top, sides, back strap, side plates and the back of the hammer are decorated with the open scroll engraving that was standard on S&W lever action pistols. The barrel originally was browned, and the receiver and lever had a high polish blue finish. The hammer and trigger are color casehardened. The rosewood grips have a high polish piano finish. S&W manufactured approximately 1,200 No. 1 Lever Action pistols in 1854-55. No. 1 pistols with spur levers are rare.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 31 Volcanic
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 2
Engraved New Haven Arms Co. No. 1 Pocket Pistol
This Volcanic No. 1 Lever Action Pocket Pistol was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. 1858. The pistol has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral six-shot magazine, brass receiver and loading lever with finger hole. The receiver sides, top, back strap and side plates are decorated with the extra cost factory open scroll engraving offered by the New Haven Arms Company. The 3 1/2-inch, .31 caliber, "Type III", non-ribbed barrel has a crowned muzzle, T-bar spring with flat edges, pinch-top font sight and thick, clam-shell shaped follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the legend: "NEW HAVEN CONN./PATENT FEB. 14.1854" in two lines. The receiver has a semi-circular cut-out at the front of the ejection port, dove tail mounted rear sight, hammer with coarse, hand-cut, knurling and two-piece walnut grips. The serial number is stamped on the left side of the butt beneath the grip and on the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. The barrel is blued, the receiver is natural brass, the hammer, lever and trigger are color casehardened; and the bolt, cartridge elevator and rear sight are fire blue. The walnut grips have a varnished piano finish. The New Haven Arms Company manufactured approximately 850 No.1 Lever-Action Pocket Pistols with 3 1/2-inch barrels between 1857 and 1860.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 31 Volcanic
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 3
Glass Winchester Store Display Gun Cabinet
This factory store display cabinet was manufactured circa early 1900s by Walrus Manufacturing Co. of Decatur, Il. for Winchester. (Brass manufactures plaque affixed underneath with this name, also number 6894 stenciled below this on interior side panel.) It is constructed of quarter sawed oak with full Depression glass panels and a cathedral top with glass panels. It stands approximately 73 inches in height on four legs and each side is 18 inches wide. The inside height is approximately 52 inches. There is a full length door (which is stamped "306" on the top). On the inside is a four sided rack which will hold 20 long guns. All four sides of the 5/8 inch thick rack are marked "WINCHESTER" in white and black bordered red letters with black lettered "PATENT APPLIED FOR" on a white background below. On the sides are shelf brackets to accommodate 6 shelves, (not included). The bottom of the case and the inner edge of the rack are lined with green felt. The original gold light metal makers seal is on the base of the cabinet. This style of cabinet is pictured on page 201 in the book "Winchester Rarities" by Kolowski.
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 4
Winchester Repeating Arms Co. Single "W" Cartridge Display Board
This Winchester Repeating Arms "W" cartridge board was manufactured around the 1890s and measures approximately 45 x 32 inches. The cartridges and components represented range from the tiny bb cap to the massive 4 gauge and total over 100 items not counting the individual caps. The main cartridge display forms a large "W" clearly signifying Winchester, and the background has attractive vignettes of a western hunter on the plains firing a Winchester while using his horse for cover and two hunters armed with Winchesters in a winter scene while the center has a brace of duck suspended from the "H" trademark. The original outer frame is absent and the display has been installed in an outer display box with glass front. Approximate total measurement: 52 x 38 3/4 x 4 3/8 inches.
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 5
Antique Winchester Deluxe Model 1894 Takedown Lever Action Rifle
Manufactured in 1894 per George Madis' serial number range. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail blade front sight (bead absent) and three folding leaf rear sight (second leaf slightly bent) and is stamped with the two-line address ahead of the rear sight and "30 WCF" at the breech. The upper tang is has the three-line model/patent date marking. The top of the receiver has a Winchester factory oval proof, suggesting that the rifle returned to the factory sometime in the 20th century. The deluxe "XXX" walnut forearm and pistol grip stock feature "H" style checkering. The pistol grip stock is fitted with a Winchester hard rubber grip cap and a crescent buttplate. The left side of the lower tang is marked "2644 XXX." The assembly number "2644" is repeated on the stock inlet and stock butt under the buttplate.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 30 WCF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 6
Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle
Manufactured in 1894 this fine Model 1873 is a third model with integral dust cover rail and dust cover with grip serrations at the rear. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail blade front sight and an elevation adjustable rear sight and is stamped with the two-line address/patent dates marking ahead of the rear sight and "44 W.C.F." at the breech. The caliber designation is also on the brass cartridge elevator: "44 CAL." "MODEL 1873" is stamped on the upper tang, and the lower tang has the serial number. The straight grip stock is fitted with a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included).
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 44-40 WCF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 7
Winchester Deluxe Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle
Manufactured in 1893. The rifle is fitted with a blade front sight, an elevation buckhorn rear sight and a folding tang peep sight. The top barrel flat is stamped with the two-line address marking ahead of the rear sight and "40-82 W.C.F." at the breech. The lower tang has the patent dates marking and the serial number. The deluxe "XX" walnut forearm and pistol grip stock feature "H" style checkering. The pistol grip stock features an ebony grip insert and is fitted with a solid crescent buttplate. The left side of the lower tang is marked "838 XX." The assembly number "838" is repeated on the stock inlet and buttplate.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 40-82 WCF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 8
Winchester "Double W" Cartridge Display Bullet Board
This is a very desirable bullet board showing the iconic "Double W" pattern of cartridges. A gold painted border is mounted around the green board which measures approximately 49 inches by 31 1/2 inches and a wood frame outside that. The board displays a dark green background, red and white lettering and vignettes of a duck, bear hunting scene, and a moose bust (see photograph). The display consists of various cartridges and shotgun shells and nine containers of primers, each described below in white lettering. The entire display has been installed in an outer, glass-fronted, display box that measures approximately 62 x 45 1/4 x 4 3/8 inches.
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 9
Winchester Model 94 Lever Action Saddle Ring Carbine
Manufactured in 1923. This outstanding, high condition Model 94 carbine is fitted with carbine sights, saddle ring on the left side of the receiver and nicely figured walnut carbine stock. The left side of the barrel has the two-line address/patent dates marking followed by the nickel steel marking and caliber designation. A Winchester factory oval proof is stamped on top of the barrel and receiver at the breech. The upper tang has the three-line model/trade mark information. According to the consignor, he purchased the carbine in 1960 from the late renowned firearms collector and expert Norm Flayderman out of a case of new unfired 94s.
Curio and Relic
Caliber / Gauge: 30 WCF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 10
Unique Documented Special Order Winchester Model 1895 Carbine
Manufactured in 1904 with the two-line address/patent marking on the left of the receiver, two-line nickel steel and caliber markings on the barrel, model designation on the upper tang, and serial number on the lower tang. Fitted with special order pinned beaded blade front, Lyman single folding leaf rear, and Lyman receiver mounted peep sights. The receiver was not drilled and tapped for, or fitted with a saddle ring to accommodate the peep sight. Mounted with a finger groove forearm, special ordered without the upper handguard and a straight grip stock with special order shotgun buttplate and length of pull which is hand marked in pencil on the buttstock under the plate "1/4 short", meaning the length of pull measures at 12 3/4 inches rather than the standard 13 inches. It is also fitted with special order sling swivel studs on the barrel band and buttstock. A very similar special order 1895 carbine, less than 1000 serial numbers away from this example is pictured in "The Winchester Book" by Madis on page 465. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration including "no sling ring etc" as well as receipt at the warehouse on 22 September 1904 and shipment on 21 September 1904 (factory error, likely shipped 23 September 1904).
Documentation
Curio and Relic
Caliber / Gauge: 30 U.S.
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 11
Grouping of Four Peep Sights and a Rear Sight for Rifles
1) Marlin elevation adjustable combination rear sight with notch and peep marked "MARLIN/PAT'D JUNE 30 1903". 2) Peep sight marked "PAT. JAN 29.79-MAY6.84". 3) Boxed Lyman No. 2 R14 peep sight for Remington slide action Models 14 and 141. Eye cup marked "WATSON/REG'D". 4) Marbles W12 peep sight, tagged as for Winchester Models 1895 and 1885. 5) Marbles No. W4 1/2 peep sight. Also included are a total of 6 tang mounting screws. All are contained in a generic plastic case.
Lot 12
Volcanic Repeating Arms Company Lever Action Navy Pistol
This Lever Action Navy pistol with eight-inch barrel was manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company c. 1856.This pistol has the distinctive brass receiver, octagon barrel with integral ten-shot magazine and loading lever with finger loop. The receiver has a natural brass finish, the barrel/magazine is high polish blue, the hammer and trigger are color casehardened and the rear sight, bolt, cartridge elevator and lever are fire blue. The two-piece walnut grips have a varnished piano finish. The .41 caliber, Type I, full ribbed, barrel has a crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, brass cone front sight and clam-shell shaped magazine follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the legend: "THE VOLCANIC/REPEATING ARMS CO./PATENT NEW HAVEN CONN. FEB. 14. 1854" in three lines. The brass receiver has semi-circular cuts on the front and rear of the ejection port and dove-tail mounted rear sight. The receiver lacks the factory engraving found on most Volcanic Repeating Arms pistols. The bolt has the early single hook extractor. A "Y" inspection mark is stamped on the left side of the loading lever and the right side of the butt beneath the grip. The serial number is stamped on the right side of the lever, right side of the butt beneath the grip and on the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. The Volcanic Repeating Arms Company manufactured approximately 1500 Lever Action Navy pistols with eight-inch barrels before it was reorganized as the New Haven Arms Company by Oliver Winchester in early 1857.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 41 Volcanic
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 13
Group of Assorted Volcanic and Jennings Ammunition
The Rocket Ball ammunition design was first patented by Walter Hunt in 1848. Hunt's design utilized the cavity of a Minie ball projectile to hold the propellant and was covered with a punctured base for ignition from an external source. This type of ammunition was used for the Hunt Repeating Rifle, Jennings Rifle, and Smith-Jennings Rifle. The design was improved upon by Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson by adding the primer to the ball making the ammunition completely self contained. This was used in the Smith & Wesson Lever Action Arms and Volcanic Arms. This lot contains two .54 caliber balls for a Jennings Rifle, 13 rounds of .41 Volcanic ammunition, and five rounds of .31 Volcanic ammunition.
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 14
New Haven Arms Co./Volcanic Repeating Arms Advertising Poster
The headline of the poster reads "VOLCANIC/REPEATING FIRE ARMS,/MANUFACTURED BY THE/NEW HAVEN ARMS COMPANY,/NEW HAVEN, CONN./(PATENTED, 1854.) The advertisement praises Volcanic pistols and rifles for their modernity and expresses their superiority over cap and ball revolvers. It also shows a price list for the different models as well as two testimonials of Volcanic Arms in sea service. It is dated "October, 1859". The poster measures 12x18 1/2 inches and is stored between two sheets of plexiglass.
Lot 15
"30 Bullet Holder" for Volcanic or New Haven Arms Pistols
Offered here is reportedly a one-of-a-kind "30 Bullet Holder" for either a Volcanic Repeating Pistol of a New Haven Arms Repeating Pistol. The design appears to allow for rapid loading of .31 Volcanic cartridges via a sliding door that, when opened, would drop the cartridges down the pistol's magazine tube. It is constructed of six pewter tubes soldered together with one end closed off and the other acting as the aforementioned door. This may be the product of an ingenuitive period craftsman looking for a way to speed the reloading process of his own pistol.
Lot 16
Volcanic Repeating Arms Advertising Poster
The poster shows a patent drawing of a Volcanic Pistol along with the company name at the top of the page. The body of the text explains how to load, fire, clean, and maintain the Volcanic Pistol and explain the new type of ammunition. The other side is listing reasons one should be interested in the pistol and singing the praise of the new action over traditional percussion revolvers as well as an ammunition price list. The back is also marked for James Carlton, an agent for Volcanic in Baltimore, MD. The poster measures some 10x12 inches and is between plexiglass.
Lot 17
Factory Engraved New Haven Arms Co. No. 2 Navy Pistol
This Factory engraved, silver-plated, lever action No. 2 Navy pistol was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. 1857. The New Haven Arms Company manufactured approximately 300 No. 2 Navy pistols with six-inch barrels. Most New Haven Arms No. 2 pistols were not factory engraved and had plain brass receivers. No. 2 Navy pistols with six inch barrels, factory engraving and silver-plated receivers, like this example, are rare. This pistol has the distinctive octagon barrel with integral eight shot magazine, silver-plated brass receiver and loading lever with finger hole. The .41 caliber, "Type I" barrel has a full rib, crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, cone-shaped brass front sight and clam-shell shaped magazine follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the New Haven Arms Company legend: "NEW HAVEN CONN./PATENT FEB. 14, 1854" in two lines. The sides, top, back strap and side plates of silver-plated brass receiver are decorated with the simple, open scroll, factory engraving utilized by the New Haven Arms Company. The receiver has shallow cut-outs on either end of the ejection port and a dove-tail mounted, rear sight. The bolt has a single hook extractor. The hammer has coarse, hand-cut, knurling on the spur. A "1" inspection mark is stamped on the left side of the loading lever and the left side of the butt beneath the grip. The right side of the loading lever, right side of the butt beneath the grip and inside of both grips are stamped with the serial number. All of the visible serial numbers match. The barrel has a high polish blue finish, the receiver is silver-plated, the loading lever, cartridge elevator, bolt and rear sight are fire blue. The hammer and trigger are color casehardened and the two piece walnut grips have a high polish piano finish.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 41 Volcanic
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 18
Winchester Repeating Arms Co. Single "W" Cartridge Display Board
This Winchester Repeating Arms "W" cartridge board was manufactured around the 1890s and measures approximately 45 x 32 inches not counting the outer oak frame. The cartridges and components represented range from the tiny bb cap to the massive 4 gauge and total over 100 items not counting the individual caps. The main cartridge display forms a large "W" clearly signifying Winchester, and the background has attractive vignettes of a western hunter on the plains firing a Winchester while using his horse for cover and two hunters armed with Winchesters in a winter scene while the center has a brace of duck suspended from the "H" trademark. The original display has been installed in an outer frame with glass display panel. Approximate total measurement: 50 3/4 x 37 3/4 inches.
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 19
Special Order Winchester Deluxe Model 1890 Slide Action Rifle
Manufactured in 1900. The accompanying factory letter lists this rifle with a 26 inch barrel in .22 Short, checkered fancy pistol grip stock, and birds eye maple stock when received in the warehouse on May 23, 1900 and shipped the same day. Lyman beaded round blade front and Winchester 32A elevation adjustable rear notch sights, second style barrel inscription, "22 SHORT" caliber marking on top barrel flat at the breech, full length nickel plated magazine tube, casehardened Second Model receiver, with hidden locking lugs, blue breech bolt, checkered casehardened hammer, and upper tang mounted flip up Lyman rear peep sight. Birds eye maple 12 groove slide handle and deluxe checkered pistol grip stock with hard rubber Winchester grip cap, and nickel plate buttplate. The left side of the lower tang is numbered "10062" as is the butt end of the stock, the inside of the buttplate is numbered "10084". According to the information on page 232 of "Winchester Slide Action Rifles: Volume I" by Ned Schwing only four birds eye maple buttstocks were ordered during the production of the casehardened variant Second Model 1890 Rifle accounting for just 7.1% of total buttstock production. The information given on pages 235 of the same book states that only 10, 26 inch barrels were manufactured during the Second Model period.
Documentation
Curio and Relic
Caliber / Gauge: 22 RF Short
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 20
New Haven Arms Company Henry Lever Action Rifle
This Henry lever action rifle was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company in 1866. Several sources state that the highest "known" Henry rifle serial number is "12832". However, Henry rifle serial numbers overlapped the serial numbers of Winchester Model 1866 rifles which begin about number "12476". Henry rifle serial numbers are believed to have continued as high as "14262". This rifle has the distinctive Henry octagon barrel with integral 15-shot magazine and brass receiver. The barrel has a nickel silver front sight blade with flat back and final pattern folding leaf rear sight with 900 yard center notch and elevation bar stop screw below the notch. The magazine has the large diameter brass follower and the bottom of the receiver has the later pattern, beveled, follower cut-out. The hammer has coarse hand knurling on the spur. The brass buttplate is the second pattern with sharply pointed heel. The buttplate has a hinged trap door. The rifle is complete with the four piece, jointed, steel cleaning rod with brass tip furnished with late production Henry rifles. The stock is straight grain American walnut. The left side of the stock has a sling swivel and the left side of the barrel has a screw-mounted loop for a sling hook. The sling swivel and loop were standard features on later production Henry rifles. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the larger, second style, legend: "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS CO. NEWHAVEN. CT." in two lines ahead of the rear sight. This legend uses all serif letters. The serial number "12885" is stamped: (1) on the top barrel flat between the rear sight and edge of the receiver, (2) inside the buttplate below the lower screw hole, (3) left side of the lower receiver tang beneath the stock and (4) in the stock upper tang inlet. All of the visible serial numbers match. The late style cap-head buttplate and tang screws are, correctly, not serial numbered. The barrel/magazine is blued, the receiver and buttplate are natural brass and the hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened. The stock is varnished with a semi-gloss finish.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 44 Henry RF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 21
Kittredge & Co. Marked Brass Belt Cartridge Box for .44 RF Rifle
This design was patented by Augustus Bennett on January 27, 1863 (reissue April 14) and produced by B. Kittredge & Co; originally as an accessory for the Frank Wesson rifles the firm was selling. The box was readily adaptable for use with the .44 RF cartridge (such as the Henry rifle, as described in Les Quick's book on the history of the Henry Rifle during the Civil War). Construction is solid brass with "B.KITTREDGE & CO. (partially obscured)/GUN DEALERS/CIN OHIO/PATENTED. JAN. 27. 1863/REISSUED APL.14. 63" stamped on the spring loaded lid, brass belt loops and nitre blued spring, and a round body.
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 22
Special Order Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle
The accompanying factory letter lists this rifle with an octagon barrel in .40-82 caliber, plain trigger, plain pistol grip stock and half magazine when received in the warehouse on April 16, 1889 and shipped on April 18. The rifle is fitted with a dovetail Lyman beaded blade front sight, an elevation adjustable rear sight and a Lyman folding tang peep sight. The top barrel flat is stamped with the two-line address ahead of the rear sight and the caliber designation "40-82 W.C.F." at the breech. The lower tang is marked with the serial number and two-line patent dates marking. The button magazine and standard straight grain walnut pistol grip stock are special order features. According to Winchester author George Madis, these special order features make for "a scarce and unusual combination" (see "The Winchester Book" on page 314). The forend cap, receiver, hammer, lever and solid crescent buttplate are casehardened, the loading gate is niter blue, and the barrel and bolt are blued. The buttstock features an ebony insert on the grip. The left side of the lower tang is stamped "965 CF." The "CF" is likely for "custom fit." The assembly number "965" is repeated on the stock inlet and buttplate.
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 40-82
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 23
Engraved New Haven Arms Company Volcanic Carbine
This Volcanic Lever Action Carbine was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. 1857. The carbine has a silver-plated brass receiver and buttplate with the standard New Haven Arms Company factory scroll engraving on the top and sides of the receiver and heel of the buttplate. The carbine has a 'Type II' barrel with half-rib that was originally manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company before it was re-organized as the New Haven Arms Company in April 1857. The distinctive octagon barrel and integral 20-shot magazine are blued. The barrel has a crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, half-moon, nickel-silver, front sight blade and brass, clam-shell shaped, magazine follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "NEWHAVEN CONN. PATENT FEB. 14. 1854" in one-line. The brass receiver has crescent cut-outs on the front and rear end of the ejection port and is fitted with a dove-tail mounted rear sight with knurled elevation wheel. The hammer has coarse, hand-cut, knurling on the spur. The bolt, rear sight, cartridge carrier, lever spring and screws have a fire blue finish. The hammer, trigger and lever are color casehardened. The straight grain American walnut stock has a high polish piano finish. The serial number "34" is stamped on the left side of the lower receiver tang beneath the stock, on the inside of the buttplate heel, on the heel of the stock beneath the buttplate and on the shanks of the hand-fitted buttplate and stock screws. All of the visible serial numbers match. The New Haven Arms Company manufactured approximately 1000 lever action carbines with 16- inch, 21-inch and 25-inch barrel between 1857 and 1860. Early production carbines, like this example, utilized some Volcanic Repeating Arms components.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 41 Volcanic
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 24
Special Order Nickel-Trimmed Model 1890 Slide Action Rifle
Manufactured in 1910 with special order two-tone finish (blue/nickel). The barrel and magazine are blue, the hammer is casehardened and the remaining surfaces are plated in nickel. According to Winchester slide action rifle expert and author Ned Schwing, only 1,340 Model 1890s received the factory half nickel finish within the serial number range 1-329,999 (see "Winchester Slide Action Rifles, Vol I," page 221). Although this rifle (410226) falls out of this serial number range examined by Schwing, these statistics nevertheless highlight the rarity of factory two-tone Model 1890s. The top barrel flat has the two-line address/patent dates marking followed by "-MOD. 1890-" ahead of the rear sight and "22 SHORT" at the breech. The upper tang is marked "WINCHESTER/TRADE MARK." Matching serial numbers are on the frame and lower tang. Fitted with dovetailed blade front and elevation adjustable rear sights.
Curio and Relic
Caliber / Gauge: 22 short
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 25
Etched Winchester Model 1890 Slide Action Rifle
Manufactured in 1919. Beaded blade front and elevation adjustable sporting notch rear sights, standard barrel markings, Winchester "WP" proofs on the barrel and receiver at the breech, acid etched floral and scroll motif panels on the receiver sides. On page 318 of "Winchester Engraving" by R.L. Wilson, there is a Model 12 photograph that identifies it as having "Deep etching by Phil Clundt" which is very similar to the embellishment on this particular Model 1890. Unfortunately, there is no factory record available for this particular rifle. Standard markings on the upper tang, and matching serial numbers on the receiver and lower tang. Short, twelve groove slide handle and highly figured checkered walnut pistol grip stock with hard rubber grip cap, and blue steel crescent buttplate.
Curio and Relic
Caliber / Gauge: 22 RF Short
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 26
Smith & Wesson No. 2, Type III Lever Action Repeating Pistol
This Smith & Wesson No. 2, Type III Lever Action Repeating Pistol was manufactured c. 1854. It has the distinctive Type III features which include: (1) streamlined frame without the hump behind the hammer, (2) crowned muzzle, (3) T-bar magazine spring and (4) lever with no finger spur. The eight-inch, part-round/part-octagon barrel with integral ten-shot magazine has a long muzzle collar, full rib and iron, clamshell shaped follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "PATENT/FEB 14. 1854," "SMITH & WESSONNORWICH. CT.," and "CAST STEEL" in three blocks. The iron frame has the streamlined profile associated with the large brass frame Volcanic Repeating Arms pistols. The frame has the single screw cartridge carrier used on S&W No. 2, Type I lever action pistols and flat ejection port ends. A simple v-shaped rear sight is mounted in a dovetail on the top of the frame. The loading lever lacks the finger spur found on most Type I and Type II No. 2 pistols. The pistol has S&W factory engraving consisting of open scroll and leaf designs on the top and sides of the frame, side-plates, back strap and back of the hammer. S&W used some variation in the scroll and leaf motif throughout production. Factory engraving was generally confined to the frame, and the limited and simple coverage was a means to attract sales appeal while keeping costs low. A few examples are known to have more elaborate embellishments and were meant as exhibition or presentation pieces. The lever reached the hands of the engraver. The modest engraving on the lever on this example is certainly a deviation from the standard practice. The embellishment consists of a dot motif set in a triple diamond pattern, and a star is engraved in each of the outer and center dots. Additional stars are featured on the lever ring. Truly a one-of-a-kind eloquent S&W motif. The barrel and frame are blued, and the hammer trigger and lever are casehardened. The two-piece, flared rosewood grips have a high gloss piano finish. The serial number "1" is stamped on the left side of the butt beneath the grip and on the top inside of both grips. The S&W No. 2, Type III pistols had their own serial number range - this is the prototype S&W No.2, Type III lever action repeating pistol. Total production of all three variations of the S&W No. 2 pistol was small; only about 500 large frame, .41 caliber pistols were manufactured. The Type III lever action pistols are the rarest of the S&W No. 2 pistol series. This pistol was formerly of the famed Robert Sutherland collection and is pictured and identified in R.L. Wilson's "The Book of Colt Firearms" on page 67.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 41 Volcanic
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 27
Engraved Smith & Wesson No. 2 Lever Action Repeating Pistol
This early production S&W No.2 Lever Action Repeating pistol with deluxe finish is pictured on page 28 of "VOLCANIC FIREARMS" by Edmund Lewis and Stephen Rutter. The pistol has deluxe scroll and floral engraving on the top and sides of the barrel flats, sides and top of the frame, side plates, back strap, butt and top of the hammer. The left side plate is engraved with a shield surrounded by scrollwork and the right side plate is engraved with a cherub and urn. A harp and a scroll are engraved on the sides of the receiver ahead of the side plates. The back strap and sides of the receiver have gold inlaid scrollwork and line borders. The top barrel flat is inlaid with a gold band. The entire pistol is silver-plated with the exception of the rear sight which is gold-plated. The two-piece rosewood grips are silver-mounted with engraved silver caps at the junction with the frame and engraved silver screw escutcheons. This No. 2, Type II, pistol has a frame with prominent hump behind the trigger and eight-inch part-round/part-octagon barrel with integral ten-shot magazine. The barrel has a crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, brass pinch-top front sight and steel, clam-shell magazine follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "SMITH & WESSON/PATENT/FEB. 14. 1854" in three lines. The frame has a simple dove-tail mounted rear sight, election port with square front and rear ends and single lever-spring screw. The hammer has fine, hand-cut, knurling on the spur. The loading lever has the distinctive finger hole but lacks the finger spur found on the earliest No. 2 pistols. The serial number, "81", is stamped on the left side of the butt beneath the grips. This pistol was most likely custom-engraved and gold inlaid as a display or presentation piece and may well be the most heavily decorated Volcanic pistol extant.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 41 Volcanic
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 28
Smith & Wesson No. 2 Lever Action Repeating Pistol
This Early production No. 2 Lever Action Repeating pistol was manufactured by Horace Smith & Daniel Wesson in Norwich, Connecticut c. 1854. The pistol has a six inch, part round/part octagon barrel with integral 10-shot magazine, 'Type I' frame with pronounced hump behind the trigger. The two-piece rosewood grips have a flared butt. The barrel has a flat muzzle that is flush with the end of the magazine and flat magazine lock spring attached to the end of the spring chamber by a screw. The barrel has a pinch-top front sight blade and the magazine has a steel, clam-shell follower with slotted top. The top barrel flat is roll stamped: "PATENT SMITH &WESSON/NORWICH CT. CAST-STEEL". The steel frame has the distinctive cocking lever with finger spur, screw-fastened rear sight, cartridge carrier with single lever spring screw, ejection port with flat front and rear ends and hammer with fine knurling on the spur. The sides and top of the frame, back strap and top of the hammer are factory engraved with open scroll and floral designs. The barrel was originally browned, the frame blued and the hammer, trigger and lever blued or casehardened. The two-piece rosewood grips have a high polish piano finish. The serial number, "52" is stamped on the left side of the butt beneath the grips, on the back face of the rear sight and penciled on the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. Smith & Wesson manufactured fewer than 500 No. 2 Lever Action pistols in 1854 and 1855. Early production No. 2 Pistols are rare, especially with the shorter 6 inch barrel.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 41 Volcanic
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 29
New Haven Arms Co. Plain Frame No.1 Lever Action Pocket Pistol
This No. 1 Lever Action Pocket Pistol was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company c. 1858. This pistol has a plain brass frame which is much less common than the New Haven Arms Company pistols with factory engraved frames. The barrel and integral, six-shot, magazine, bolt, cartridge carrier and rear sight have a high polish blue finish. The two-piece walnut grips have a high polish piano finish. The barrel has a crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, clam-shell shaped brass follower and steel, pinch-top front sight. The barrel lacks the full or partial rib found on barrels manufactured by the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "NEW HAVEN CONN. PATENT FEB. 14. 1854" in one line. The brass frame is not plated, has crescent cut-outs on either end of the ejection port and a simple, dove-tail mounted, rear sight. The hammer has coarse, hand-cut, knurling on the spur. The serial number, "292" is stamped on the left side of the butt beneath the grips and on the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. The New Haven Arms Company manufactured approximately 850 No. 1 Lever Action Pocket pistols with four-inch barrels between 1857 and 1860. No.1 Pocket Pistols that lack the extra cost factory frame engraving are scarce. This pistol is pictured in "Volcanic Firearms" by Lewis and Rutter on page 73.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 31 Volcanic
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 30
Special Order Swiss Butt Winchester Model 1885 Rifle
This is an exceptional example Winchester Model 1885 "High Wall" breech loading rifle with Cody Firearms Museum letter. The letter lists the rifle features as: (1) Caliber 38/55, (2) No. 3, 30-inch octagon barrel, (3) double set trigger, (4) Mid-range Vernier and Wind Gauge sights and (5) Swiss buttplate. The letter states this rifle was shipped from Winchester on December 5, 1895, and returned and re-shipped in June 1896. The rifle has a blue barrel, color casehardened receiver, breechblock, hammer and lever and a nickel plated Swiss buttplate. The stock and forearm are straight grain American walnut with a piano finish. The forearm tip has an ebony inlay. The standard weight full octagon No.3 barrel has a globe front sight with spirit level and factory blank in the rear sight dovetail. A folding Vernier rear sight with peep is mounted on the upper receiver tang. The rifle has factory double set triggers. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped "- MANUFACTURED BY THE -/- WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.-" in two lines ahead of the rear sight blank. The caliber designation "38-55" is stamped on the top barrel flat ahead of the receiver. The serial number "72713" is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang behind the tang screw.
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 38-55 Win
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 31
Cased Set of Winchester Mid-Range Vernier and Wind Gauge Sights
Sights like these are typically what would have been used on the Winchester High Wall target rifles as well as various lever action Winchester models with this example being for the desirable model 1876 and so marked, "76" under base. This set consists of a mid-range vernier rear sight that has a fixed base and is adjustable for elevation only. The side of the staff is graduated from "0-75" and is equipped with an eye-cup. This set also has an original Winchester wind gauge front sight that is laterally adjustable and is also equipped with a spirit level on the back side. The front sight is complete with five different inserts. The complete sight set is stored in an original black leatherette Winchester case which has a lid marked "WINCHESTER/MID-RANGE/VERNIER/AND/WIND GAUGE /SIGHTS."
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 32
Cased Set of Winchester Vernier and Windgauge Sights
These scarce items are typically what would have been used on the Winchester High Wall target rifles, as well as various lever actions. This set consists of a mid-range vernier rear sight that has a fixed base and is adjustable for elevation only. The side of the staff is graduated from "0-3" with 25 yard increments and is equipped with an eye-cup. This set also has an original Winchester wind gauge front sight that is laterally adjustable and equipped with a spirit level on the back side as well as a No. 17 Lyman globe sight (Winchester Series 67). There are five different inserts for the front sights. The complete sight set is stored in an original black/maroon leatherette Winchester case which is marked "WINCHESTER/VERNIER/AND/WIND GAUGE /SIGHTS." on the lid.
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 33
Special Order Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle
Manufactured in 1886 with several special order features. The accompanying factory letter lists this rifle with an extra length 28 inch octagon barrel, set trigger and bird's eye maple stock (all special order features) when received in the warehouse on July 3, 1886 and shipped the same day. The barrel is fitted with a dovetail sight base (blade absent) and an elevation adjustable rear sight and is marked with the two-line address/patent dates marking ahead of the rear sight and "44 CAL." The third model receiver has a dust cover with grip serrations at the rear. The model designation is stamped on the upper tang, and the caliber designation is stamped on the cartridge elevator. The buttstock is fitted with a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included). The left side of the lower tang is marked "EM 1049 XX EM." The assembly number "1049" is repeated on the stock inlet and buttplate. The 28 inch barrel is a special order feature as the standard rifle length was 24 inches. "Comparatively few Winchesters were made with non-standard length barrels," noted Winchester author George Madis. Set triggers were available on the Model 1873 but only as a special order feature and are generally found on Model 1873 without other special features. As for the bird's eye maple stock, it is certainly a rarely encountered special order feature on any Winchester. This Model 1873 has an extremely scarce combination of special order features that this writer has never cataloged before.
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 44 WCF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 34
Winchester Model 1866 Lever Action Rifle
The Model 1866 or "improved Henry" was one of the earliest and most widely used repeating rifles in the American West and saw use in conflicts over land, gold, and other resources on the frontier in the second half of the 19th century in the hands of settlers, Native Americans, outlaws, lawmen, and hunters. '66s were famously used by multiple Native American warriors during the Battle of Little Bighorn, and many commentators, both now and in the period, including Montana pioneer Granville Stuart, have questioned how that battle's outcome would have differed if the U.S. soldiers were also armed with repeating firearms. Interestingly, the Model 1866 was in fact among the first repeating firearms used by militaries, but it was Native Americans warriors and French and Ottoman soldiers that used them on the battlefield. It is the direct descendant of the Henry rifle and traces its lineage back to earlier repeaters like the Volcanics. This Third Model was manufactured in 1872 and has a German silver blade front sight, folding two leaf rear sight period modified from the original ladder sight, two-line address/King's improvement patent barrel marking, absent forend sling swivel, sling swivel on the buttstock, serial number along with "FS" on the lower tang and trapdoor brass buttplate (cleaning rod not included). Comes with an oval "830" marked collection tag.
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 44 RF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 35
Special Order Winchester Deluxe First Model 1873 Rifle
Deluxe, special order, Winchester Model 1873 rifle manufactured in 1874. The rifle is accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter that describes "Model 1873, serial number 530", as: "Type: Rifle, Barrel Type: Octagon, Barrel Length: 24 inches, Trigger: Set, Checkered stock, Sights: Peep and Beach sights, Casehardened, Sling-Swivels" and "Target: 2-1/2". (This "Target" notation in the letter is the predecessor idea that led to the eventual marketing of the famed "One of One Thousand" rifles!) The letter states that this rifle was shipped from the Winchester warehouse on March 10, 1874. This rifle has the very desirable First Model receiver with grooved dust cover guides and a dust cover with highly desirable raised, checkered, 'thumbprint'. The full-octagon barrel has a correct dovetail mounted steel sporting style front sight and sporting style buckhorn rear sight with knurled edges installed with the front of the sight facing the receiver. The upper tang is factory drilled and tapped and has over-size screws in the tang sight mounting holes. The receiver has a factory single set trigger. Factory eyelets for removable sling swivels are mounted on the forearm cap and stock. The crescent steel buttplate has a sliding brass trapdoor. The stock and forearm are highly figured, fancy grade walnut with a semi-gloss finish and the first style Winchester checkering with a scalloped border on the wrist at the receiver wrist junction. The stock has the very rare "perch belly"/extra drop configuration. The barrel and magazine are blued. The loading gate has a fire blue finish. The forearm cap, frame, dust cover, hammer, trigger, lever and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "WINCHESTER'S-REPEATING ARMS. NEW HAVEN. CT./KING'S-IMPROVEMENT-PATENTED-MARCH 29. 1866. OCTOBER 16. 1860" in two lines ahead of the rear sight. The upper receiver tang is roll-stamped: "MODEL. 1873." in fancy letters. The serial number, "530" is stamped in script numerals on the lower tang between the lever latch and the rear tang screw. There are, correctly, no caliber markings on the barrel and cartridge elevator. Winchester First Model 1873 rifles are rare in any configuration: first year production rifles with deluxe, special order, features and finishes are almost non-existent. Writer does not recall ever seeing an earlier example of a Deluxe 1873!
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 44 WCF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 36
Winchester Model 1876 .50 Express Rifle
The accompanying factory letter lists this rifle with an octagon barrel and plain trigger when received in the warehouse on July 19, 1882 and was shipped the next day (it does not, however, mention the .50 Express caliber!) The second model receiver has a dust cover guide rail attached to with two screws. The dust cover is marked "WINCHESTER EXPRESS/.50 CAL 95 GRS." The cartridge elevator is marked "50-95." The barrel has the two-line address/patent dates marking stamped ahead of the rear sight and ".50 CAL. EXPRESS" stamped at the breech. A leather sling is included. The straight grip stock has a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included). It is fitted with a Freund's patent blade front sight and a Freund's patent folding ladder rear sight graduated from 2 to 10. The base of the rear sight is marked with a June 29, 1880 patent date. The rear sight has the date of the "More Light" sight patent which was jointly held by Frank and George Freund (see Balentine's "Freund & Bro.: Pioneer Gunmakers to the West" on page 241). Like many in the American firearms industry in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Freund brothers Frank W. and George were German immigrants. They had various temporary shop locations as they followed the Union Pacific westward and established more permanent shops in Denver, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, where they regularly modified firearms, particularly Sharps rifles, to fit their customer's needs. They sold rifles to the likes of generals Philip Sheridan and George Cook, as well as Theodore Roosevelt. In addition to mechanical alterations and creating new configurations, the Freunds also designed new sights. Includes a period leather cartridge belt holding 14 rounds of .50 Express and 5 brass casings.
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 50-95 Express
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 37
U.S. Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor Sporting Rifle
This distinctive rifle began its life as a standard Model 1873 Trapdoor and was converted in the period for use as a hunting/sporting rifle. Similar rifles are known to have been made by Gemmer in St. Louis and Spangenberg & Co. of Tombstone, Arizona Territory, for sale to clients for use in the West, and modified Springfields are known to have been popular with buffalo hunters. "Wild Bill" Hickock and "Buffalo Bill" Cody are two legendary western figures known to have used these rifles. This rifle's barrel has a dovetailed "Rocky Mountain" blade front sight and dovetailed "U-notch" rear sight and has the partial marking "E RIFLE/EPORT CONN" visible at the breech. The bottom of the barrel is fitted with two dovetailed wiping rod pipes. The serial number and model markings were removed from the breech, but the block has a high arch and is marked "C" and "63" inside. The lock has the U.S. seal and "U.S./SPRINGFIELD" markings and has an added sear screw. The stock has a pewter forend cap similar to those common on half-stock percussion rifles and Sharps sporting rifles and a checkered steel buttplate.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 45-70
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 38
Engraved Hopkins & Allen Blue Jacket No. 2 Revolver
Manufactured in the late 19th century. Engraved similar to other engraved Hopkins & Allen revolvers with primarily scroll patterns, standard markings and features, and matching numbered grips.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 32 RF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 39
Engraved Hopkins & Allen XL No. 5 Revolver with Pearl Grips
Manufactured c. 1870s-1880s. Standard markings. Extensive classic scroll engraving with punch dot backgrounds, intertwining line designs, and a scene of a sailing ship on the left side plate. Smooth pearl grips.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 38 RF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 40
Engraved Hopkins & Allen Ranger No. 2 Revolver
Manufactured around the 1870s-1890s. Engraved with floral patterns.
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 32 RF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 41
Engraved Hopkins & Allen XL No. 3 Revolver with Box
This late 19th century revolver has outstanding scroll and line engraving covering a high percentage of the metal surfaces. The design on the left side plate is particularly noteworthy and includes a disgorging bestial mask. The "figure 8" style scroll patterns between the cylinder flutes are also very interesting. Matching serial numbers are located on the barrel, cylinder, and inside of the grips. The trigger also appears to have the matching number and the assembly number "Z" that is also found on the barrel. The barrel has a round blade front sight, and the top strap has an integral notch rear sight and "HOPKINS & ALLEN MFG. CO./XL. No. 3/PAT. MAR. 28. 1871. APR. 27. 1875." It is fitted with a lovely pair of pearl grips. The included box has a "No./3" and "X.L. Revolver./32 Cal./New Model./RIM FIRE." label on the left and a similar "X.K. No. 3. Revolver./NEW MODEL./32 CALIBRE./RIM FIRE." label on top. The box is not numbered.
Has Box
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 32 RF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 42
Granville Stuart's 1 of 1,000 Winchester Model 1873 Rifle
This incredible Model 1873 is one of only two One of One Thousand rifles to have the “Style Three” barrel inscription and is arguably the most significant western frontier firearm Rock Island Auction Company has had the pleasure of bringing to public sale, a tremendous statement given the number of incredible guns from the West that pass through our doors each year. It has it all: immense rarity, exceptional quality, and an unquestionable pedigree starting with ownership by "Mr. Montana" himself, Granville Stuart, one of the most iconic Montana pioneers recognized for his influence in his own time, a gold rusher, a stockman alongside Theodore Roosevelt, a frontier politician and international diplomat, the leader of the vigilante group Stuart’s Stranglers, and an all-around tough guy. This historic rifle found its way to RIAC by way of the western historical arms collection of the late John E. Fox of Montana and includes documents dating back decades to when the rifle remained in the possession of Stuart’s grandson and copies of original documents reaching back to Stuart’s original order for the rifle in the 1870s. Mr. Fox truly treasured this rifle and noted: “The 1873 Winchester is said to be ‘The Gun that Won the West.’ This rifle is clearly ‘The Winchester that Won the West.’ Historically this rifle is one of ‘the Treasures of Montana.’” Not surprisingly given how well-known and well-documented this rifle is, it has been featured in several publications, including: "The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles" by Lewis on pages 36-39, "The Peacemakers: Arms and Adventure in the American West" by Wilson on page 224, and "Winchester's New Model of 1873 A Tribute Volume II" by Gordon on 384-389. In the first book, Lewis writes, “The story of Granville Stuart is, in many ways, the story of the Montana Territory and the fledgling state of Montana.” “His elegant rifle, along with his brother Thomas’ rifle, are the only ones to have the Style Three barrel inscription. At the time the Stuart rifles were produced, the ‘standard’ type of barrel inscription was the Arabic 1 of 1000. Serial number 7282 [this rifle] [is] listed in the warehouse records as ‘Engraved Granville Stuart’ and as having XXXX checkered wood along with Vernier and wind gauge sights. This elegant and historic rifle was the tenth reported in the Winchester ’73 motion picture search and is illustrated in the Hannagan Report.” In “Peacemakers,” the rifle and the included western pack saddle are presented with a selection of other Stuart firearms from the western arms collection of the late John Fox that appear in this auction. In the last book, Model 1873 expert Gordon writes, “Few historic guns have as much interesting documentation as serial number 5611 and 7282, both 1 of 1000s.” 5611 was ordered for Granville’s brother Thomas and is also pictured and discussed in “The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles.” The included factory letters lists it as 1 of 1,000 rifle with an octagon barrel, set trigger, XXXX checkered stock, Vernier peep and windgauge sights, casehardened finish, and Granville Stuart engraving. It was received in the warehouse on August 13, 1875, and shipped on August 21, 1875, in order 3514. Only 132 One of One Thousands were ever manufactured making them among the rarest and certainly the most desirable of all Winchester firearms. Despite their special nature, relatively few One of One Thousands were engraved beyond the barrel inscriptions, adding even further to the unique nature of this rifle. Granville and Thomas Stuart’s One of One Thousands are the only two Model 1873s deemed by Gordon and Lewis in their respective books to have the “Third Style” barrel inscription that was based specifically on Granville Stuart’s own complaints about the earlier style and are distinct from later versions since their upper left and right barrel flats are not engraved. The rifle has “Granville Stuart/1875” on the left side plate accented by scroll and geometric line engraving, an inlaid silver band at the muzzle, a dovetailed globe front sight, an adjustable sporting rear sight, the “Third Style” “One of One Thousand” in script engraving in a decorative banner with floral finials on top of the barrel at the breech followed by another inlaid silver band, scroll engraving on the top of the receiver and around the checkered oval “thumbprint” on the late First Model style dust cover which rides in grooves mortised in the front section of the frame, more scroll around the screw in the top of the frame, a border around the hammer well terminating in a scroll accent ahead of the adjustable peep rear sight, “Model. 1873.” on the tang under the sight, wavy borders on the sides and bottom of the frame with slight scroll accents, three sets of scrolls on the right side of the frame, scrolls at the front and rear of the frame on the left, the serial number engraved on the lower tang, and, correctly, no caliber marking on the elevator. The stock and forearm are checkered, and the 4x deluxe walnut buttstock has absolutely exceptional figure. The buttplate is marked “452” inside at the toe, and the stock compartment contains two sections of a cleaning rod. Adding significantly to this rifle's already considerable historical interest and value is the fact that this One of One Thousand was ordered specifically because the advertised enhanced accuracy of these rifles over regular Model 1873s was specifically what Stuart was looking for because he intended his rifle to see actual use on the frontier for defense against Native American attacks, meting out "frontier justice" to rustlers and outlaws, hunting, and target shooting. Copies of Stuart’s correspondence included with the various firearms in the Fox collection clearly demonstrate his keen awareness and interest in the firearms advancements of the late 19th century. The One of One Thousand program was announced in 1873 and more fully explained in Winchester’s 1875 catalog under the headline “Variety of Arms.” The details of this section are covered in depth in Lewis’ book and the most relevant section is worth reporting here to show why a man like Granville Stuart would have been drawn to order these expensive rifles for use on the Montana frontier: “Every Sporting Rifle we make will be proved and shot at a target, and the target will be numbered to correspond with the barrel and be attached to it. When one hundred barrels are thus proved, the one making the best target will be selected and set aside, and another hundred proved in the same way, and so on until one thousand have been tested and ten targets selected with the barrels with which they were made. They will then be made up into Guns, in which each part is selected with the utmost care and finished in the finest manner. They will then be again subjected to trials for accuracy, and the best of the ten selected and marked ‘One of a thousand,’ the price of which will be $80.00 to $100.00. The other nine will be marked ‘one of a hundred,’ and the price will be from $60.00 to $75.00 each. Sportsmen will readily see that this severe process of gleaning will be a slow and expensive one, and the result be but a limited number of choice Guns, and that orders should be given in advance of their wants, or patience exercised with the necessary delay of filling them.” A regular Model 1873 for comparison cost $50 when the rifles were first debuted. The included period documentation on this rifle begins even before it left the factory and includes copies of letters from Granville Stuart to Winchester explicitly laying out what he wanted for his 1 of 1,000. In fact, he was so specific, that this rifle was actually the third 1 of 1,000 ordered by Granville Stuart, because he returned the first two (one for himself and one for his brother Thomas) because they did not meet his specifications and expectations based on Winchester’s advertisement. In addition to the included copies and transcriptions of Stuart’s letters, they are also in part transcribed in the pages in the books above. His original order from October 22, 1874, requests: “Two of your ‘One in a Thousand Rifles, 24 inch, Octagon barrels, set triggers, & finely engraved, in fact the finest guns made by you, but not plated, Model of 1873, (center fire) fitted with hunting sights, and also peep rear sight, with Beach front sight. Also wiping rod and all appurtenances & leather case for each, full length of the gun." He added, “If these guns are as accurate as they should be . . .and as well finished as described I think many can be sold in this territory.” On November 15, 1874, he noted that his goal was to get rifles “in superior finish” and desired the rifles be “as nearly absolutely accurate as you can make them” since they intended to use them in shooting matches. An included ledger copy from May 1875 lists “for ‘One of a thousand’ Winchester rifle 122.50.” among other expenditures including ammunition for the rifle, candy, castrating horses, and other regular expenditures. Upon receiving the first rifles, he wrote to Winchester on May 20th, 1875, stating “The two 1 of 1000 rifles order by me arrived in good order but I am disappointed in them because you did not send such as I ordered, nor do you give any explanation why you did not follow the terms of the order.” After repeating the above order, he notes that Winchester had initially said they could not send a One of One Thousand meeting his specification for some months but could send “a very fine gun, finished in accordance with my instructions.” He wrote back tell them he wanted nothing but One of One Thousand Rifles and repeated that he wanted “’two of your very finest finished (not plated) one of a thousand rifles.’ Now with the exception of the wood in the Model 1873, I do not see that the guns are any better finished you’re your common ones, there is not a single line of engraving on them, and you did not send a hunting front sight nor a Beach front sight, nor did you send the leather cases, and although you state the sights are adjusted to 1000 yards, yet I find upon [inspection] that their greatest range is only 850 yards.” He notes that he has “some cause to be dissatisfied with” Winchester’s handling of his order but did note that his rifle “shoots remarkably well.” He also noted in a letter on June 14, 1875, that the new rifles should come with both hunting sights and globe and peep sights and the latter graduated out to 1,000 yards and “on some appropriate place on this latter engrave in fancy text surrounded by a wreath of flowers my name and date this, ‘Granville Stuart 1875; and on the other ‘Thomas Stuart 1875’ in same styles. The guns of course to be ‘one of a thousand,’ engraved and finished in your best style. I also want the words ‘One of a Thousand in fancy letters and surrounded by a wreath or other appropriate border for the figures on those guns you sent before, ‘1 of 1000’ are neither neat nor of a handsome appearance.” In this statement, you can credit Granville Stuart with generating the distinctive Third Style inscription on this rifle and his brother Thomas’ and the Fourth Style that followed. He also specified a casehardened finish. He tried to sell the two original rifles at the reduced rate of $75 each while waiting for the new rifles to arrive but ultimately sent them back on February 17, 1876. The staff at the Winchester factory clearly took their time to this time around to ensure he was satisfied with this rifle by truly supplying some of the finest wood we've ever seen on a Model 1873 and tastefully embellishing and inscribing the rifles personally for Stuart and his brother, and they certainly succeeded in satisfying their customer. On September 6, 1875, he wrote that the rifles "which arrived yesterday are perfect in every particular, they are far superior to any rifle made, except for very long range shooting, and I am not sure that I will not make even that exception for today at my first trial of my gun I made 45 out of a possible 60 at 500 yards, and I expect to be able to reach 55 at my next trial. When I get it down to a scratch, I will send you some of my scores." One of his friends was so impressed by the Stuart brothers’ rifles that he had Stuart order him a One of One Thousand on May 23, 1876. Winchester surprised his friend by making it more deluxe than was ordered. On July 26, 1876, Stuart wrote to them with the $105.75 payment for that rifle stating the rifle “is a magnificent gun and exceeds any anticipations, as I had not expected any engraving or peep & combination front sights for which accept my thanks. It is indeed a beauty and the friend for whom I ordered it is in ecstasies over it and well he may be for if the Sioux should come a little further up this way it will be a mightily handy thing to have in the house. If poor Custer’s heroic band had been armed with these rifles they would have covered the earth with dead Indians for 500 yards around and it is probable a portion of them [meaning Custer’s men] would have been alive when Gibbon and Terrys forces reached the bloody field. Why the Government does not adopt your arms is beyond any comprehension.” Clearly Winchester had succeeded in pleasing Stuart and establishing themselves a healthy reputation on the Montana frontier. The rifle's provenance is outlined in included letters from Stuart’s grandson Granville Stuart Abbott (son of Mary Stuart Abbott and Edward C. “Teddy Blue” Abbott) from December 1960 and his great-grandson Dance E. Abbott from November 1986. Per the former, “From the time” Granville Stuart “acquired this rifle, he carried it constantly as he rode the Montana range.” The grandson received the rifle from Granville Stuart in 1912 when he was 11 years old and noted his grandfather “went at great lengths to properly inform me just what that magic lettering meant” referring to the “One of One Thousand” barrel inscription. “In short it was a barrel that was super accurate. Even today many years later, that barrel is just as accurate as the day Grandfather gave it to me.” Stuart’s great-grandson also used this rifle in 1958 when he was eleven years old to shoot his first deer, and confirms in an included letter that his father sold the rifle shortly thereafter. Also included are original documents sent to Granville Stuart Abbott by James C. Hartley of Winchester in 1950 in relation to the well-known nationwide search for One of One Thousand Winchester Model 1873s confirming that the rifle was genuine and shipped on August 21, 1875. Abbott received a free Winchester Model 94 for reporting the rifle. It appears that the rifle was acquired by Norm Flayderman in early 1961. He wrote the included copy of a letter to Curator Thomas Hall of the Winchester Gun Museum on February 3, 1961, seeking more information. The original reply from Hall three days later indicates the rifle was identified in the factory records as a 1 of 1,000 rifle with octagon barrel, casehardened receiver, “very good stock” (a tremendous understatement!), set trigger, and “Granville Stuart” inscription that was shipped on August 21, 1875. The rifle was featured on the cover of Flayderman’s 61st catalog and described within as: “Without question, one of the most historical & important Western American pieces ever offered for sale is this ‘ONE OF ONE THOUSAND’ marked early Winchester factory engraved 1873. . .bearing the name of Montana’s most famed early citizen and Vigilante Captain.” He also notes the rifle was “actually used in his Vigilante activities,” and “This gun has come directly through the Stuart family by direct descent. . .” John Fox had the rifle appraised in 1977 indicating he owned it by that time. Granville Stuart (1834-1918) led a remarkable life that parallels the history of the American West and was a gold miner, Montana pioneer, rancher, vigilante leader of “Stuart’s Stranglers,” author, and statesman among other vocations. He has been called the “Father of Montana” and “Mr. Montana” and was a nationally known figure in his own time and lived the most notable years of his life as a pioneer in Montana in the second half of the 19th century. His life story was a grand adventure with gold, shootouts, travels through dangerous conditions, conflicts with Native Americans, and even years spent in faraway lands that certainly feel like a story you might have heard or seen before in a Western but when you get into the details, his life was even more grisly and fascinating than anything you’ll see on the silver screen. Even more than his counterpart Theodore Roosevelt, Stuart represented the rugged individualism that the West was famous for. He certainly had his own complicated and controversial views on race, religion, alcohol, and justice that sometimes were reflective of the frontier community and other times much more advanced. He was well-read on a wide variety of subjects, spoke multiple languages, and even published the first Shoshone to English dictionary. His actions and those of the men he led, then as now, are understandably controversial, but you couldn't argue they aren't riveting. In 2008, he was a Legacy Inductee into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame, and not surprisingly, he and the vigilantes he led have been the subject of popular and historical publications for generations. Some of these works, in addition to included documentation, have provided many of the following details of his life. Stuart was born in what is now West Virginia and spent the majority of his youth living in Eastern Iowa and learned to shoot and hunt not far from our facilities and gained a fond appreciation for firearms that lasted the rest of his life. His father Robert Stuart went to California as a ‘49er during the Gold Rush, and Stuart and his brother James (1832–1873) followed him out to the gold fields two years later in 1851. When the brothers attempted to return home to Iowa in 1857, they were blocked by a severe bout of illness that left Granville bedridden along with the violence of the Mormon War which sent them on a different path that forever changed their lives. They ended up in Montana, then still part of the Oregon Territory. In 1858, they found gold on the aptly named Gold Creek and founded the town of Deer Lodge. Over the following years they were owners or partners in several local businesses, among them a blacksmith and gunsmithing shop as well as multiple mercantile stores. In 1862, James became the local sheriff and the brothers got their first taste of vigilante justice. Though some of the suspects received semi-official “miners trials,” popular opinion rather than strict facts decided the cases which often ended in hasty hangings and at least one of the attempted arrests led a deadly shootout. One of those hanged under Sheriff Stuart’s oversight was hundreds of miles outside of his jurisdiction, but the Stuart brothers weren’t to be messed with and had no patience for horse thieves. The following year, James led an expedition to Yellowstone during which James is believed to have carried the Sharps Model 1853 rifle in lot 47. The expedition came under attack from the Crow who killed two of Stuart’s men, and another died in relation to a negligent discharge. In the Civil War years, the region was largely isolated from the war, but Granville Stuart recorded details of another round of violence in the territory centered on Sheriff Henry Plummer of Bannack and Virginia City. Plummer was a convicted murder linked to multiple killings even before he took office and led a gang of road agents plaguing the isolated trails between the frontier settlements. Sheriff Plummer and his associates were not voted out of office or arrested by superior authorities. They were publicly hanged by local or went down in hails of bullets or flames. The Stuart brothers continued to remain locally prominent and expanded their business holdings. Granville was a territorial legislator, town councilman, county commissioner, school board member, and prison commissioner and rose to have a Davy Crockett like reputation back in Iowa by the time he returned for a visit after the Civil War. Before this rifle was ordered, his beloved brother James died of a gastrointestinal disease. Perhaps this loss led him to be more actively connected to his own younger brother Thomas since he was now the patriarch of the family in Montana. The following year, as discussed in the letters above, he ordered the two of Winchester “One of One Thousand” Model 1873 rifles, and one of them was specifically for Thomas. He also ordered other rifles that year such as the Sharps Model 1874 Sporting Rifle in lot 50 which was invoiced on December 14, 1874, and was used in the territorial championship shooting match that he won the special ordered Sharps Model 1874 Creedmoor No. 1 Rifle from lot 51 the following year around a month after this “One of One Thousand” arrived. In addition to the included documentation, the purchases are noted on pages 152-153 of “As Big as the West: The Pioneer Life of Granville Stuart” by Milner and O’Connor. In 1879, Stuart partnered with Andy Davis and Samuel T. Hauser to establish the Davis, Hauser and Stuart cattle company and DHS Ranch and moved his family from the towns he helped form to the open range, and the following year, Stuart ordered the beautiful John Ulrich engraved Winchester Model 1876, serial number 10001, in lot 43 which is engraved “Granville Stuart/1880” on the elevator similar to this “One of One Thousand” and was no doubt ordered due in part to Winchester’s handling and correction of his Model 1873 order. As noted above, Abbott indicated this “One of One Thousand” was “carried constantly as he rode the Montana range.” It is easy to see why he would choose this rifle as his constant companion. In addition to its handsome construction and embellishment, it was certainly a trustworthy and accurate rifle capable of taking game for the table and defend the lives of himself and his family as well as his property from the various ruffians that for too long plagued Montana until Stuart and his fellow stockmen took matters into their own hands. “Stuart’s Stranglers” were formed in 1884 in coordination with other cattle ranchers in the region to combat horse thieves and cattle rustlers. Stuart became the president of the Montana Stock Growers Association the following year after leading the vigilantes. The Stranglers’ activities are covered in detail in several publications including “As Big as the West” and “The Central Montana Vigilante Raids of 1884” by Mueller in “The Montana Magazine of History.” Both this “One of One Thousand” Model 1873 and at least one of Granville’s two Winchester Model 1876s are documented by Granville Stuart Abbott, Stuart’s grandson, as used by Stuart while he was the leader of “Stuart’s Stranglers.” A young Theodore Roosevelt, a fellow rancher in the Dakotas near the Montana border at that time, was among the men who wanted to join in on the missions to take down the outlaws, but Stuart turned down the help of Roosevelt as well as the Marquis de Mores on account “of their youthful recklessness and obvious inexperience and because their prominent names might bring unwanted publicity to a secretive operation.” The actions of the Stranglers took place outside the law and certainly had the potential to lead to the deaths of those involved either at the hands of the outlaws themselves or from the government should they decide to punish the vigilantes for taking matters in their own hands and unfortunately likely killing at least some innocent men along with the known criminals. On July 3 or 4th of 1884, Sam MacKenzie was hung from a tree by Stuart’s men. Granville had written, “Unfortunately we have no proof that would convict” MacKenzie and his associates but “if we catch Mackenzie, we will try & arrange matters so that he will steal no more horses. We over here are certainly willing to stand in with anybody who catches any of this gang & make an example of them, that being the only way we will ever stop their stealing.” A few days later on July 7th, Stranglers paid by Stuart and led by Andrew Fergus, Stuart’s neighbor, rode out to take down a much more ambitious target: a cabin of a presumed horse thief with several armed men inside. The vigilantes captured the group’s lookout, entered the cabin and shot the four men inside, and then hung the lookout. Even though the latter had a $10,000 reward on his head, they left his body swaying in the wind as a graphic warning. The vigilantes then went to the trading post of William Downes who reportedly stole horses and killed cattle and also had connections to other thieves. “California Ed,” another suspected outlaw, was found at the post as were stolen horses, meat, and cow hides with brands from the Fergus ranch on them, and the two men were lynched as a result. On July 15, it was Granville Stuart himself that led six or seven additional Stranglers on an expedition from the DHS ranch. They were guided by the son of a Quantrill Raider, a suspected thief himself, who knew the location of a gang of suspected horse thieves. They were joined by Fergus’ group along the Musselshell River on July 16. The U.S. marked Single Action Army in lot 48 was noted as one of the guns used during this raid, and it was very likely this Winchester that was carried by Stuart. He and the Vigilantes are known to have been fond of Winchesters, and Stuart secured Winchesters owned by others in the area to ensure his men had enough repeaters. On the 19th, the Stranglers made their move on the James woodyard. The cabin contained an estimated five horse thieves and another six were in a tent on the property. One of the suspects was Stuart’s own nephew “Dixie Burr.” Exactly how they positioned themselves at the wood yard is somewhat unclear. In his book “Forty Years on the Frontier,” Stuart indicated they split into three parties with five men surrounding the cabin, another three kept an eye on the men in the tent, and another stayed with the horses. A note written by Stuart later in his life and discussed in “As Big as the West,” indicated two of the Stranglers stayed in camp, four were with the horses, three were at the “Ice house,” two were at the tent, and three were below the house for a total of fourteen men. He appeared to list himself as “G.S.” At daybreak, old man James came out of the cabin and was ordered to release the horses. After setting the horses free, he returned to the cabin where he and the other outlaws within opened fire on the vigilantes through portholes. During the following exchange of gunfire, Jack Stringer was shot and killed at the tent, Stuart’s nephew was wounded in the arm, and two of the Stranglers managed to get on top of the cabin and set it on fire. Two of the vigilantes were also killed in the crossfire. Some of the gang, including old man James, managed to flee alive, at least for the time being. Stuart informed U.S. Deputy Marshall Sam Fischel and the officers of Fort Maginnis of the shootout and told them of the escaped fugitives, and some of the soldiers at Poplar Creek Agency rode out in search in part because the government had also had horses stolen and payrolls threatened by outlaws in the region and were thus at least partially sympathetic to the problems of the region’s stockmen. They captured five of the survivors for the raid, including Stuart’s wounded nephew. Fischel deputized some of the Stranglers and took them with him to bring the suspects back to Fort Benton for trial. Before daybreak on August 28, 1884, Fischel’s own life was threatened by Stuart’s Stranglers. A group of fifteen masked men rode into camp, and they were “well primed with Winchesters” and weren’t interested in seeing the fugitives escape with their lives, especially after losing the Stranglers lost two of their own men in the gunfight. They escorted Fischel and Strangler Reece Anderson a couple miles from camp and warned them “not to glance back under penalty of instant death.” They then took the men to two cabins with a log suspended between them and hung four of them before lighting the cabins on fire. The fifth man’s demise is unclear, but Granville’s nephew was among the dead. Old man James had eluded capture. The news of the Stranglers’ summer activities quickly made the papers. The Stranglers’ other activities are not as well-recorded, but Theodore Roosevelt and others attributed nearly 60 deaths to the vigilantes, and a 20th century study attributed sixty-three killings to Stuart’s men. 18-24, possibly more, suspected outlaws were killed by the vigilantes in the two confirmed raids. Though their actions were at best extralegal if not entirely illegal, that fall Territorial Governor John Schuyler Crosby wrote that the situation and lack of government protection required “some application of hemp and lead during the year by the ‘cowboys,’ as our stock-herders are called.” Their activities were further supported by the election of Samuel T. Hauser, Stuart’s partner in the DHS ranch, as territorial governor and by Governor Hauser’s placement of Stuart as president of a new board of livestock commissioners. Some of the first men hired by the board as inspectors and detectives were members of the Stranglers, and Thomas Stuart was also installed as the territorial veterinarian surgeon. Stuart reported the vigilante activities cost $2,137. Though their violence had received a veneer of legal protection, Stuart and his vigilantes were still at risk of reprisals. Though successful in striking terror into the outlaws and cutting many of their careers short, Stuart and other ranchers in Montana faced heavy losses from a new threat a few years later: a severe drought and extreme heat followed by a savage winter with temperatures up to 40 below zero that decimated the cattle herds. Stuart’s friend and now famous western artist Charles Marion Russell painting based on a sketch of one of the dying cows was titled it “Waiting for a Chinook” and published in “Studies of Western Life with Descriptions by Granville Stuart.” Russell worked on Stuart’s ranch in 1883 and 1884. He suffered losses at home as well, his Shoshone wife Awbonnie died from a postpartum infection on October 17, 1888, his mother, who had since moved to Montana from Iowa, also perished the following month on November 30, and then his eldest daughter Katie, who he had hoped would step in to care for her younger siblings and cousins, died on May 27, 1889. Though sunk low, Stuart had the grit to set about rebuilding his life. He remarried on January 8, 1890, to Belle Brown (1863-1937) and became a state land agent in March 1891. In 1894, he received an even more prestigious government post: “Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary to Paraguay and Uruguay.” The newspapers reported on his vigilante reputation with a distinct positive spin and suggested it demonstrated his resolve and ability to ensure the United States and the rights of its citizens were respected by their South American counterparts. He returned to Montana 1898 and worked as the head librarian of the Butte Public Library in 1905-1914 and died in 1918 while working on his book “Forty Years on the Frontier” which was published after his death.
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 44-40 WCF
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 43
Granville Stuart's Engraved Winchester Model 1876 Express Rifle
This extraordinary rifle was special ordered by "Mr. Montana" himself: Granville Stuart, one of the most iconic Montana pioneers recognized for his influence in his own time by the likes of Theodore Roosevelt and other national figures, a gold rusher, a leading stockman, a frontier politician and international diplomat, and the head of the vigilante group Stuart’s Stranglers. The bottom of the elevator is engraved with "GRANVILLE STUART/1880" in Gothic script and accented by scrolls and crosshatch patterns, and the tall, thin, bearded man shooting the grizzly on the left side plate is almost certainly meant to represent Granville Stuart himself. An 1877 portrait of Stuart taken by L.A. Huffman shows him in similar attire. The scene has a man shooting an intimidating grizzly standing on its hind legs at close range with a Winchester '76 with detailed trees and bluffs in the background, nicely textured substrate, and a group of armed men approaching from the lower right. The main buffalo in the left side vignette has distinct similarities to the painting “Buffalo Bull Grazing on the Prairie” by George Catlin but also features additional running buffalo in the background, and the foreground has very detailed foliage. The dust cover is engraved with a doe in a forest scene, scrolls, and "WINCHESTER/EXPRESS" and “50 CAL./95 GRS." The right side plate has another bear scene with a very highly detailed forest background, and the right front of the frame has a vignette of a stag in shallow water with foliage and trees. The latter scene is highly reminiscent of the famous 1851 painting "Monarch of the Glen" by English artist Sir Edwin Landseer that served as the inspiration for other Ulrich engraved rifles, especially Marlins. The bear scenes and doe on the dust cover were likely also based on paintings or more likely lithographs or illustrations from publications that Stuart had seen. The engraving also includes intertwining scroll patterns with shell and floral accents with textured backgrounds. These patterns are very highly detailed and among the best of John Ulrich’s work. The barrel has border and scroll engraving near the muzzle, a dovetailed beaded blade front sight, an adjustable sporting rear sight, the standard two-line address and patent marking on top, scroll engraving on the visible flats at the breech along with a coordinating border design and “50. CAL EXPRESS” on top. The engraving around the caliber marking is similar to the engraving on 1 of 1,000 rifles. The forend cap is also heavily engraved with scroll and border designs, and the scroll engraving extends to the hammer and lever which is very rare and on the shotgun buttplate. The upper tang has “Model 1876.” The lower tang has “J. ULRICH” in tiny letters behind the trigger, the serial number at the rear, and "XXX 874" on the left side covered by the stock. The forearm is nicely figured walnut and is checkered. The XXX grade walnut pistol grip buttstock has a checkered wrist, beautiful figure, and a contrasting grip insert and is marked "P 874" inside the upper tang mortise. Sling swivels are fitted to the forend cap and bottom of the stock, and it is equipped with a brown leather sling. Unlike many historic firearms, this rifle is extensively documented back to even before it was manufactured. In fact, we have documentation going back even prior to Stuart's original order for the rifle on March 8, 1880, and then through to the present day as part of the collection of the late John Fox of Montana. Stuart was incredibly detailed in his orders for firearms which makes proper identification of this rifle in his correspondence possible. Stuart's son-in-law "Teddy Blue" Abbott held the rifle until 1942 on behalf of Charley "Patch Eye" Stuart, Granville Stuart's son, until he retrieved it. A letter from Stuart to his son in 1911 reportedly told him to "use solid ball cartridges for bear and elk, hollow point C's for deer and antelope, mountain sheep, and white rocky mountain goats." This is perfectly in keeping with Stuart's particular nature when it came to firearms. Charley Stuart left the gun to John Wright when he died in 1952 who in turn left it to his wife, Lorraine, upon his own death in August of 1983. She sold it to John Fox in April of 1984 where the rifle was paired up with other Granville Stuart firearms and artifacts including the famous 1 of 1,000. Thus, this rifle has spent nearly its entire existence in Montana, much of its life in the hands of Granville Stuart and his descendants. A letter from Norm Flayderman to John Fox discussing the rifle is also included and notes "It sure is one helluva piece and now that it is mated with his 1873 1 of 1,000, it certainly can be rated among the most outstanding Winchester groups in the country." The rifle has also been pictured and discussed in multiple books. On pages 152-153 of "Winchester Engraving" by Wilson, this rifle is illustrated and captioned as: "Serial number 10001 Model 1876, one of the most historic and deluxe nineteenth century Winchesters known, was custom made for Granville Stuart and is well documented. Among other adventures, the rifle accompanied Stuart across the equator to South America and back when the owner was U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay and Paraguay (c. 1894- c. 1898). Barrel coverage includes seven flat at the muzzle and five at the breech." This rifle and Granville Stuart's 1 of 1,000 Model 1873 from lot 42 are discussed on pages 36-40 of "The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles" by Lewis where it is noted as "a treasure." Lewis notes that given Granville Stuart had previously returned two 1 of 1,000s because Winchester did not follow the terms of his order, the factory wanted to avoid any future problems with orders from Stuart and ensured both Stuart's replacement 1 of 1,000 and this 1876 were beautiful engraved and notes the '76 has similarities to 1 of 1,000 engraving in the way the caliber marking on the barrel is accented by scroll engraving. The factory also took special care with rifles ordered by others through Stuart and included extra engraving and features beyond what was ordered to ensure happy clients out on the Montana frontier. This rifle is also pictured and discussed as part of the Granville Stuart collection within a much larger western collection brought together over a lifetime by John Fox on page 224 of "Peacemakers: Arms and Adventure in the American West" by Wilson. The most recent of the included factory letters is from July 30, 2020, and confirms the rifle had a 26 inch octagon barrel, plain trigger, "Pin Ball" front sight "as per record," blue finish, engraving, and checkered pistol grip stock with shotgun butt. It was received in the warehouse on May 11, 1880, and shipped on May 15th. The ledge shows "Pin Ball" under the sights column. The documentation also demonstrates that Stuart was directly involved in ordering engraved and inscribed Model 1876s for other notable Montanans in the 1880s, and the engraving influenced a whole group of John Ulrich engraved Model 1876s owned by other notable late 19th century Americans in the West. A somewhat similar scene to Stuart's bear scene but with two bears is on the right side plate of Lt. General Philip H. Sheridan's John Ulrich engraved Model 1876 shown on page 155 of "Winchester Engraving" and page 260 of "Peacemakers" by Wilson. Note that Sheridan's rifle is a year later than this rifle indicating its engraving would have been influenced by this rifle and not the other way around. Also note that some of the borders and shell patterns are very similar on these two rifles. There are of course earlier Winchester rifles with somewhat similar game scenes such as the famous "On the Rocky Mountains" Model 1866, but the figures and scenes are distinctly different whereas the rifles owned by Sheridan and Stuart show obvious similarities while still remaining distinct. Sheridan was one of Stuart's contemporaries in the West and was one of the leading figures in forcing the various Native American tribes to cede their lands opening the way for further settlement and leading to less problems for ranchers like Stuart who were frustrated by rustling and horse theft by members of various tribes. A comparison should also certainly be made between this rifle and Theodore Roosevelt's Model 1876. Both Stuart and Roosevelt were ranchers. Roosevelt was a member of the Montana Stock Growers Association that Stuart led, tried to join Stuart's Stranglers in the mid-1880s, wrote about the group, and was certainly familiar with "Mr. Montana." In fact, in "Roosevelt in the Bad Lands" by Hagedorn, often considered the definitive source on his Montana years, H.H. Robson of Great Falls stated: "Roosevelt was of a restless, nervous, but aggressive disposition, and took a keen interest in the proceedings. He was a great admirer of Granville Stuart, and was always on his side of every question." This was in regards to a Stock Growers Association meeting that Robson, Stuart, and Roosevelt attended. Roosevelt first visited Montana in 1883, and Roosevelt's rifle, serial number 38647, was ordered that year from Montana and is pictured on page 160 of "Winchester Engraving." Stuart is documented as recommending Winchester rifles to his friends in Montana in various calibers and also influenced other firearms orders from the territory and may have influenced Roosevelt's choice directly or indirectly. His friends are known to have been influenced by his special order Winchester and Sharps firearms. Like Stuart's rifle, Roosevelt's 1876 has a buffalo as one of the game scenes as well as a stag. His rifle is not as extensively engraved as Stuart's but is still one of the most profusely engraved 1876s and was signed by John Ulrich. It is especially well-known thanks in part to being in Roosevelt's hands in his famous frontier portrait and is said to have been his favorite rifle. It started a series of rifles ordered by Roosevelt straight from Winchester. Comparison should also be made between this rifle and Col. Archibald Roger's 1876. Stuart's rifle also predates this rifle, serial number 14416 from 1881, and is more extensively engraved. Like Stuart's and Sheridan's 1876s, Roger's rifle also features a buffalo and bear. Rogers lived primarily in the East but was a sportsman involved in various activities including hunting expeditions in the West and was one of Roosevelt's friends and hunting companions, and Roosevelt talks about hunting with his friend in his writings, including in "The Wilderness Hunter." Stuart's rifle clearly influenced this incredible line of extraordinary western themed 1876s owned by some of the 19th century's most famous and influential Americans based on the discussion below. He sent in references for the details of the engraving on his rifle, and the engraving patterns on his rifle influenced the patterns on the rifles above. The most important document within the entire file is certainly Stuart's original order for this rifle. Such documentation is very rarely available and provides valuable insight into the origins of this rifle and its distinctive engraving, but the documentation with this rifle extends back even before he actually placed the order for the rifle. In one document, he had written about bears and noted that a local man had to shoot one seven times with a .45-75 Winchester rifle to finally kill it. This may have influenced his orders for the .50-95 Express. In a letter to a friend on February 3, 1880, he noted, "You ask if I have found any gun that beats the Winchester 44/100yes, for game I have, it’s a new Winchester just out, 26 inch 50/100 Cal. 95grs powder, with hollow pointed 'Express' bullet of 300 grs. Velocity 1641 ft per second, ('76' model only goes 1460 ft per second) & they will put shot gun buts on them with Army length * drop of stock required, all for $56, 10% off for 3 guns or over." He appears to have been canvasing his friends to see who else might order at the same time to get the three required guns to get the discount. Three days later, he wrote to Winchester telling them that G.H. Oldham was pleased with two rifles he had ordered and that "I will shortly order several of your Express Rifles for myself & friends." That order came on March 8, 1880, from Helena, Montana. Stuart wrote to Winchester indicating he was sending them a draft for $200 for three Model 1876 rifles. For his rifle, Stuart wanted "1 Express 50 Cal 26 in. Oct barrel. Casehardened finish, fancy checkered stock, shot gun butt & butt plate, length of stock 14 1/4 inches, drop of stock 3 inches, front sight long globe or pin ball, similar to English Express sights, & also like Sharps express sight. (not covered, holes drilled & shrouds cut in grip for peep sight base. 1000 50/100 Cal 95 grs cartridges (loaded), 1 set reloading tools for above, 1000 No 2 1/2 Primers for above, Swivels & sling on gun, 1 wiping rod. Engrave a Grizzly Bear on one side of receiver and a buffalo on the other, & an elk where he will fit best. Will send copies for engraver, & name Granville Stuart in fanciest text on bottom of carrier block. . . Estimated coast except engraving $77." The second rifle was the same caliber and barrel length but was only requested to be engraved "W.S. Negus" on the side plate. William S. Negus was a Marysville, Montana, merchant and rancher who was one of the wealthiest men in the region at the time of his death in 1888. The third rifle was for "D. W. Curtiss" and was also requested to be engraved with that name on the side plate but also had more specifications such as a casehardened finish, fancy checkered stock with 3 inch drop, and 100-1,000 yard sights. Daniel W. Curtiss was another Montana pioneer and also owned a highly successful fruit farm. The following day, Stuart sent another letter with further instructions detailing exactly how he wanted the scenes on his rifle to appear stating: "Enclosed find four pictures which I wish you to engrave in the highest style of art on my Express Rifle ordered yesterday, and marked No. 1 & which please put where designated on each picture.-Also engrave a doe (female of common deer) in the attitude of looking on the sliding cover of the mortice, & put a band of tasty engraving around the muzzle, & finest wood in stock, Respectfully yours, Granville Stuart." The following day, he updated the order for the third rifle further and specified that he wanted a full length magazine on each of the three rifles, and again on the 15th he requested peep and Beach sights on the third rifle. On July 7, 1880, he wrote to Winchester about his satisfaction with his new rifle stating: "It arrived while I was gone & is a beauty - I am satisfied with its looks. If it proves to be as good as it is beautiful (women seldom do) it is a world beater. . .With thanks for the fine workmanship & courtesy." After the arrival of the other two rifles, he sent the remaining balance due on August 21 and noted "I have been so extremely busy that I have not as yet found time to fire a shot with the beautiful express but hope soon to do so." The following year, he ordered another engraved express rifle for H. T. Lowery, partner in the firm Flowree & Lowery, listed as "one of the cattle kings of Montana" by the Bozeman Weekly Chronicle in 1883. On August 28, 1881, Stuart wrote to Winchester about concerns with ammunition for his express rifle. Christmas Eve of that year, he was writing to the editor of "Field" magazine about a variety of Winchester related topics. Near the end, he writes that the "Express 50-95" is "the boss game gun of all creation." Per Granville Stuart Abbott, his grandson, Granville Stuart is known to have used a Model 1876 rifle in addition to his 1 of 1,000 Model 1873 in the mid-1880s when he was leading the vigilante group “Stuart’s Stranglers” during their crusade to rid the region of horse thieves and cattle rustlers. The vigilantes have been linked to up to 63 extrajudicial killings, and Stuart and others wrote about some of the key raids during which an estimated 18-24 men were killed by the Stranglers during a brief period of time in the summer of 1884. “Stuart’s Stranglers” were formed in after discussions by the Montana Stock Growers Association about going to war with the outlaws to secure the range. Roosevelt was among those calling for aggressive action. Stuart publicly opposed such a move, but this was likely an effort to provide cover for the actions that followed. Had the planned raids been public knowledge, the already fairly well-armed and well-fortified rustlers would have had time to prepare. The Stranglers’ activities are covered in detail in several publications including “As Big as the West” and “The Central Montana Vigilante Raids of 1884” by Mueller in “The Montana Magazine of History.” Stuart turned down the help of Roosevelt as well as the Marquis de Mores on account “of their youthful recklessness and obvious inexperience and because their prominent names might bring unwanted publicity to a secretive operation.” The actions of the Stranglers took place outside the law and certainly had the potential to lead to the deaths of those involved either at the hands of the outlaws themselves or from the government should they decide to punish the vigilantes for taking matters in their own hands and unfortunately likely killing at least some innocent men along with the known criminals. Instead, their raids further solidified Stuart as a regional leader and led to him becoming president of the Stock Growers Association. Around the Fourth of July of 1884, Sam MacKenzie was hung from a tree by Stuart’s men. Granville had written, “Unfortunately we have no proof that would convict” MacKenzie and his associates but “if we catch Mackenzie, we will try & arrange matters so that he will steal no more horses. We over here are certainly willing to stand in with anybody who catches any of this gang & make an example of them, that being the only way we will ever stop their stealing.” A few days later on July 7th, Stranglers paid by Stuart and led by Andrew Fergus, Stuart’s neighbor, rode out to take down a much more ambitious target: a cabin of a presumed horse thief with several armed men inside. The vigilantes captured the group’s lookout, entered the cabin and shot the four men inside, and then hung the lookout. Even though the latter had a $10,000 reward on his head, they left his body swaying in the wind as a graphic warning. The vigilantes then went to the trading post of William Downes who reportedly stole horses and killed cattle and also had connections to other thieves. “California Ed,” another suspected outlaw, was found at the post as were stolen horses, meat, and cow hides with brands from the Fergus ranch on them, and the two men were lynched as a result. On July 15, Stuart led six or seven Stranglers on an expedition from the DHS ranch guided by the son of a Quantrill Raider, a suspected thief himself, who led them to the hideout of a gang of horse thieves. They were joined by Fergus’ group along the Musselshell River on July 16. Stuart may have carried this rifle if he wasn’t using his 1 of 1,000 during the raid. This rifle could have also been in the hands of one of his men given he is known to have gathered available Winchesters to arm his men. By the 19th, the Stranglers were ready to make their move on the James woodyard. The cabin contained an estimated five horse thieves and another six were in a tent on the property. One of the suspects was Stuart’s own nephew “Dixie Burr.” When James came out of the cabin in the morning, he was ordered to release the horses. After complying, he returned to the cabin and he and his men opened fire on the Stranglers through gun ports in the cabin walls. During the fight, two of the vigilantes were killed, but two more managed to get to the roof of the cabin and set it on fire, and Jack Stringer was shot and killed at the tent. Stuart’s nephew was also wounded in the arm. Some of the gang, including James, managed to flee the battlefield. Stuart informed the authorities, including U.S. Deputy Marshall Sam Fischel of the shootout and the escaped suspects. Some of the soldiers at Poplar Creek Agency captured five of the survivors from the raid, including Stuart’s wounded nephew. Fischel deputized some of the Stranglers and took them with him to bring the suspects back to Fort Benton for trial. However, before he could bring in the fugitives, Fischel’s own life was threatened by Stuart’s Stranglers. Fifteen men in masks and armed with Winchesters arrived and escorted Fischel and Reece Anderson out of the camp and told them “not to glance back under penalty of death.” They then hung four of the suspected rustlers from a beam between two cabins before lighting the buildings on fire. The fifth man’s demise is unclear, but Granville’s nephew was among the dead. The news of the Stranglers’ summer activities quickly made the papers, and Stuart’s reputation was further enhanced. Though their actions were at best extralegal if not entirely illegal, their actions were validated by Territorial Governor John Schuyler Crosby and then the election of Stuart’s business partner Samuel T. Hauser as governor. Crosby informed the federal government that the actions of the outlaws and lack of government protection for the stockmen required “some application of hemp and lead during the year by the ‘cowboys,’ as our stock-herders are called.” Governor Hauser placed Stuart as president of a new board of livestock commissioners, and some of that board’s first moves were the hiring of former Stranglers as inspectors and detectives giving them some of the legal authority they had lacked during their prior raids. Thomas Stuart was also installed as the territorial veterinarian surgeon. Granville Stuart reported the vigilante activities cost $2,137.
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 50-95 Winchester Express
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 44
Granville Stuart's Colt Model 1877 Thunderer Revolver and Cuffs
Granville Stuart (1834-1918) was one of the most influential figures in Montana's frontier history, and this classic "Sheriffs Model" is documented as the revolver he concealed carried daily from the mid-1880s until his death as a direct result of his work as the leader of the vigilante group "Stuart's Stranglers." His band of vigilantes, backed by the DHS ranch and other Montana stockmen, hunted down and ended the lives of upwards of 63 men believed to have been involved in horse theft and cattle rustling. Approximately fifteen "Stranglers" killed between 18 and 24 suspected outlaws in July and August 1884 alone. Territorial Governor John Schuyler Crosby wrote that the situation and lack of government protection for the stockmen required "some application of hemp and lead during the year by the ‘cowboys,’ as or stock-herders are called." Their activities were given further government approval and support by the election of Samuel T. Hauser as territorial governor. Hauser was Stuart’s friend and business partner (the "H" in the DHS ranch). Governor Hauser placed Stuart as president of a new board of livestock commissioners, and some of the men hired as inspectors and detectives by Stuart and the board were former members of the Stranglers. Granville’s younger brother Tom was also installed as the territorial veterinarian surgeon despite no formal training. Though their violence had received a veneer of legal protection, Stuart and his vigilantes were still at risk of reprisals. While some of the men they had killed were found in possession of contraband horses and cowhides with brands indicating they had come from stolen animals and others opened fire when confronted, some of the men they killed may have been innocent or merely lesser associates of the real criminals. Regardless of their guilt or innocence, their deaths at the hands of Stuart and his men understandably created hard feelings with their surviving friends and relatives. Stuart was warned in early June of 1885 by Sheriff Thomas Irvine of Miles City that some men were talking about killing him. As noted in an included letter, Granville wrote back, "Thanks for the friendly warning. I knew those chaps were talking about killing me but didn’t take it to heart worth a cent. . .but perhaps I had as well get me a short D.A. 41 Cal. Colt and keep it about my clothes in future." Being so specific about the type of gun and caliber might seem odd in a personal letter, but Stuart was often very specific when writing about firearms in his correspondence. He was an avid shooter and lover of fine firearms and wanted very specific configurations for his guns as can be seen by the number of firearms both within this collection and the copies of letters by Stuart discussing or ordering firearms. An included factory letter indicated the records for this revolver were unfortunately lost or destroyed, but the serial number dates to 1881 per Colt. The included affidavit from Stuart's daughter Mary Stuart Abbott identifies this revolver by serial number and features and states: "I personally remember him carrying this gun with him at all times. When Granville Stuart passed away the gun was sent to me with the rest of his articles. My husband, E.C. Abbot, the famed 'Teddy Blue' later used this above mentioned Colt revolver and also carried it with him at all times. He had a special vest with shoulder holster made for convenience in carrying it. English born Edward Charles "Teddy Blue" Abbott (1860-1939) worked for Granville Stuart at the DHS Ranch in Montana and married Mary Stuart on September 29, 1889. Like Stuart, he knew the artist Charles Marion Russell well. His memoir, "We Pointed Them North: Recollections of a Cowpuncher," inspired the award winning novel "Lonesome Dove." The revolver has a rounded blade front sight, the proper two-line address on top of the barrel as is proper for a short barreled Model 1877, "COLT D.A. 41" in an etched panel on the left side, an "S" on the bottom at the breech, a cylinder pin with knurled head, the three-line patent markings on the left side of the frame, "41 CAL" on the left side of the trigger guard, matching serial numbers including "4" and "8" on the back of the cylinder between the chambers, and checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt trademark on top, matching partial serial number inside the right panel, and "TA" (Teddy Abbott?) inside the left panel. The included handcuffs are also documented as owned and used by Stuart in an included affidavit written and signed by his daughter Mary. She indicates the key was handmade after Stuart lost the original. The cuffs have "PAT. NOV. 1. '87." on one side of the body. The revolver was part of the famous Montana and western arms collection of John Fox and is pictured and discussed along with a selection of other Granville Stuart items in multiple publications including: "The Peacemakers: Arms and Adventure in the American West" by R.L. Wilson (p. 224) and "The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1,000 and 1 of 100 Rifles" by Edmund E. Lewis (p. 37). The former notes "The Colt Model 1877 was regularly carried by Granville." It was also offered for sale by Norm Flayderman in his 61st catalog along with Stuart's One of One Thousand Winchester Model 1873 from lot 42.
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 41 Long Colt
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 45
Cabinet Card Portrait of Granville Stuart by L.A. Huffman
This large cabinet card measures 6 3/4 by 9 3/4 inches ("imperial" size). Images of this size are comparably rare. The portrait has "Granville Stuart 1886" in handwriting at the bottom and "L.A. Huffman. Miles City, Montana" in golden ink on the hunter green lower border. The back is also hunter green, and a wine colored border is also visible on the front. Granville Stuart (1834-1918) is shown in a stately striped suit and waistcoat with a cattle themed pin visible at the collar and white hair and beard. At least one other print of this portrait is known with the year "1883" rather than "1886." If taken in 1883, this would have been taken the year before the famous "Stuart Stranglers" raids against suspected horse thieves and cattle rustlers in Montana which resulted in the deaths of at least 18 and possibly up to 60 or more suspected outlaws. If taken in 1886, it would have been after those raids helped elevate his status further within the region. Regardless, it is from an incredibly historic period in his life.
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 46
Granville Stuart Montana Shipped Big 50 Sharps Model 1874 Rifle
Western pioneer Granville Stuart's own love of firearms has left us with this rifle and a selection of other rare firearms he used in the West. They were brought back together by the diligent efforts of the late well-known Montana collector John Fox, and each has its own story to tell. This rifle is one of the earliest from the collection and is certainly appropriate for a pioneer in Montana in the early 1870s when the buffalo still roamed the plains and were popular quarry. The factory letter indicates this rifle was invoiced on August 27, 1872, to legendary Montana pioneer Granville Stuart of Deer Lodge as a .50 caliber "Sporting Octagon Rifle" with a single trigger, open sights, and oil finished stocks. A copy of Stuart's order for the rifle 10 days earlier is included. He specified that he wanted: "1 Sharps Metallic Cartridge Sporting Rifle. 26 in Octagon Barrel .500-100 Calibre, Oil Stock. Open sights. Single Trigger." The rifle is pictured on page 173 of "Sharps Firearms: Early Metallic Cartridge Firearms and Model 1874 Sporting Rifles." Stuart may have fitted the set triggers and peep sights himself in Deer Lodge given one of his early businesses was a gunsmithing and blacksmithing shop opened in the 1860s. He clearly favored this setup given the presence of double set triggers and peep sights on his other Sharps rifles. He wrote to Sharps discussing various optional parts for his Sharps rifles including globe and peep sights. Granville Stuart (1834-1918) was an important leading figure in the Montana Territory in the second half of the 19th century and was so crucial to the territory's history that he is known as "Mr. Montana." His adventurous life is detailed in multiple period and modern sources such as "As Big as the West: The Pioneer Life of Granville Stuart" by Milner and O'Connor, "Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography" by Thrapp, "Gang Crackdown: When Stuart’s Stranglers Raided the Rustlers" by DeArment in "Wild West Magazine," and "Granville Stuart: Gentleman Vigilante" by Boardman in "True West." He was born in Virginia, grew up in Muscatine County, Iowa, not far from our facilities, where he learned to shoot and hunt, and then headed to the West as a teenage with his older brother James to search for gold in California. Their father had previously headed to California with the '49ers. Misfortune turned to fortune when the Stuart brothers were forced to change their plans to return home to Iowa due to the Mormon War and disease. Instead of Iowa, the ended up in Montana, then still part of the Oregon Territory, and became crucial figures in the Montana gold rushes and the settlement of the region. Throughout his life he held a variety of local political and business positions and also served as Minister Plenipotentiary to Uruguay and Paraguay under President Grover Cleveland later in his life. His first wife was a Shoshone woman, but he was also involved in multiple battles with Native Americans. He was also a member of the vigilante groups in Montana and led the Stuart's Stranglers in the mid-1880s when they cracked down on accused/suspected criminals with classic nicknames like Rattlesnake Jake. The Stranglers were particularly focused on horse thieves and cattle rustlers and either killed them in shootouts, burned them, or hung them. Theodore Roosevelt was a rancher in the area and wanted to join, but Stuart declined out of concern for Roosevelt's youth and fears that his name would get their secretive activities unwanted attention. Roosevelt and others credited the Stranglers with killing 60 or more men suspected of horse theft and cattle rustling. These activities boosted rather than hurt Stuart's local and national esteem and led to many considering him a western hero. He is known to have ordered many firearms, including multiple other Sharps rifles from the John Fox collection. Sharps were popular in the West as they could handle the local wildlife and two-legged threat and were particular renowned for their accuracy over long ranges. This rifle definitely looks like a frontier firearm; in fact, it closely resembles the earlier percussion Plains Rifles and features a rib with ferrules under the barrel, a cleaning rod, entry pipe and pewter cap on the forearm, period custom double set triggers, a swept cheek piece on the buttstock, and crescent rifle buttplate. The blade front sight and modified Lawrence patent rear sight are also similar to those found on earlier muzzle loaders. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line Hartford address ahead of the rear sight and "CALIBRE 50 26" at the breech, and the bottom has the matching serial number.
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 50
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 47
Stuart Brothers Used Engraved Sharps Model 1853 Sporting Rifle
This rifle is pictured alone on page 246 of "Sharps Firearms: The Percussion Era" and listed as "Exhibition Engraved" and from the John Fox collection. It is also pictured part of a selection of items from John Fox's Granville Stuart collection shown on page 37 of "The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles" by E.E. Lewis, and page 224 of "The Peacemakers: Arms and Adventure in the American West" by R. L. Wilson. In Lewis' book, it is identified as having "belonged to [Granville Stuart's] brother James who led the Yellowstone Expedition of 1863. It was subsequently acquired by Granville and latter given to the artist E.S. Paxson by Stuart's widow." In Wilson's book, it is similarly identified but also noted as the rifle "used by James on the Yellowstone Expedition of 1863." Copies of documents from Edgar S. Paxson, his daughter-in-law Evelyn M. Paxson, and his grandson William Edgar Paxson are included and indicate this rifle was given to western artist Edgar Samuel Paxson (1852-1919) in 1919 by Stuart's second wife after his death in 1918. Unfortunately, Paxson passed away only a few months later, but the rifle was passed down to his son Robert Paxson until his death in 1956 and then to William Edgar Paxson, the artist's grandson. Paxson lived in Deer Lodge which was founded by the Stuarts and was Granville Stuart's personal friend. They were also mutual friends of artist Charles M. Russell. Paxson is known for his impressive western themed paintings including of Custer's Last Stand and Lewis and Clark. This rifle was listed as catalog item 470A along with the Sharps Model 1874 Creedmoor No. 1 in lot 51 with the title "THE PERSONAL RIFLES OF ONE OF THE WEST'S MOST FAMOUS PIONEERS, CATTLEMEN & VIGILANTES." in Norm Flayderman's catalog no. 75 from 1966 and described as: "Fully engraved specially constructed superb sloping breech percussion Sharps sporting rifle. The finest specimen we have encountered. . .An outstanding example & extreme rarity as a weapon. Most historical with its important record of ownership. Completely documented & verified." Only 2,970 Model 1853 Sporting Rifles are estimated to have been manufactured in July 8, 1854, to December 1859 per Frank Sellers in "Sharps Firearms." In his break down of major variations, he lists only 6 "60 bore" rifles with "carved" grade engraving and half octagon barrels. Sellers notes that the "Carved" grade was the "highest grade of engraving" and "usually included several animal scenes not only on both sides of the receiver and the lock plate, but on the patch box and sometimes the barrel." The engraving can be attributed to Master Engraver Gustave Young who is known to have engraved rifles for Sharps. Note the similarity of the engraving style and scenes to those found on the unusual left handed Sharps Model 1853 identified as engraved by Young for exhibition in Paris in 1856. The Stuart rifle actually has more engraved scenes than the exhibition rifle and features a running stag on the right side of the frame, a reposed doe on the lock, a wolf on the patch box lid, and a second wolf on the left side of the frame. Each of these animals is pictured in a relevant scene. The barrel features bands of engraving at the muzzle and extensive, deeper "carved" scroll engraving on the upper flats along the length of the octagon section, and the same style of scroll engraving extends to the action components and the German silver stock furniture including the toe plate. The barrel has a dovetailed blade front sight, "SHARPS RIFLE/MANUFG CO/HARTFORD CONN" on top at the front of the octagonal section, a Lawrence patent semi-buckhorn and folding ladder rear sight, and the matching serial number on the bottom. The action has the serial number on the upper tang along with a peep sight and the patent marking (tap through the patent marking for a second position for the peep sight), "SHARP'S/PATENT/1852" on the lock, and adjustable double set triggers. The forearm has a pewter end cap. The stock has a shallow cheek rest on the left, and the German silver buttplate has the partial matching serial number "5038" on the point of the heel. This rifle is certainly in keeping with Granville Stuart's known love of fine rifles with peep sights, double set triggers, and fine engraving, and his elder brother James no doubt shared the family interest in fine arms. James (1832-1873) and Granville Stuart (1834-1918) left their childhood home in Eastern Iowa in 1851 to prospect for gold in California. Their father had been among the early '49ers during the California Gold Rush, but the brothers worked separate from their father when they arrived in the gold fields. Ultimately, none of the Stuart’s found great wealth in California. Their father returned to Iowa, but when the brothers attempted to return home to Iowa in 1857, they were blocked by a severe bout of illness that left Granville bedridden and the violence of the Mormon War sent them on a different path that forever changed their lives and led to their enshrinement in the history of the West. They ended up in Montana, then still part of the Oregon Territory. In 1858, they found gold on Gold Creek following up on previous discoveries by French-Canadian miner six years earlier. As more prospectors moved in, the Stuarts founded the town of Deer Lodge and were part of multiple businesses in the region with connections to the gold fields. In 1862, James was elected sheriff, and the brothers got their first taste of vigilante justice. Though some of the suspects received semi-official "miners trials," popular opinion rather than strict facts decided the cases which often ended in hasty hangings and at least one of the attempted arrests led a deadly shootout. One of the men hanged under Sheriff Stuart’s oversight was strung up hundreds of miles outside of his jurisdiction, but the Stuart brothers weren’t to be messed with and had no patience for horse thieves. In 1863, James led an expedition to Yellowstone River Valley in search of gold during which James is believed to have carried this Sharps Model 1853 rifle. Their friend Samuel Hauser was also part of the expedition of fifteen men. During the expedition they made a sport of shooting buffalo, and the men came under attack from the warriors of the Crow Tribe who attacked them under the cover of darkness first using firearms and then switching to arrows to keep themselves concealed in the darkness. One of Stuart's men was shot through the head, and another was hit five times and ultimately took his own life to end his agony. Two other members of the party were seriously wounded, and three others had minor injuries. Another was mortally wounded by a negligent discharge when he pulled out a loaded rifle muzzle first and also put himself out of his misery. Thus, twelve of the fifteen men survived the expedition, but only seven returned unscathed, and they returned with no news of easy gold. Stuart wrote: "Our hair and beards had grown so, and we were so dilapidated generally, that scarcely any one knew us at first." Despite the disaster, Stuart received praise from the men he led for getting them out of the scrape with their lives, and this helped propel him into other offices in the territory. He and Granville opened the retail store Dance & Stuart in partnership with Walter B. Dance as the region's population swelled due to the discovery of more gold closer to home. The area was plagued by outlaws that were secretly led by one of the local sheriffs: Henry Plummer, a convicted murderer. One of the employee's at Stuart's store was one of the gang's informants. Dance & Stuart provided assistance to the Vigilance Committee who eventually lynched the sheriff and several of his associates. In one instance, five men were hung at the same time, and Granville wrote about the vigilante activities and counted "23 hung in all" and may have participated himself. That wasn't the end of the lynchings either and Granville later led his own group, "Stuart's Stranglers," in another round of violence in the mid-1880s. James organized another Yellowstone expedition in 1864, this time with a larger party of seventy-five men and managed to search for gold without significant trouble from the Crow. However, one member of the party was captured after the group split up and was released, but his partner, who had become separated in the snow, was shot, and his death attributed to them. They did not find enough gold to warrant further searches. After returning, James expanded his business connections and also represented the area in the new Montana House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Granville held local offices. James turned to trading with the Indians at Fort Browning in the early 1870s and returned to Deer Lodge in June of 1873 and died of a gastrointestinal disease on September 30 of that year. At that time, this rifle was almost certainly passed on to Granville if he did not already have the rifle in his possession, and Granville continued to take care of James' children for many years. As discussed above, the rifle was passed on to Granville's friend in 1919 and then passed down through that family until the 1960s.
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 44
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 48
Stuart's Stranglers U.S. Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Army
John Fox's collection tag and notes with the revolver states it was used on vigilante raid led by Granville Stuart. A copy of letter and inventory list from Lenard Brownwell (1922-1982), the well-known Wyoming custom gun maker, about the W.S. Murphy collection he inherited is included. His grandfather was Wendell Stewart Murphy (1878-1953) who spent his early days as a cowboy and wolfer in Montana and later became a police officer and then a Justice of the Peace in Livingston before his death in 1953 at the age of 75. Murphy helped raise Brownell after his father died and taught him about horses, cowboys, and guns. The letter discuss his grandfather's collection and his life and notes: "The guns, saddles, spurs and assorted other relics he collected through the years were accumulated only for the history or event that went with them." This revolver is listed as item 15 in the collection and noted as "purchased in Glendive, Montana in 1883 and used by former owner in the 'Granville-Stuart Raid Against Rustlers'-Musselshell River, 1885." The second date might be off by one year. "Stuart’s Stranglers" were formed in 1884 in coordination with other cattle ranchers in the region to combat horse thieves and cattle rustlers which plagued the area and put a dent in the profits of the large cattle companies. Granville Stuart was the president of the Montana Stock Growers Association and was the leader of the vigilantes. 26 year old Theodore Roosevelt, then a rancher in Montana, tried to join up, but Stuart turned him and another well-connected rancher down on account "of their youthful recklessness and obvious inexperience and because their prominent names might bring unwanted publicity to a secretive operation." This is discussed on page 239 of "As Big as the West: The Pioneer Life of Granville Stuart" by Milner and O'Connor. Much of the Stranglers’ activities are not well-documented, but Roosevelt and others attributed nearly 60 deaths to the vigilantes, and a 20th century study attributed 63 killings to Stuart’s men. At least 18-24 suspected horse thieves were killed by the vigilantes alone in the summer of 1884 along the Musselshell River in two raids during which this revolver appears to have been used. On July 7th, a group of the Stranglers rode out to take down a presumed horse thief at his cabin along with several armed men inside. The vigilantes captured the group’s lookout, entered the cabin and shot the four men inside, and then hung the lookout even though he had a $10,000 reward on his head. They left his body swinging from a tree as a graphic warning. The vigilantes then went to the trading post of William Downes. "California Ed," another suspect, along with stolen horses, meat, and cow hides with brands from the Fergus ranch on them were discovered, and the two were lynched. On July 15, Granville Stuart himself led six or seven additional Stranglers on an expedition from the DHS ranch. They were guided by the son of a Quantrill Raider, a suspected thief himself, who knew the location of a gang of suspected horse thieves and stolen livestock. They were joined by more Stranglers from the earlier raid along the Musselshell River on July 16. On the 19th, the men surrounded the woodyard of "Old Man James." The cabin contained an estimated five horse thieves, and another six were in a tent on the property. One of the suspects was Stuart’s own nephew. When James emerged from the cabin, the Stranglers ordered him to release the horses. He complied, but then returned to the cabin and opened fire with his rifle through a porthole. As both sides exchanged gunfire, two of the Stranglers set the cabin on fire with the suspects inside, and one of the men in the tent was also shot and killed. Some of the gang, including James and Stuart's now wounded nephew, managed to flee. Two of the vigilantes were also killed in the shootout. Stuart contacted U.S. Deputy Marshall Sam Fischel and the officers of Fort Maginnis and informed them of the battle and the escaped fugitives. Some soldiers rode out in search and captured five of them, including Stuart’s nephew. Marshall Fischel deputized some of the Stranglers and took them with him to bring the suspects back to Fort Benton for trial. Unfortunately for the suspects, the Stranglers had no interest in giving their adversaries the chance to escape with their lives, especially after losing two of their own men in the gunfight. Fifteen masked men rode into Fischel’s camp and sent him away with the warning that he would be killed if he so much as looked back. They then hung the four men from a log suspended between two cabins and lit the cabins on fire with the remains on August 28, 1884. Granville’s nephew is counted among the dead, but it is not clear if he was one of the five hung. The included factory letter identifies the revolver as part of a lot of 150 revolvers sold to the U.S. Government and delivered to the government inspector at the Colt plant on July 24, 1878. The revolver is essentially a standard U.S. contract "Cavalry Model" and has standard markings and features for the era, including all matching serial numbers other than the filed down back strap which has no visible serial number, faint cartouches on the sides of the grip, "HN" sub-inspection marks, and all matching serial numbers. In addition, the grip has an "M" or "W" lightly hand carved on the right. It may have been stolen government property when it was used in Montana.
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 45 Long Colt
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 49
J.B. Stuart Inscribed & Engraved Henry Lever Action Rifle
This fascinating factory engraved Henry rifle from the Montana frontier has remained a bit of a mystery for decades and has been previously theorized to have been owned by Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart or Montana pioneer James Stuart and his younger brother Granville Stuart. We believe the true original owner to have been one of the Stuart brothers' counterparts on the Montana frontier, a fellow vigilante and pioneer. In an included document, John Fox notes this classic inscribed and factory engraved Henry rifle is "from the Stuart family - but still shrouded in mystery. The exact origin is unknown - could be James Stuart or could be J.E.B. Stuart, the Confederate General. (first cousins.) The rifle has not been outside of Montana since period of use." Fox notes that it was owned by a collector named Jennings from Anaconda, Montana, until his death around 1956 when it was sold to George O'Conner. Mrs. Jennings told O'Conner that the rifle was from "James Stuart." O'Conner could not confirm that Granville Stuart's elder brother's middle initial was "B." It was then sold to Warren Webster in 1990 and then acquired from him by John Fox and is pictured as part of John Fox's western arms collection on page 224 of "The Peacemakers: Arms and Adventure in the American West" by R.L. Wilson and page 37 of "The Story of the Winchester 1 of 1000 and 1 of 100 Rifles by Edmund E. Lewis. The first text states that the rifle was "possibly" owned by Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart "who was a first cousin of Granville and James" Stuart, and the second states it belonged to Granville Stuart. The rifle is also pictured on page 155 of the Les Quick's book "The Henry Rifle: the Story of Benjamin Tyler and His Famed Repeating Rifle" where similar comments are made about the rifle possible being linked to Granville Stuart's family and J.E.B. Stuart and Quick notes the rifle "deserves further research." J.E.B. Stuart was killed on May 12, 1864, and Wiley Sword in "The Historic Henry Rifle" places this rifle as manufactured in February or March of 1865, so the rifle was not owned by J.E.B. Stuart. Granville Stuart's elder brother James' middle name or initial, if he had one, has not been uncovered. There was, however, another Stuart who was also one of the early Montana pioneers, gold miners, and frontier vigilantes but was not one of James and Granville Stuart's blood relations: James B. Stuart (1837-1934) of Missouri. Like the other Stuart brothers, he came to Montana in search of gold. He fled impressment into the Confederate Army by joining a cattle drive to the gold fields and arrived in Virginia City in 1863. Like Granville Stuart, he moved from livestock to gold prospecting and back to livestock. He was among the early pioneers of Alder Gulch and the Bitterroot Valley and spent much of his life in Stevensville, Montana. He is identified as one of the members of the Montana Vigilantes who lynched the suspected outlaw "Whiskey Bill" Graves on January 26, 1864, near Fort Owen during a spree of vigilante justice in the territory in an effort to crack down on the numerous road agents and criminals plaguing the region. Many of the criminals, including "Whiskey Bill," were tied to a group led by the infamous Sheriff John Plummer of Bannack. Plummer was already a convicted murderer before becoming sheriff and has been the subject or inspiration for outlaw leaders in multiple novels, films, and television series. "Whiskey Bill" was one of three suspects in the robbing of a stagecoach on its way to Bannack from Virginia City. The wave of frontier justice is well covered in "As Big as the West: The Pioneer Life of Granville Stuart" by Milner and O'Connor as well as several books specifically about Plummer's gang, The Innocents, and the Montana Vigilantes such as "A Decent, Orderly Lynching: The Montana Vigilantes" by Allen. The latter indicates "Old Man" Clark and two vigilantes, one of them apparently J.B. Stuart, found "Whiskey Bill" snowblind near Fort Owen. They took him away from the fort out of respect for the local Indians who abhorred hanging and strung him up from a tree on January 26, 1864. The robberies and lynchings did not end with the spree of at least twenty-one hangings related to Plummer and his suspected road agents in 1864. For example, in July 1865, vigilantes strung up Jack Silvie at Helena's famous "Hangman's Tree". He had confessed to having been a part of Plummer's gang and to have committed at least a dozen murders. Over a dozen other executions took place in Helena alone before 1870. In addition to his mining, vigilante, and stock connections, J.B. Stuart also volunteered during the Indian Wars. Many of the details of his life have been pulled from his various obituaries from 1934. His life story is told in historical novel form in "Another Man's Gold" written by his great-grandson Rod Johnson, and promotional materials for the book also discuss many of the true details of Stuart's colorful life on the Montana frontier. The same engraving patterns are pictured on multiple Henry rifles featured in books. For example see Henry #1888 on page 23 of "Winchester Engraving" by R.L. Wilson and Henry #7169 which was presented to Captain Edward Merrill in 1865 on page 32. In November 1862, the retail price for a Henry rifle was $42.00 and silver-plating and engraving were an additional $10.00. As sales increased toward the end of 1862, the New Haven Arms Co. produced fewer deluxe engraved rifles and concentrated on the production of standard Henry rifles for private sale to Union soldiers which makes later factory engraved Henry rifles particularly rare. The brass receiver and crescent buttplate were silver-plated, and the barrel and integral 15-shot magazine were blued. The stock is nicely figured walnut with a high polish finish. It is equipped with a blade front sight and a folding leaf rear sight with rounded top with 900 yard center notch on the ladder. The receiver does not have a second rear sight dovetail. The serial number is stamped on the top barrel flat, left side of the lower tang beneath the stock, in the upper receiver tang inlet of the stock, and on the inside of the buttplate at the toe. The left side of the upper tang has an "E," and the lower tang has "W" behind the lever thumb screw. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the legend: "HENRY'S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT'D BY THE NEWHAVEN. ARMS. CO. NEWHAVEN. CT." in two-lines. The rifle is fitted with a sling swivel and loop and is equipped with a brown leather sling. The stock compartment is empty.
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 44 Henry
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Lot 50
Granville Stuart Sharps Model 1874 Rifle with Factory Letter
Granville Stuart remains one of the most famous of Montana's early pioneers and has been affectionately dubbed "Mr. Montana" thanks to his contributions to the development of the territory and state, especially in relation to cattle ranching. His life journey aligns with the stories of the West that have fascinated so many Americans and others around the world for generations and is complete with the search for gold, desperate journeys into unknown territories, close encounters and battles with Native Americans and criminals, "frontier justice" meted out against thieves and even corrupt local lawmen, land speculation, booms and busts, rebirth, and eventually immortalization in the history books. During his adventures, Sharps rifles were among his main weapons of choice. His vigilante activities read like something out dime novels with bands of outlaws containing characters like "Stringer Jack" and " Rattlesnake Jack" chased down and executed by colorful members of "Stuart's Stranglers" like "Floppin Bill" under Stuart's leadership after ruses and shootouts. This rifle was used by Stuart in one of his favorite pastimes: shooting. The documentation with the various firearms owned by Stuart from the late well-known Montana collector John Fox makes it very clear that Stuart was an avid and talented shooter who read about the latest firearms contests, new arms, and improvements in periodicals of the day and wanted very particular features on his firearms. His love of guns is also particularly highlighted in the biography "As Big as the West: The Pioneer Life of Granville Stuart" by Milner and O'Connor who noted that while Stuart had no love of organized religion, he had a lifelong interest in firearms that started with hunting with flintlock and percussion muzzle loaders in Iowa during his youth and extended to some of the finest arms of the 19th century. This rifle is one of four confirmed to have been ordered by Stuart in his lifetime and is listed on page 173 of "Sharps Firearms: Early Metallic Cartridge Firearms and Model 1874 Sporting Rifles." As shown in the book, it is one of two identical rifles shipped to Stuart on December 14, 1874. His rifle was ordered on November 23, 1874, and a copy of his order is included. He wrote: "Please send me by Wells Fargo & Cos Express C.O.D. One of your Sporting Rifles. 32 inch octagon barrel, varnished stock, Double Triggers, with long range vernier orthoptic sights front & rear, as well as common hunting sights. The Vernier Orthoptic sights were used by our team at Creedmoor in the late international contest, & I take it for granted that you now put them on all your fine rifles, but if not I ask as a favor that you put them on this rifle, but if you do not, & will not, furnish them, then put on your best globe & peep sights, high enough to shoot 1000 yards or more, in the gun to weigh 12 #, caliber 44/100 if you do not make guns 32 inches send 30 inch. . ." He then lists other tools and accessories he would like and signs: "Respectfully Yours, Granville Stuart." By 44/100, he meant .44 caliber not the .44-100 cartridge. He wrote about other calibers the same way. The same day he sent another letter in which he notes: "I have been showing my order to some of the above mentioned 'shootists' & one of them at once concluded that he wanted such a gun himself & instructed me to order one for him. Therefore, just duplicate my order & send me two of your latest improved rifles, with vernier orthoptic sights & all the other appurtenances as per first order." This indicated the second rifle, listed as C,52692 in the book, was for a friend. The included factory letter indicates this gun was invoiced to Stuart on December 14, 1874, and noted as a "Model 1874 Sporting Octagon Rifle of .44 caliber using the 90 grain case. It had a full 30" octagon barrel and double set triggers with graduated sights." Additional writing by Stuart indicates at least one significant instance where these rifles were used: the long range rifle match between Granville Stuart and the residents of Deer Lodge and the team from Helena led by his business associate and friend Samuel T. Hauser, the future territorial governor. The match was shot in relation to the 1875 Montana Territorial Fair in Helena at the beginning of October. On August 29, 1875, he wrote to Hauser discussing the planned match and noting that he was still working on his team but that it would include himself and his brother Thomas and outlying his suggestions for how the match should be run, and in another letter from October 4th, he wrote to Sharps about an order and the results of the rifle match. He noted his team used "the 12# rifles that I bot from you last Dec. & Helena team your Creedmoors No 1." After discussing the match, he closed noting, "The 12 pounders bot last winter are good enough for common people as we proved by beating this Helena team notwithstanding their using the No 1 style." That description perfectly fits his order discussed above, the factory letter for this rifle, and this rifle's current weight of right around 12 pounds. The local papers on October 2, 1875, listed Granville Stuart's score at 1,000 yards as 24 which was bested only by his brother Thomas' score of 28 while the highest score on the opposing team was 22. It also noted, "The shooting match at 500 yards will take place to-day for the Creedmore [sic] rifle between the Deer Lodge and Helena teams." Hauser shot with the Helena team at 500 yards, but they lost that match as well and thus the Creedmoor rifle when home with Stuart. That rifle that had been purchased specifically for the occasion through the Territorial Fair Association by Hauser. That rifle is in lot 51 and thoroughly discussed there. Stuart proudly wrote to Sharps, the National Rifle Association, and Forest & Stream about his team's victory. It was also covered by the regional press which The rifle is equipped with a dovetailed globe front sight, a Lawrence patent rear sight with the ladder cut down and modified into a second sight leaf with a U-notch, long range Vernier "orthoptic" peep sight, adjustable double set triggers, a smooth forearm with the classic Hartford pattern pewter forend cap, and a plain buttstock with a steel buttplate. The barrel also has the Hartford barrel address and "CALIBRE 44" markings, and the frame has the standard patent marking on the left and "56" on the bottom left. Matching serial numbers are on the bottom of the barrel, side of the peep sight base (minus the "C,"), and under the peep sight base (first "1" obliterated by the front tap for the sight).
Documentation
Antique
Caliber / Gauge: 44-90
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Page 1 of 41