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  • Auction Catalog #4094
  • Lot #128
Lot #127
Lot #129

Lot 128: Nickel Plated S&W Model 320 Revolving Rifle with Shoulder Stock

Exceptional and Award Winning Nickel Plated Smith & Wesson Model 320 "Buntline Special" Revolving Rifle with Shoulder Stock, Scope and Factory Letter

Auction Location: Bedford, TX

Auction Date: May 2, 2025

Lot 128: Nickel Plated S&W Model 320 Revolving Rifle with Shoulder Stock

Exceptional and Award Winning Nickel Plated Smith & Wesson Model 320 "Buntline Special" Revolving Rifle with Shoulder Stock, Scope and Factory Letter

Auction Location: Bedford, TX

Auction Date: May 2, 2025

Estimated Price: $40,000 - $60,000
Price Realized:
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Exceptional and Award Winning Nickel Plated Smith & Wesson Model 320 "Buntline Special" Revolving Rifle with Shoulder Stock, Scope and Factory Letter

Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Model: 320 Revolving Rifle
Type: Revolver
Gauge: 320 S&W Rifle
Barrel: 18 inch solid rib
Finish: nickel
Grip: hard rubber
Stock:
Item Views: 748
Item Interest: Very Active
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 131
Class: Antique
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with light streaking and crisp rifling.
Description:

Manufactured from 1879 to 1887, the Model 320 revolving rifle is one of the rarest Smith & Wesson firearms produced with a total production of 977 and only 85-90 feature nickel finish. These firearms were serial numbered from 1 to 977 and out of the 977 manufactured, 514 had the 18 inch barrel. Only 840 of these were sold in the U.S., and the remaining 137 were exported. This scarce and unusual revolving rifle was sometimes referred to as the Smith & Wesson "Buntline Special" in the combination of a long barreled revolver with attaching shoulder stock. This Model 320 was manufactured using the frame, cylinder, and basic action of the New Model No. 3 revolver with some minor differences in the hammer and trigger, and with the barrel being made of two pieces. A slot is cut into the butt and a hole drilled in the back strap to accommodate the shoulder stock. The rifle features an 18 inch barrel with a globe front sight with cross hair aperture and a nickel plated 23 3/4 inch long tube scope with blue finished mounts, showing characteristics of being either influenced and/or manufactured by Malcolm. This is the only one known with a period scope. The rifle is chambered for the 320 Smith & Wesson rifle cartridge. The top of the rib is marked with the two-line address/patent dates. The matching serial number appears on the butt, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. Nickel finish with casehardened hammer and trigger guard. The barrel is fitted with a checkered hard rubber red mottled forearm with the Smith & Wesson monogram on the underside. The grips are matching with Smith & Wesson monograms in a circle at the tops. The shoulder stock features nickel plated attaching iron and a checkered hard rubber buttplate with the Smith & Wesson monogram. The included Smith & Wesson factory letter addressed to Mr. Tom Lewis states that the firearm was shipped on March 3, 1895, to J.P. Lovell & Son of Boston, MA. The letter confirms the 18 inch barrel and checkered mottled hard rubber grips and forearm. Although the factory records were incomplete as to not list the type of finish, the nickel plating on this example is factory original. Blue was the standard finish for Model 320s, making nickel finished examples even more scarce and desirable to collectors, as only 85-90 total nickel examples are known to have been produced. Included with this rifle is the "Best Single Gun Display Award" from the Columbus, OH - 2014 Smith & Wesson Collectors Association annual meeting to David L. Carroll. Provenance: The Tom Lewis Collection; The Don Anderson Collection; The David Carroll Collection

Rating Definition:

Excellent. The revolving rifle retains 97% original nickel finish with limited flaking. The forearm and grips are also excellent showing a few minor handling marks with overall crisp checkering. The scope retains most of the original nickel finish and has clear optics. The hammer and trigger guard retain much of the original case colors. The stock is also excellent showing some minor handling marks and the attaching iron retains 97% original nickel finish. Mechanically excellent. A phenomenal and equally rare nickel plated 18 inch Smith and Wesson 320 rifle and the only known specimen with a period scope to have ever surfaced!



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