RARE PROBABLY ONE OF A KIND BERDAN SPORTING RIFLE.

Revised: 3/8/2007

RARE PROBABLY ONE OF A KIND BERDAN SPORTING RIFLE. Cal. 42 Berdan. SN 1. This rifle was built by Colt in the period circa 1868 when every manufacturer was scrambling to produce a sporting rifle for the “Manifest Destiny” westward expansion. Undoubtedly it was built by Colt’s master gun makers under the direct supervision of Hiram Berdan, perhaps even by Mr. Berdan himself. This fine rifle utilizes the Type 3 breechblock and has a 26-1/2” medium weight, rnd bbl, globe front sight, no provision for rear sight and an unusual tang sight mortised into top of wrist. It has a 2-1/2” long thick staff with a Sharps type eye cup that is dovetailed onto the beveled staff with a delicate windage knob & bar built in. The slide is secured only by the friction of the dovetail. Mounted in a highly figured, uncheckered, flame grain, American walnut half stock with straight grip, secured with a single wedge through the forearm and a screw through the top tang. It has a pewter nosecap with triangle shape that has a ball at the apex. Wedge is through two German silver escutcheons and it has a fancy, German silver, serpentine triggerguard/finger rest. It also has an unusual single set trigger. Buttplate is of nickeled brass, crescent in shape with a thick toe and stepped tang. This is a Model 1874 Sharps type S-20 (Target) buttplate, possibly procured by Hiram Berdan from Sharps, as he had close ties with that company as well as Colt. The back action lock is mortised into wrist with a wood screw at back end and is attached to receiver at the front end with a short machine screw. It is case colored and very nicely engraved as is the hammer with a dolphin style engraved nose. This exact rifle is fully illustrated in three photographs and discussed in some detail on p. 183 of Hiram Berdan Civil War Chief of Sharpshooters Military Commander and Firearms Inventor, Marcot. It is well known that Berdan was employed at Colt as a firearms designer in the period immediately following the Civil War. This rifle may have been Mr. Berdan’s personal possession, although at this time no documentation is available. The serial number is in pencil on the inside of various parts and there is a small “1” stamped on the small breechblock parts. CONDITION: Fine. The bbl retains thin orig brown finish in very sheltered areas, very strong brown under forearm & breechblock with balance a cleaned gray/brown patina. Stock is sound with minor handling & storage marks and retains about all of an old restored finish. Lockplate & hammer have dark case colors, very bright on inside . Breechblock retains most of its orig case colors, fading to patina over the top, stronger & brighter on inside. Breechblock base retains 75-80% orig blue. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. A truly rare & one of kind rifle. 4-30059 (15,000-25,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2007

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	332	$0.00	Revised: 3/8/2007 RARE PROBABLY ONE OF A KIND BERDAN SPORTING RIFLE. Cal. 42 Berdan. SN 1. This rifle was built by Colt in the period circa 1868 when every manufacturer was scrambling to produce a sporting rifle for the “Manifest Destiny” westward expansion. Undoubtedly it was built by Colt’s master gun makers under the direct supervision of Hiram Berdan, perhaps even by Mr. Berdan himself. This fine rifle utilizes the Type 3 breechblock and has a 26-1/2” medium weight, rnd bbl, globe front sight, no provision for rear sight and an unusual tang sight mortised into top of wrist. It has a 2-1/2” long thick staff with a Sharps type eye cup that is dovetailed onto the beveled staff with a delicate windage knob & bar built in. The slide is secured only by the friction of the dovetail. Mounted in a highly figured, uncheckered, flame grain, American walnut half stock with straight grip, secured with a single wedge through the forearm and a screw through the top tang. It has a pewter nosecap with triangle shape that has a ball at the apex. Wedge is through two German silver escutcheons and it has a fancy, German silver, serpentine triggerguard/finger rest. It also has an unusual single set trigger. Buttplate is of nickeled brass, crescent in shape with a thick toe and stepped tang. This is a Model 1874 Sharps type S-20 (Target) buttplate, possibly procured by Hiram Berdan from Sharps, as he had close ties with that company as well as Colt. The back action lock is mortised into wrist with a wood screw at back end and is attached to receiver at the front end with a short machine screw. It is case colored and very nicely engraved as is the hammer with a dolphin style engraved nose. This exact rifle is fully illustrated in three photographs and discussed in some detail on p. 183 of Hiram Berdan Civil War Chief of Sharpshooters Military Commander and Firearms Inventor, Marcot. It is well known that Berdan was employed at Colt as a firearms designer in the period immediately following the Civil War. This rifle may have been Mr. Berdan’s personal possession, although at this time no documentation is available. The serial number is in pencil on the inside of various parts and there is a small “1” stamped on the small breechblock parts. CONDITION: Fine. The bbl retains thin orig brown finish in very sheltered areas, very strong brown under forearm & breechblock with balance a cleaned gray/brown patina. Stock is sound with minor handling & storage marks and retains about all of an old restored finish. Lockplate & hammer have dark case colors, very bright on inside . Breechblock retains most of its orig case colors, fading to patina over the top, stronger & brighter on inside. Breechblock base retains 75-80% orig blue. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. A truly rare & one of kind rifle. 4-30059 (15,000-25,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2007 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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