Very few S. F. Van Choate patent rifles were manufactured by Brown Manufacturing Company of Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1872. The design was submitted for the 1872 trials and not adopted due to potential complications in combat. Production appears to have been limited to the few test rifles chambered for the proprietary .45-70 Van Choate cartridge. It has the common military style block front sight that doubles as the bayonet lug, a notch and folding ladder rear sight, and a nearly full-length stock secured by two barrel bands with an iron forend cap, sling swivels on the middle band and bottom of the butt, and a standard military style buttplate. The bolt is double stamped with "BROWN MFG. CO. NEWBURY PORT MASS./PAT.MAY 11 1869 & AUG. 24 1869."

Very good with faded refinished blue visible on the barrel, brown patina on the balance, some minor oxidation, and mild age and storage related wear. The stock is fair and has a reglued break visible in the wrist, minor chips at the edges, and light scratches and dings. Mechanically fine.