Cyrus B. Holden (1827-1906) of Worcester, Massachusetts, was a rifle maker from the early cartridge era to c. 1904. Rifles by Holden are well-made but hard to find. In "Flayderman's Guide" this type of rifle is listed as a "C.B. Holden Long-Range Rifle" or "Holden Fifth Model Rifle" and has also been called Holden's "Creedmoor" rifle. They were made in very limited quantities c. 1870s-1880s. On June 7, 1888, The Boston Globe reported a Holden .44 caliber "long range rifle" valued at $125 was the prize at the Boston Gun Club's summer tournament, similar in cost to a Sharps Creedmoor rifle and around five times the cost of Colt Single Action Army. The barrel has a base for a windgauge front sight (absent) with an added small post front sight, adjustable sporting rear sight, and "C.B. HOLDEN-MAKER-WORCESTER. MASS." on top of the breech section. A small button on the front at the bottom right behind the forearm allows the short breech lever to pull back and drops the breechblock. A manual ejector is fitted on top of the action. The frame, casehardened lock and sideplate, and furniture have floral, scroll, and border engraving. "10" is marked on multiple components such as the ejector, frame, lever, and lock. The peep sight has "22" on the thumb screw on the right and "6" on the base of the ladder and adjustment screw, and the latter is also marked on the hammer screw. The forearm and pistol grip stock are checkered, and the rifle has a checkered shotgun style buttplate.

Exceptionally fine with 70% of the thin original blue finish on the barrel, 98% untouched original nickel plated finish with light aged patina on the frame and furniture, 85% plus original case colors on the plates and breechblock, and minor age and storage related wear. The wood is very fine and has crisp checkering, a few minor dings and scratches, some discoloration on the left side of the butt, and generally minor wear. Mechanically excellent. This is the only example of this extremely rare rifle we can recall having ever offered at auction!