Manufactured from 1869 to 1876 and built around a six-round shell carrier with a breechblock connected to the hammer. It is fitted with a combination Beach front sight, elevation adjustable rear sight (replacement), a sighting groove along the top of the frame at the breech and a folding leaf rear sight graduated to 800 yards on the rear of the frame. The hinge loading gate is marked with the three-line Hartford address/patent dates. The breechblock is numbered to the gun (437). The barrel and forearm are both numbered "283." Mounted on a nicely figured walnut forearm with pewter tip and straight grip stock. Roper revolving rifles in any condition are very rare.
Fine. The barrel retains 40% original blue finish with the balance thinning to a brown patina. The frame also retains 40% original case colors. The forearm is very fine with a few minor handling marks. The fine, highly figured buttstock has a crack visible in the wrist and scattered minor handling marks. The folding rear ladder style sight has 80% of the bright nitre blue on the base. Mechanically excellent. A very rare example of an American revolving rifle that would be a great addition to an antique American collection.
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