This is a scarce example of a .41 caliber six-shot revolving rifle, manufactured between 1869 to 1876 by the Roper Sporting Arms Company of Hartford, Connecticut. Roper rifles are encountered with far less frequency today than the Roper shotguns based on the same design. It features a six-shot revolving cartridge carrier enclosed in the frame, a bolt connected to the cocking hammer, a rifled round barrel with a dovetail mounted combination flip-up globe and blade front sight, a dovetailed folding ladder rear sight on the barrel, a second folding ladder rear sight on top of the frame just ahead of the hammer, "ROPER SPORTING ARMS CO./HARTFORD, CONN./PAT. APR. 10. 1866. JULY 14. 1868." marked on the hinged loading gate, smooth walnut forearm with pewter end caps, and smooth walnut buttstock with an iron rifle buttplate. Matching serial number "360" marked on the bottom chamber area of the frame, barrel, bolt, and on the interior of both the forearm and buttplate. Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection

Very good, retains traces of original blue finish concentrated in protected areas of the barrel, with some silvering on the casehardened frame and smooth brown patina on the balance of the iron with scattered surface freckling, and distinct markings on the loading gate. Wood is also very good as revarnished, with a reglued crack visible on the left of the wrist, a few cracks on either side ahead of the buttplate, some light handling marks, and defined edges. Absent small stop screw at the top of the rear frame sight ladder. The cartridge carrier does not properly rotate, mechanically needs work, otherwise the hammer/bolt cocks and the trigger functions.