*RARE STEVENS MODEL 51 IDEAL SCHUETZEN SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

SN 11546. Cal. 32-40 Rare rifle on a 44-1/2 action with 30″ about #4 weight oct to rnd bbl, globe front sight, no rear seat & windgauge Vernier tang sight with 3″ staff. Receiver has takedown screw in the bottom front and is lightly engraved with foliate arabesque patterns that has lightly shaded background and a line border. Top 3 flats of the receiver also have borders with top flat lightly engraved. Top tang is engraved to match. Receiver has dbl set triggers & finger rest lever with walnut panels in the loop. Mounted with very highly figured American walnut with checkered, Schnable tip forearm, straight stock with high comb and deep cheek piece & steel Schuetzen buttplate. Bottom of bbl, under the forearm is marked “BDL LTD. EDGEFIELD. SC”. Bbl, forearm, buttstock and buttplate are matching numbered to the rifle. This rifle was produced from about 1896-1916 in a large variety of calibers with some variation in configuration. This was a serious target shooters rifle and as such it is extremely rare to find one in completely orig, unaltered configuration. Most of the old time shooters altered their rifles to suit themselves, most often altering the wood or changing the sights or adding a telescope. CONDITION: Extremely fine+, all matching. Bbl retains about 99% crisp, orig blue with only faint muzzle and sharp edge wear. Receiver retains about all of its bright Stevens case colors, lightly faded over the top & bottom edges. Breechblock retains most of its orig blue. Lever & hammer retain faded case colors, and buttplate about 70% case colors. Wood is sound with a very minor nick or two and overall retains virtually all of its crisp, orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant shiny bore, may have been fired, if so very little. 49033-14 JR C&R (7,000-10,000) – Lot 2455

*SCARCE STEVENS MODEL 47 IDEAL “MODERN RANGE” SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

SN 11241. Cal. 22 Fine target rifle on a 44-1/2 action with 28″ oct to rnd about #3 weight bbl that has globe front sight, no rear seat & a windgauge Vernier tang sight with 3″ staff. Bottom front of receiver has a takedown screw. Trigger is custom checkered with an adjustment screw added into the trigger plate and it has full loop lever. Mounted with replacement, very nicely figured American walnut with checkered Schnable tip forearm, serpentine grip, perch belly, Schuetzen style buttstock that has Swiss-style buttplate. Bottom of stock is inlaid with a small, silver oval. Bbl & buttplate are matching numbered to the rifle; wood is unnumbered. Bottom flat of bbl, under the forearm is stamped “BDL LTD. EDGEFIELD. SC”. This is a prime example of an early shooter reconfiguring his rifle to suit his tastes. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains about 98% strong orig blue with only very faint sharp edge wear. Receiver retains about all of its orig case colors, lightly to moderately faded. Breechblock retains about 90% bright orig blue. Hammer has a bobbed spur. Lever retains bright case colors in sheltered areas, turned silver on outer faces. Buttplate retains most of its orig case colors, moderately to heavily faded, turning silver. The custom, replacement wood is sound and retains most of its fine hand-rubbed oil finish. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore. 49033-13 JR C&R (3,500-5,000) – Lot 2456

EXTREMELY RARE SHARPS MODEL 1877 OVERBAUGH LONG-RANGE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

SN 161703. Cal. 45-100 Outstanding Sharps rifle with 34″ medium to heavy rnd bbl, windgauge, spirit level globe front sight, no provision for a rear sight and orig, matching numbered Vernier tang sight with 4″ staff. Heel of buttstock is also mounted with a sight base that has last 3 digits of matching SN on left side. Top of bbl is marked with the Bridgeport address and the “Old Reliable” cartouche. Chamber area of bbl has a single Rigby flat. Mounted with very highly figured French or Circassian walnut with checkered Sharps forearm that has horn Schnable tip. Buttstock has a curl on the checkered grip and has Sharps checkered hard rubber buttplate. Accompanied by a Sharps Rifle Company records letter which identifies this rifle as a long-range #1 target rifle in Cal. 45-100. Records also note that it is “An Overbaugh”. Records further note that it only had heel sights and was shipped June 7, 1877 to Frank Hyde of the Sharps Rifle Company at no cost along with a bridle leather case & ammunition. The letter further details that Mr. Hyde was an accomplished shooter for the Sharp Rifle Company and participated in the Creedmoor & international matches. Records show that he returned the rifle on Sept 26, 1877 with 1 set of sights and the case. This rifle was again invoiced to C. S. Davidson, Hartford, CT on Oct 4, 1877 and was returned, date not noted. It was shipped again Feb 13, 1878 to S. A. Hubbard of Hartford, CT with both of those entries noted as “Hyde’s Gun”. The letter continues that “We can be sure that it was in his (Hyde’s) possession and obviously used by him between June 6, 1877 and Sept 26, 1877”. A P.S. at the bottom of the 2nd page states that Frank Hyde shot a score of 214 out of a possible 225 at 1000-yds at the NRA rifle range at Creedmoor, Long Island, NY in Aug of 1877 which is the highest score, to date shot on that range in practice for the upcoming international matches of 1877. It continues that on Sept 13 & 14 the international matches for 1877 were shot at the Creedmoor range. Frank Hyde shot a 209 and was 3rd for the 1st day. On the 2nd day, he shot 205, placing 5th, which secured the match for the American team. Weight 10lbs 1oz. According to Sharps Firearms, Sellers there were only 46 of these rare rifles produced at Bridgeport, Jan 1877 to March 1879 making this one of the more rare Sharp rifles. It is with some certainty that we can state that this rifle was used by the accomplished marksman Frank Hyde and other renowned shooters over the years. In addition to being a very rare rifle, it also has a strong history. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 96-98% strong orig blue with a small ding, a couple of small scratches, a spot of light pitting & some scattered, very light surface etching. Receiver, breechblock, lockplate, hammer & lever retain about 60-70% faded orig case colors, brighter in sheltered areas. Forearm horn tip has a hairline crack, otherwise wood is sound with a series of small dings on the buttstock, a few scratches & scrapes showing moderate wear and overall retains about 92-93% strong orig varnish that is slightly crazed. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore. 49403-10 JR (25,000-35,000) – Lot 2457

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RARE EARLY SHARPS NO 1 CREEDMOOR LONG-RANGE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

SN C54159. Cal. 40-90. SHARPS BOTTLENECK Fine early rifle produced before the “1874” model designation was applied to the Sharps. This rifle has 32″ oct bbl, windgage spirit level front sight, no provision for a rear sight and has a matching numbered Sharps Vernier tang sight with 5′ staff. Top flat of bbl is marked with the Hartford address and Cal. marking over the chamber area. Mounted with very nicely figured American walnut with checkered Sharps forearm that has engraved, rnd pewter tip & pistol grip stock with checkered steel Sharps buttplate. Stock has a flat grip cap. Heel of buttstock is aftermarket mounted with a Winchester-style, thick base Vernier sight with 5-1/2″ staff. Matching SN was observed on top tang, under tang sight, bottom of bbl, inside forearm on the lockplate & trigger plate. Buttstock is numbered “54364” on front face and buttplate & grip cap is matching numbered to the buttstock. Accompanied by a Sharps factory records letter which identifies this rifle as having been found in order book no. 1 and that it is a No. 1 Creedmoor Rifle invoiced at Hartford on April 12, 1875 to Schuyler, Hartley & Graham, NY, NY. The record states that this rifle was in Cal. 44 2-5/8″ with 32″ oct bbl. Dr. Richard Labowskie is the current owner of the Sharps records and he states that this rifle has been in his personal collection since 1976 when it was purchased from Capt Avery Young, USN, Dir. of the Service Life Extension Program for Nautilus Class Submarines, of Crystal City, VA. He states that this rifle had descendent in the Wright and Young families of Norwalk, CT. At the time of purchase, it had been in a bank vault storage for 37 years and was unknown until Capt. Young’s father passed away when the bank called him following his father’s death. Also accompanied by a beautiful, extremely well made, red felt lined walnut case, custom fitted to this rifle. Case has brass hinges and English style swinging latches and a mortised lock with functioning key. Case orig had leather carrying handles which have deteriorated and broken. Case also contains an orig wooden, brass-tip cleaning rod. Weight 10lbs 4oz. According to Sharps Firearms, Sellers, there were 134 No. 1 Creedmoor rifles produced Mar 1874 to Dec 1875. PROVENANCE: Dr. Richard Labowskie Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, numbered parts as noted above. Bbl retains about 70% strong orig blue with a cleaned area over the forearm. It appears that a previous owner may have attempted to dull the finish in that area to prevent glare. Receiver, lockplate, hammer & lever retain most of their orig case colors, strong & bright in sheltered areas; moderately faded elsewhere. Buttplate is grey metal patina & grip cap shows strong, bright case colors. Stock has several drilled holes under the buttplate, apparently to lighten the weight for Creedmoor shooting which allows a maximum of 10lbs for an official rifle. Wood is sound with a few, scattered, very minor nicks & scratches and retains virtually all of its orig factory finish, slightly crazed. Mechanics are crisp. Very bright, shiny bore. Case is very fine with a few light nicks & scratches. Lining is moderately to heavily faded with moderate mothing. 49395-1 JR (25,000-35,000) – Lot 2458

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Revised: 9/29/2015

Important Note: Since cataloging this lot we have received a factory letter stating “Shipped 3 March 1876. Returned and reshipped to Wm. Reed & Sons, Boston, on 12 May 1876.

RARE SHARPS MODEL 1874 NO 2 LONG-RANGE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

SN 156149. Cal. 44-77 OR 44-90 Beautiful target rifle with 34″ oct bbl, spirit level windgauge front sight, no rear seat & matching numbered Vernier tang sight that has 5″ staff. Mounted with nicely figured, tiger striped American walnut with checkered Schnable tip, forearm & pistol grip stock that has checkered grip cap and checkered steel Sharps buttplate. Bottom rear flat of forearm is stamped “B.F.C.”. Top flat of bbl has the Hartford address with Cal. marking over chamber area. It has a checkered single trigger. Weight 9lbs 10-1/2oz. According to Sharps Firearms, Sellers, there were 29 No. 2 rifles with steel buttplates produced at Hartford, 1875-1876. These rifles were inherently accurate and highly sought after by serious target shooters and big game hunters. They were rather expensive with the price $100 during the period of production which took them out of the range of most shooters of that day. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Phil A. Bleakney, Jr. CONDITION: Very fine plus, all matching including bbl, lockplate, trigger plate, buttplate, stock & forearm. Bbl retains 97-98% strong orig blue. Front sight is missing its aperture and spirit level is apparently broken. Lockplate & hammer retain most of their strong orig case colors, lightly to moderately faded. Receiver retains 65-70% orig case colors, mostly on the left side with the right side mostly turned silver, showing strong colors in sheltered areas. Lever retains about 70% faded case colors, strong near the receiver. Wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and retains virtually all of its orig factory varnish. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore, shows very little use. 49059-108 JR (10,000-15,000) – Lot 2460

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SCARCE SHARPS MODEL 1874 SINGLE SHOT SPORTING RIFLE.

SN 160841. Cal. 45-2 7/8 (45-100/45-110) Fine sporting rifle with 30″ heavy oct bbl, Freund Rocky Mountain style front sight and Freund patent, Sharps-style ladder rear sight with semi-buckhorn aperture and diamond aperture in the ladder sight slide. Rear sight base is also stamped in two places “DURANGO / COLO”. Top flat of bbl is marked with the Bridgeport address and “Old Reliable” cartouche. Cal. marking is on top flat & right side flat over the chamber area. Trigger plate has dbl set triggers. Mounted with nicely figured, slab-sawed, uncheckered American walnut with semi-schnable forearm and straight stock with checkered steel Sharps buttplate. SN was observed on top rear of receiver with matching number on bottom of bbl and last 4 digits of matching number on front face of buttstock, inside lockplate & inside toe of buttplate. Forearm is undoubtedly original to this rifle, however, any number present is obscured by soil & oil staining. According to Sharps Firemans, Sellers, there were about 3,881 Model 1874 sporting rifles produced at Bridgeport in the period 1871 to 1880. Accompanied by a Sharps Company records letter which identifies this rifle in order book no. 6 as a Model 1874 sporting rifle invoiced at Bridgeport on Dec 8 1877 to Schuyler, Hartley & Graham, NY, NY. It is described as being 45 Cal., 2-7/8 with 30″ oct bbl, dbl triggers, open sights & oil finished stocks. The weight is shown as 13lbs 2oz. Currently the weight is 13 lbs 1 oz. Dr. Labowskie states in his letter that the Freund sights were undoubtedly substituted for the original Sharps open sights by an early owner. Also accompanying is a rare original flyer for Freund sights. Frank W. Freund immigrated from Germany in the 1850’s and worked initially for Remington as a gunmaker. He left Remington and later served in the Union Army 1864 to 1865. After the War, he established his gunmaking business in Nebraska in 1866 and followed the progress of the Union Pacific Railway from North Platte, NE to Julesburg, Colorado Territory and by Nov 1867, when the railway reached Cheyenne, WY territory, Frank and his brother George had already been there by two months with an established business, which later became The Wyoming Armory. Frank and George were fine craftsman, with Frank the inventive genius who patented a variety of sights for firearms of that era, especially for single shot target & hunting rifles. PROVENANCE: Dr. Robert L. Moore Collection; Dr. Richard Labowskie Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching as noted above. Bbl retains 96-97% strong original blue with only faint sharp edge wear. Receiver retains most of its original case colors, strong & bright in sheltered areas. Breechblock retains bright case colors. Lockplate & hammer retain strong case colors in sheltered areas with the tail of the lockplate faded to silver. Lever retains faded case colors. Stock has a hairline in the left side at the buttplate, otherwise wood is sound with usual light nicks & scratches and retains most of its original factory finish. Set triggers are crisp. Mechanics are fine. Very bright shiny bore. 49395-2 JR (20,000-30,000) – Lot 2461

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FINE SLOTTERBECK SHARPS MODEL 1874 SINGLE SHOT SPORTING & TARGET RIFLE.

SN C53426. Cal. 44 2-1/4 (44-77) Fine custom rifle by well known gunmaker, Slotterbeck of Southern California with 30″ orig, medium weight oct bbl, Rocky Mountain front sight & Sharps 1869 style buckhorn rear sight. Top tang is mounted with a Winchester-style, thin base Vernier tang sight with 3″ staff. Trigger plate has orig dbl set triggers. Bottom of bbl has two iron guides in Slotterbeck style containing what is probably the orig Slotterbeckhickory & iron cleaning rod. Mounted with Slotterbeck custom tiger striped, uncheckered American walnut with smooth forearm secured by a single key through bow-tie escutcheons & pewter forend cap. Buttstock has Kentucky rifle style slight perch belly with shadow cheekpiece on the right side for a left handed shooter and Kentucky rifle style crescent buttplate with toe plate. Cheekpiece is inlaid with a 2″ x 1-1/4″ oval silver plate. Slotterbeck was known to have altered existing Sharps rifles as well as purchasing surplus Sharps carbines and similarly converting them to sporting & hunting rifles. He frequently supplied his own bbls purchased from Germany. Accompanied by a Sharps factory records letter which identifies this rifle as a Model 1874 sporting model, invoiced at Hartford April 30 1872 to N. Curry & Bro, San Francisco, CA. It was in 44 2-1/4″ Cal. with oct bbl with dbl triggers, globe and peep sights & oil finish stocks. Dr. Labowskie notes in his letter that a case of 10 rifles in various configurations was sent to the Curry firm on April 30 1872, one of which is known to have been modified in the same manner as found here. Weigh 12lbs 8oz. PROVENANCE: Dr. Richard Labowskie Collection. CONDITION: Fine (no disassembly was effected to check for matching numbers). Bbl retains a smooth, even, restored brown finish and receiver, also a smooth brown finish. Forearm has a couple of small cracks, otherwise wood is sound with a fine restored finish. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore. 49395-3 JR (15,000-30,000) – Lot 2462

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FINE SHARPS MEDIUM WEIGHT MODEL 1874 SINGLE SHOT SPORTING RIFLE.

SN C54420. Cal. 40-50 SHARPS BOTTLENECK Fine sporting rifle with 30″ medium weight oct bbl, windgauge globe front sight, Lawrence ladder rear sight & early style Sharps Vernier tang sight with 5″ staff. Top flat of bbl is marked with the Hartford address and has Cal. marking over the chamber area. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with Sharps pewter tip sporting forearm & straight stock with Sharps carbine-style smooth steel buttplate. Trigger plate has dbl set triggers. SN was observed in usual place on top tang and also on bottom of bbl, inside forearm & front face of buttstock. Buttplate is unnumbered but is undoubtedly orig to this rifle. Lockplate is numbered “54607”. Weight 12lbs. According to Sharps Firearms, Sellers, there were 2,120 Model 1874 sporting rifles with oct bbls produced at Hartford Jan 1871 to Sept 1880. These rifles were extremely popular both as target & hunting arms, most notably on the Western frontier. The 1874 Sharps can take major credit for the decimation of the great Western bison herds. Firearms of this era usually saw very hard service under adverse conditions and are rarely found today with high orig finish. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Phil A. Bleakney, Jr. CONDITION: Very fine, matching numbers as noted above. Bbl retains 96-98% strong orig blue with only light sharp edge wear. Receiver, lockplate & hammer retain 70-80% strong orig case colors, bright in sheltered areas, fading elsewhere. Buttplate is a grey patina with cloth pattern pitting, having been cleaned to bare metal. Buttstock has a small crack near the left heel, otherwise wood is sound with the buttstock retaining virtually all of its orig factory finish with light nicks & scratches. Forearm shows hand wear and light soil and retains about 50-60% orig finish. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore. 49059-109 JR (10,000-15,000) – Lot 2463

MORRISON CUSTOM SHARPS MODEL 1874 TARGET RIFLE.

SN NSN. Cal. 45-70. Fine custom target rifle by Bangor, Maine rifle maker, Billy Morrison utilizing a Sharps carbine action to which he has fitted a heavy 30″ rnd bbl with globe front sight, no provision for a rear seat and a reproduction Vernier tang sight with 3-1/2″ staff. Mounted with very highly figured, uncheckered American walnut with Sharps-style, semi-schnable forearm and pistol grip stock with cheekpiece and Sharps coarse checkered steel buttplate. Bbl is marked on left side of chamber area “MORRISON / BRADFORD, MAINE”. Receiver has the carbine sling bar on left side with base in the wrist and it has dbl set triggers. This rifle would be a fine hunting or target rifle and with this catalogers knowledge of Mr. Morrison’s work, should be very accurate. CONDITION: Very fine. Overall, metal and wood retain virtually all of Mr. Morrison’s custom finish with bright blue on the bbl and strong cyanide type case colors on the receiver, lockplate, hammer, lever and sling bar base. Buttplate is colored to match. Trigger guard, with checkered tang is gray metal. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant shiny bore. Shows very little use. 49508-1 JR (2,000-4,000) – Lot 2465

EXTREMELY RARE DEVELOPMENTAL PISTOL GRIP RIGBY MODEL MARLIN BALLARD SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE THAT BELONGED TO FAMED 1880’S SHOOTER, H. G. BIXBY WITH ONE OF HIS SILVER TROPHIES DATED 1882.

SN 389. Cal. .38-50 Everlasting. Spectacular Rigby Ballard that appears to be a transition from first model off-hand Rigby Ballard to pistol grip model. It has 28″ rnd bbl, spirit level windgage front sight, no provision for a rear sight, and has a vernier tang sight with 3″ staff. Mounted with very highly figured French or Circassian Walnut, stained dark with checkered schnable horn-tipped forearm and Serpentine grip buttstock with cheekpiece and nickeled steel Swill buttplate. Receiver is spectacularly engraved by Conrad Ulrich in extra special medium relief with large vignettes of a bull elk & hind and a forest scene with very fine stippled background on left side. Right side is equally spectacular with a comparable vignette of a large male lion and his cow-like kill in a grassland scene, also with fine stippled background. Both vignettes are rendered in great detail and are surrounded by equally spectacular, intertwined foliate arabesque patterns that have very fine stippled background. Top of receiver and Rigby flats are engraved to match. The name “H. G. Bixby” is stamped on each side of frame and “Bixby” on right front wrist of buttstock. Marching SNs were observed on bbl, forearm, buttstock, and buttstock spindle. This exact rifle is pictured on pgs. 208, 209, & 225 of Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle, Dutcher. Mr. Dutcher reports that the breechblock is also matching numbered. Accompanied by a beautiful silver shooting trophy with the engraved inscription “FOSTER RIFLES – AUG 31ST, 1882 / WON BY / H. G. BIXBY”. Trophy measures 16″ high x 4-3/4″ on a square base. It is extremely elaborate with central pedestal a cannon bbl supporting silver urn on top. The urn has small rosette handles from which are suspended two silver cartridge boxes with long silver shoulder straps. Cannon bbl is supported by four percussion rifles with a stack of four cannonballs on each corner. Base is square on decorated feet. Bbls of rifles and straps of cartridge boxes are surrounded by a laurel wreath. It appears that the urn may have had a cover at one time which is now missing, but then it may not have had a cover. Mr. Dutcher reports in referenced publication that H. G. Bixby of Nashua, New Hampshire was one of the premier rifle shooters of the 1880’s. He is reportedly known to have used a Ballard rifle chambered 38-55 almost exclusively. Numerous newspaper and magazine articles were printed about his exploits, including one in the first issue of The Rifle, volume I, No. 1, May 1885. This magazine was the forerunner of the American Rifleman. That article reported that Mr. Bixby used a Ballard rifle. Mr. Bixby fired at least 28 “clean scores” at 200 yards off-hand on a number of well-known rifle ranges. In May 1885, he is reported to have won over 40 medals and badges of great value, as well as quantities of rifles, field glasses, and numerous other merchandise prizes. Mr. Dutcher, in a telephone conversation related that this rifle had been discovered, possibly on the east coast by Ed Kennedy several years ago. Over the ensuing years, after Mr. Kennedy sold his collection, someone had rifle restored by a master restoration artist named “Sellke”, with repairs to buttstock. Buttstock, at time of discovery, had a “Helm” buttplate installed which would not have been found on a Ballard rifle. Very close scrutiny of heel and toe of buttstock discloses that each area has a virtually indistinguishable splice with corresponding restored finish. PROVENANCE: Ed Kennedy Collection; Stephan Gordon Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all-matching except buttplate. Bbl retains 93-95% strong restored blue and receiver a fine blue-gray patina with bright case colors on hammer. Stock has a couple of small hairlines in wrist, otherwise wood is sound with a few light nicks and scratches and aforementioned repairs and retains just about all of its fine custom finish. Hammer is not solid and safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. Trophy is fine with no visible damage, showing only silver turned dark. 49124-5 JR (20,000-30,000) – Lot 2466

Revised: 10/6/2015

Please Note: There is no front site on this gun.

EXTREMELY RARE MARLIN BALLARD MODEL 7 A-1 “EXTRA” LONG-RANGE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

SN 5875. Cal. .45-100-2-9/16. Rare long range Ballard with 34″ rnd bbl, spirit level windgage front sight, no provision for a rear sight and long-range vernier tang sight with 5″ staff. Heel of buttstock is mounted with an additional Creedmoor base. Bbl has three Rigby flats. Mounted with very, highly figured French or Circassian walnut with checkered Ballard schnable, horn tipped forearm and horn inlay Serpentine grip buttstock with checkered Ballard hard rubber buttplate. Trigger is checkered. Sides of receiver and Rigby flats are engraved by L. B. Nimschke in flowing foliate arabesque patterns that have fine pearled background. Top three flats of receiver are engraved in very fine chip & dot borders with foliate sprays at each end and has and engraved border around muzzle. Matching SNs are found on bbl, forearm, buttstock, and spindle. This exact rifle is pictured on pgs. 260 & 261 of Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle, Dutcher. This model of Ballard was probably only made-to-order with considerable variation and configuration and embellishments. It apparently was only offered 1879 to 1883 with very few being produced, probably due to extra expense. Of those encountered today, very few remain in completely orig configuration and with orig finish. Serious target shooters of 19th & early 20th Century regularly altered their rifles to suit their individual tastes, frequently changing or adding sights and replacing bbls and wood, also to suit their individual tastes. PROVENANCE: Ed Kennedy Collection; Stephen Gordon Collection; John Dutcher Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl retains most of its orig blue turning to blue-gray patina and slightly plummy. There are light vise marks on each side of bbl about mid-point along with a few light scratches. Receiver retains most of its strong orig case colors, lightly to moderately faded. Breechblock and hammer retain faded case colors. Lever is mostly a blue-gray patina. Wood is sound with nicks and scratches and retains most of a very old restored finish with freshened checkering. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with some minor roughness just in front of chamber. 49124-2 JR (17,500-27,500) – Lot 2467

VERY RARE MARLIN BALLARD MODEL NO. 6 HEAVY SCHUETZEN SINGLE-SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

SN 31523. Cal. 38-55. Scarce and hard-to-find heavy target rifle with 32″ very heavy oct to rnd bbl, windgage, spirit level front sight, no provision for rear sight and Vernier Tang sight with 3″ staff. Receiver has double set triggers and finger rest, small loop lever. Mounted with very highly figured European walnut with checkered, horn Schnable tip, orig forarm and Schuetzen-style buttstock with cheekpiece and heavy nickled brass Swiss buttplate. Left side of top quillion of buttplate is stamped “APD”. Receiver is beautifully engraved, by Conrad Ulrich in typical Ballard patterns consisting of the vignettes of a feeding whitetail doe on left side and a running whitetail buck on right side, both in nicely detailed forest scenes. Both vignettes are surrounded by very well executed foliate arabesque patterns and a variety of border patterns. Matching foliate arabesque patterns are also found on top three flats of receiver ring. This exact rifle, identified by SN is pictured on page 177 of Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle, Dutcher with provenance to several well-known collectors. Weight: 14 lb, 9.92 oz. This model Ballard rifle was one of the most popular long-range target rifles during the last quarter of 19th Century. They were in production from about 1876 to 1890 and were used by many of the most famous shooters of that era. Long after Marlin had ceased production of the Ballard rifle, they were still being used well into the 20th Century, and even today one will be occasionally encountered on a shooting range. PROVENANCE: Al Kelly; A. I. McCroskie; John Dutcher; Norman Ulam; Sonny Carlson. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, all-matching including bbl, forearm, buttstock, buttstock extension, and buttplate. Overall retains about 98% crisp orig finish with bright blue and faded case colors, brilliant in sheltered areas. Buttstock has a couple of obligatory hair-line cracks in the wrist, otherwise wood is sound with a few light nicks and scratches and a bruise on right side of buttstock and overall retains 98-98% bright piano varnish finish. Mechanics are crisp brilliant shiny bore, may be unfired. 49124-4 JR (15,000-20,000) – Lot 2468

RARE MARLIN BALLARD MODEL 4-1/2 A-1 MID RANGE SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

SN 22458. Cal. .40-63. Rare rifle with 30″ mid-weight oct to rnd bbl, windgage spirit level front sight, no provision for a rear sight and thick base vernier tang sight with 3″ staff. Mounted with exceptional French or Circassian walnut with typical checkered horn schnable tip forearm and black, v-shaped inlay Serpentine grip stock with Marlin hard rubber buttplate. Stock has shorter than usual wrist. Receiver is engraved by Conrad Ulrich with small vignettes of a running whitetail buck in a forest scene on left side and a grizzly bear on a rocky promontory on right side. Both vignettes are surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns with very fine pearled background and heart-shaped borders. Top three flats of receiver are engraved to match with matching borders. Lever is of larger loop-type. This exact rifle is pictured on p. 150 of Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle , Dutcher. Matching SNs were observed on bbl, forearm, buttstock, and stock spindle. This model Ballard was very popular well into the 1880’s until offhand shooting became more popular and a requirement for these rifles was reduced. This model was used by many famous shooters of the last quarter of the 19th Century and first part of 20th Century and remained in service well into the 20th Century as hunting rifles. They are rarely found today with high orig finish and orig configuration. Serious target shooters of the era commonly changed or added sights and often had custom bbls and custom wood fitted to suit their needs. PROVENANCE: A. I. McCroskie Collection; John Dutcher Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all-matching. Bbl retains about 98% crisp orig blue with only faint sharp edge wear and one small ding and a scratch in octagonal area. Receiver retains most of its orig factory case colors, lightly to moderately faded. Breechblock, hammer and lever also retain most of their faded orig colors. Wood is sound with a very few, very minor surface nicks and scratches and retains most of its orig factory finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 49124-3 JR (17,500-27,500) – Lot 2469

RARE MARLIN BALLARD #5 PACIFIC SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

SN 31311. Cal. 45-70. Rare Ballard rifle with 28″ medium weight oct bbl. Mounted with a 31-1/4″ Malcolm scope in Malcolm mounts with decorated nickel silver eye piece & dbl cross-hairs for ranging shots. Eye piece scope cover is still present. Top of scope is mounted with a small V-notch fixed rear sight with a brass bead atop front scope ring. Bbl also has a semi-buckhorn rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with slight Schnable tip forearm that has single thru screw and straight stock with slightly curved smooth steel buttplate. Bottom of bbl has 2 iron guides containing what appears to be the orig brass tipped hickory ramrod. It has dbl-set triggers & small loop finger lever. This model Ballard was produced 1876 to about 1890 in a large variety of calibers from the diminutive 38-50 through the 50-70 government. These rifles remained in service well into the 20th Century with a documented encounter by a reliable reporter as having seen a hunter in the Rocky Mountains, hunting elk with a Ballard Pacific about 5 years ago. They were reliable & accurate rifles. A photograph on pg 154 of the book Ballard, Dutcher illustrates a group of hunters outside a prairie or mountain cabin festooned with a large variety of wild game, including antelope, rabbits, ducks, geese & other birds. All of the men are holding firearms and the gentleman on the right end is holding what appears to be a Ballard Pacific with full length telescope. He is identified as Winfield Scott Stratton, who became a millionaire mine owner at Victor, CO, became one of Colorado’s leading philanthropists, giving most of his fortune to the needy. The fact that this rifle originated in Colorado and was consigned from there lends credence to the speculation that this may be Mr. Stratton’s rifle. CONDITION: Fine, no disassembly effected to check for matching SNs. Bbl retains about 80-85% strong orig blue. Receiver shows smoky case colors turning silver. There are 2 or 3 fine hairlines in the wrist, otherwise wood is sound with a few small nicks and some chemical staining down the comb with the buttstock retaining about 85% orig finish and the forearm about 60%. Mechanics are fine. Strong bright, shiny bore with some minor roughness in front of the chamber. Scope retains traces of orig finish, mostly a grey/brown patina. Optics are fine, cross-hairs are intact. 49124-1 JR (10,000-15,000) – Lot 2470

Revised: 10/4/2015

Note: There are a couple minor casting flaws on the receiver that were inherent in the making.

BEAUTIFUL SCHOYEN CUSTOM MARLIN BALLARD SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE.

SN 2095. Cal. .32-40. Scarce Schoyen rifle with 28-3/8″ medium weight Schoyen rnd bbl, windgage globe front sight, no provision for rear seat and thick base Vernier tang sight with 3″ staff. Bbl is milled with Rigby flats, top of which is engraved “SCHOYEN” and bore has Schoyen rifling. Receiver is beautifully engraved, probably by Conrad Ullrich with vignette of a running bull elk on left side and a running bird dog on right side, all surrounded by extremely well executed, intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with pearled background. Matching patterns extend over five flats of receiver ring and onto Rigby flats. Corners of receiver ring are filed flat, prior to engraving and have small foliate patterns. Bottom front of receiver is fitted with a take-down screw. Mounted with very nicely figured American walnut, by Schoyen with his typical black insert, schnable tip, checkered forearm and black insert pistol grip stock with high, Monte Carlo-style comb and small nickel-plated brass Swiss buttplate. Bottom rear of receiver has a flat area with corresponding extension from buttstock, a Schoyen adaptation. Schoyen was the first to employ such high-comb stocks which permitted the shooter to stand with his head up in a natural position. George Schoyen was one of, if not the most famous custom bbl and gun maker. He worked in his Denver gun shop from about 1870 until about 1916 when he suffered a stroke in his shop. Schoyen bbls were considered by most American shooters to be the finest and most accurate of all the fine custom bbl makers of that era, including Harry Pope. Many records were established with Schoyen bbls, some of which stand today. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. Bbl retains about 99% orig Schoyen blue. Receiver retains about 60-70% faded case colors, strong and bright around tang sight. Lever retains case colors. Wood is sound with a grain check in buttstock and a couple of tiny nicks otherwise wood is sound and overall retains virtually all of its fine custom finish. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore, probably will shoot as good today as it did when it was built. 49124-6 JR (5,000-8,000) – Lot 2471