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Fine, Special Order Remington Walker-Hepburn Schuetzen Single Shot Rifle with Winchester Scope
THE SPECIAL ORDER TURNED DOWN MUZZLE, ALLOWING FOR USE OF A STARTER FOR LOADING FROM THE MUZZLE, WAS ON ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE 23 WALKER- HEPBURN RIFLES PRODUCED, FURTHER ADDING TO THE RARITY
LOT 72
Extremely Rare Serial Number 5 Remington Walker-Hepburn Schuetzen Rifle with Winchester B4 Scope and Palm Rest - Serial no. 5, 32-40 cal., 30 1/4 inch octagon bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. The Remington-Hepburn was designed by Remington mechanical department superintendent and talented marksman Lewis L. Hepburn in 1879 and introduced
in 1880. A couple decades later, Remington modified the rifle for Schuetzen rifle competition by fitting the ornate finger groove levers
that operate the breechblock instead of the usual Hepburn side lever. These rifles are without a doubt the finest target rifles
ever offered by Remington and were brought out to compete with the other high end match rifles of the early 20th century.
They were originally known as the Remington Schuetzen Match Rifle - New Special Model. They were handmade at Remington’s Custom Gun Shop under the direction of Louis
N. Walker, hence the modern day collectors name of Remington Walker-Hepburn Schuetzen Rifle. These rifles were
only illustrated in the Remington Arms Company catalog dated 1904-05 and in the 1904 M. Hartley & Co. Illustrated
Catalog. Only 23 of these specially handmade rifles were ever sold: ten in 1904, one in 1906, eleven in 1907, and one in
1908, and they are extremely difficult to acquire. This rifle is made even rarer by having a turned down muzzle for use
with a starter for loading the bullet from the muzzle. Only a small portion of the 23 Walker-Hepburn rifles were ordered
this way. This rifle’s barrel is marked “REMINGTON ARMS CO. ILION, N.Y. U.S.A.” and is fitted with a globe front sight and
scope mounting blocks for the Winchester B4 scope. The frame has “REMINGTON” in a downward arch over light scroll
work over “Schuetzen” in Old English style lettering inscribed on the left side and is fitted with a short ranger Vernier
peep sight. The lever is the distinctive Walker style with finger grooves and encloses a set of double set triggers. There
is no serial number at the rear of the lower tang, but “5” is on the rear of the breechblock, a “0” is marked inside the
forend, and a marking consisting of two overlapping “1”s is marked on the face of the frame to the right of the barrel,
on the left side of the frame tangs, on the front of the wrist of the buttstock on each side, on inside the upper tang mortise of the buttstock,
and inside of the buttplate twice. “WHD” for Remington master stock maker William H. Deyle is also marked in the upper tang mortise. The rifle is mounted
with a checkered stock and forearm with contrasting inserts in the Schnabel forend tip and pistol grip, mounted knob shaped palm rest, a high sloped comb, cheek rest, and nickel plated Swiss buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine with 95% period factory quality refinished blue, casehardened, and nickel plated finish remaining and only minor age and storage related wear including some dings on the barrel and buttplate. The receiver markings are faint. The barrel markings are crisp. The wood is very fine and has crisp checkering, a few small dings, light scratches, minor edge wear, slight cracks at the knots on the left in the wrist and by the cheek rest, small flakes at the toe, and otherwise generally only light overall wear. The refinished scope is very good and has a few dings and slightly hazy optics. Mechanically excellent. This is an exceedingly rare opportunity to get your hands on a rare example of the ever desirable Remington Walker-Heburn Schuetzen Rifle.
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
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Collector’s Fact
One of only 23, specially hand- made Remington Walker-Hepburn Schuetzen Single Shot rifles.
SERIAL NUMBER 5