This Bullard Model 1886 deluxe, large frame, lever action sporting rifle was manufactured circa 1886-1890 by the Bullard Repeating Arms Company of Springfield, Massachusetts. Bullard lever action rifles were the product of James H. Bullard, a former S&W employee, who developed the distinctive lever-action design. The high quality Bullard rifles featured a loading gate on the bottom of the magazine that allowed single shot firing with a full magazine. The right side of the receiver is roll-stamped: "MODEL 1886" on the chamber. The opposite side is roll-stamped: "BULLARD REPEATING ARMS CO./SPRINGFIELD MASS. PAT. AUG. 16. 1881.". The top of the receiver is roll-stamped: "Cal/45" in two lines indicating that the rifle is chambered for the .45-70 or .45-85 cartridges offered in large frame Bullard rifles. The serial number is stamped in small numerals on the top of the receiver behind the hammer. This rifle has a half-round/half-octagon barrel with a large, dove-tail mounted, front sight originally fitted with a colored bead. The barrel has no provision for a rear sight. A Lyman folding combination rear with coarsely knurled post is mounted on the upper receiver tang. The rifle has a half-magazine with loading gate located in the underside of the forearm. The receiver ejection port has a sliding dust cover with serrated edges. The steel, shotgun style buttplate has a large hinged butt trap door. However, the stock has no butt trap. The barrel and half-magazine are blue. The forearm cap, receiver and dust cover are high polish blue. The bolt, breech block, hammer, trigger, lever and shotgun buttplate are casehardened. The buttplate is decorated with well executed scroll and border engraving. The stock and forearm are nicely figured, fancy grain walnut with a low-luster varnish finish. The pistol grip stock has a black, hard rubber pistol grip cap and European style cheek piece. The forearm has three oval checkered panels; the pistol grip in nearly entirely covered with fine checkering. This is a top quality rifle with exceptional fit and finish.

Extremely fine. The barrel and half-magazine retain 90% of the original blue finish. Wear is limited is some insignificant handling marks and a shallow dent on one side of the muzzle. The front sight is missing the original colored bead. The receiver, dust cover and forearm cap retain 85% plus of the high polish blue finish. The sides of the receiver show scattered patches of surface discoloration and some light handling marks. There is a 1/2-inch spot of pitting with associated finish loss on the left side of the receiver at the junction with the chamber and a small spot of discoloration just ahead of it near the gas port. The bolt, breech block, hammer, trigger and lever retain 90% of the vivid case colors with some silvering on the contact points along the bottom of the lever. The buttplate has a dark, blue-black, patina with some shallow pitting on the butt trap door. The fancy grain walnut forearm and pistol grip stock remain in excellent condition and retain nearly all of the semi-gloss finish and minimal handling wear. The checkering on the forearm and pistol grip is sharp and shows very little wear. This is an exceptionally attractive example of a rare, deluxe, large frame, Bullard Model 1886 Lever Action Sporting Rifle.