This Evans lever action sporting rifle was manufactured by the Evans Repeating Rifle Company, Mechanic Falls, Maine, in 1876-1877. The Evans Lever Action Rifle was a distinctive design with revolving, butt-loading magazine and hammer mounted on the underside of the frame. The rifles had an exceptionally large magazine capacity of 34-rounds and were chambered for the .44 caliber Evans Short cartridge. The Evans Repeating Rifle Company manufactured an estimated 1,050 Transitional Model Sporting Rifles. The Transitional Models had the same frame shape and concealed hammer as the Old Model rifles, but featured a thinner buttplate with no heel piece and a lower butt-piece which covered part of the magazine. The Evans Repeating Rifle Company made a number of deluxe presentation rifles for promotional purposes; with this rifle apparently being one of those deluxe presentation rifles. The rifle has a 28 inch blued, full-octagon barrel with globe front sight and folding leaf rear sight. The forearm cap, receiver, hammer, lever, magazine, and buttplate have a nickel plated finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the legend: "EVANS REPEATING RIFLE MECHANIC FALLS.ME/PAT. DEC. 8, 1868 & SEPT. 16, 1871" in two lines followed by the serial number "674". The forearm cap and the top and sides of the receiver are fully engraved with flawlessly executed Germanic scroll engraving on a punch-dot background. A banner on the left side of the receiver is engraved with the name "James Barbour" in Old English lettering. Page 230 of "Steel Canvas" by R.L. Wilson shows a deluxe Evans rifle engraved by Louis Nimschke along with pulls for other Nimschke engraved Evans Rifles. The stock and forearm are well-figured, fancy walnut with a high polish varnish finish.

Excellent. The rifle is in excellent original condition and retains 97% of the blue finish on the barrel and 95% of the original nickel plated finish on the forearm cap and receiver. There is some minor finish loss on the bottom of the lever. The buttplate shows more handling wear and retains 60% of the nickel plated finish. The flawlessly executed scroll engraving is crisp and deep. The stock and forearm are both excellent overall with 95% of the varnish finish; wear is limited to several minor handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. This is a rare example of a deluxe, engraved, presentation Evans lever action rifle.