This is a very fine example of a custom Schuetzen rifle with a Pope 30 inch no. 4 weight full octagon barrel that is chambered for the .28-32 Ideal Pope wildcat cartridge also known as the .28 Pope Special. The consignor notes indicate that it has "eight land and groove left hand gain twist Pope rifling". It features a false muzzle that is numbered to match the barrel and has a sight post (alerts the shooter that it is still installed), a globe front sight with "H" key, an elevation and windage adjustable Pope peep sight mounted on the tang, double set triggers installed on a Marlin-Ballard forged straight grip action, a three finger spur Joseph Singer style lever, and is fitted with a custom checkered walnut Schnabel tip forearm and straight grip stock with folding Pope palm rest with nickel plated base, raised comb with cheek rest, and a silver plated Swiss buttplate. The receiver and lever are casehardened, and the barrel is blued. The top of the barrel is marked "H.M. POPE. HARTFORD. CONN" and the bottom under the forearm has various small marks including "185" and a circled "VP" proof. The left side of the receiver is marked with the two line pre-1881 maker and patent information "J.M. MARLIN NEW-HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A./BALLARD'S PATENT. NOV. 5. 1861.", and the serial number "7371" is marked on the breech block and the bottom of the frame at the front. The consignor notes indicate that the butt stock has a swell at the comb nose that along with the lever is typical of Joseph Singer's work and those features along with the extra long forend are typical of those built in Southern California in the early to mid-1890s. It includes an Ideal re-decapper, brass bullet lubricating pump marked "H.M. POPE", an early .28 caliber Pope double cut-off bullet mold, bullet starter, and a rare 32 IDEAL case formed to 28 cal.

Very fine as custom finished. The barrel retains 90% of the thinning original blue finish, and the frame retains nearly all of the vivid case colors. The 98% plus of the silver plating remains on the buttplate with slightly less of the nickel remaining on the palm rest mount. There is some light high edge wear along with some minor scratches and marks. A small spot of pitting is present on the hammer. The wood is also very fine with crisp checking, a few scattered light scratches and small dings along with light handling/storage type marks. Mechanically excellent with a tight action and clear markings. The accessories are in very good condition overall. It is very rare to find a great antique target rifle that has not been drilled and tapped for scope mounting indicating that this rifle was likely stashed away a very long time ago and still retains a match grade bore.