The rare New Model Evans Lever Action Repeater is first and only in multiple categories: it is the only repeating rifle to be manufactured in Maine, and it is the highest capacity repeating rifle made with a 28 round integral magazine to the buttstock. The Evans Repeating Rifle Company marketed this rifle to politicians, celebrity types, and famous shooters of the time in an effort to win military contracts in the Americas and even with the Russian Tsar. The company did not secure any contracts, however, and the Evans fell into obscurity. This high condition New Model Sporting Rifle is one of an estimated 3,000 manufactured circa 1877 to 1879 divided into 26, 28, and 30 inch barrel variants. The top barrel flat is marked with "EVANS REPEATING RIFLE MECHANIC FALLS, ME PAT. DEC 8, 1868 & SEP. 16, 1878 U.S.A.". It has a dovetailed triangular front sight, a notch and ladder folding rear sight graduated to 1100 yards, a smooth forend with a steel cap and a two piece buttstock with a crescent steel buttplate (a screw is absent from the right side of the buttplate).

Exceptionally fine, 85% original blue finish with minor spotting, 70% fiery original case colors on the lever, and overall light wear for its age. Very fine wood, with hairline crack on the right side of the forend, surface scratches throughout, chips on the edges of the buttstock, distinctive grain is present, and most of the original gloss remains on both the forend and stock. Mechanically excellent.