Long Gun or Sword

An early Colt Model 1892 .38 Colt New Army Double Action. miltary production, 6-shot swing-out cylinder. Original finish and mechanically sound. Bore has good defined rifling with some freckling. Original military smooth walnut grips. No lanyard ring. The serial number 500X places its date of manufacture in 1892. Has inspector mark “RAC” for Rinaldo A. Carr on the frame and under the barrel. Faded blue finish with some wear and prominent pitting. The lanyard ring is absent and the lanyard ring screw hole has been filled.  No butt markings. It is reasonably priced to reflect its rough finish. (BAE-500)

A Carcano M1891 6.5mm Torino iron sight  sporter. The receiver is quite clearly dated 1896!  This sporterized Italian military bolt action service rifle is chambered in 6.5x52mm. Serial # is OP464X.  Features a blued finish, 20″ barrel, blade front sight, adjustable rearr sight, arsenal original straight bolt handle, smooth wood straight grip shoulder stock,  and a  smooth steel buttplate. Has approximately 90% of its reblued finish, except for the buttplate, which has plenty of wear and some pitting. The original rear sling swivel is present. No front sling swivel has yet been installed.  The stock has been cut down to a sporter profile and the cleaning rod hole filled. (See photos.) Judging by the front sight mounting and the barrel crown, this rifle was made as a 20″ barrel short rifle and the barrel length has not been altered. The bore has moderate wear, with clearly visible rifling. Carcanos that are dated 1898 or earlier are very hard to find!  (More than 99% of Carcano production was after 1898.) Note that 6.5×52 Carcano softnose ammo is now produced by Prvi Partisan (PPU) in Serbia, and it is widely available. This is a handy-length short rifle that should make a good shooter.  (PBB-891)

A fine condition Winchester Model 1886, .45-90, made in 1891. This rifle is unaltered and is in excellent condition for its age. The barrel length is 25.5 inches. All markings are crisp — does not appear to be refinished. The bluing is fading to brown on the magazine tube. Elsewhere it is 95%. Action is tight. Holds quarter-cock properly. The sights look original and are in nice condition. The stock and forend are excellent, with just minor handling marks. The bore is quite nice for a black powder-era rifle, with some shine, good rifling, and just minor pitting. Includes a Cody Museum Records Office half-sheet “Show Short Form” that includes these details:

• Serial # 5192X
• Serial # Applied 2-2-1891
• Rifle.
• .45/90
• Oct. Barrel
• Plain trigger
• Date shipped: 7-15-1892
• Order # 1279

This is about as nice and honest as a Model 1886 can be found! (BMYR-362)

A nice Ludwig Loewe Chilean contract Mauser sporter in 7×57 Mauser. Serial  # E525X indicates it was made circa 1896.  Clearly marked “Loewe Berlin”, confirming its antique status. This rifle was nicely sporterized.  Matching serial numbers on receiver, triggerguard, and floorplates, but mismatched on bolt sleeve. Has a low-swing bolt handle for sope clearance, but still has a standard military safety lever.  No scope bases.  A commercial rear sight has been installed, but is loose — apparently  missing its spring.  A tapped front sight screw hole is present, but the front sight is absent. Has a refinished military 23.5″ barrel and recontoured and polished bolt body.  Has no sling swivels installed. This rifle has a light walnut semi-pistol grip Monte Carlo-style stock with straight grain. The stock has numerous cratches and a a few light dings from field use. Has an inexpertly-fitted Pachmayr White Line recoil pad installed. The trigger pull is long but crisp. Has a fairly shiny bore with distinct rifling. It easily passed a bullet tip muzzle test. With new sights installed and the stock refinished, this would make a great Federally-exempt hunting rifle. (BILH-401)

A nice scope-ready Ludwig Loewe Chilean contract Mauser sporter, re-barreled to the popular, widely-available, and very flat-shooting .22-250 cartridge!  Made circa 1895.  Clearly marked “Loewe Berlin”, confirming its antique status. Note that per Federal law, re-barreling and/or sporterizing does not change the Federally exempt status of a pre-1899 antique gun. This rifle was nicely sporterized.  Mismatched serial numbers. Has a low-swing bolt handle, no safety lever (a low-swing safety should be installed), and Weaver scope bases.  I’m also including a pair of medium-height Weaver scope rings. (Not pictured.) Has a nicely-blued heavy contour modern 25.5″ tapered .22-250 barrel with a crowned muzzle.  No iron sights. Polished bolt body.  Has no sling swivels installed. This rifle has a dark walnut  Monte Carlo style stock with straight grain, and an ebony forend tip. The stock has some scratches from field use and needs some polishing. Has a worn Pachmayr White Line recoil pad installed. Because the pad has a permanent dent, it should be replaced. The trigger pull is light and crisp. Has a beautiful, shiny bore. This will make a great Federally-exempt varmint rifle. (UCBG-400)

A scarce Pre-1899 Swiss M1896/11 rifle. This 7.5×55 Schmidt-Rubin straight pull long rifle is very good+ condition. 30.7” barrel, blued finish, hardwood stock, blade front sight and adjustable tangent rear sight. Marked on receiver, barrel, right side buttstock, and small parts with Swiss cross. Mismatched serial numbers stamped on the buttplate and magazine. Less than 70% of the thinning and toning finish remaining on the metal and mottled color to the bolt. The bottom of the  magazine shows the most wear. The wood has some old dents and handling marks. The action is smooth and the bore is quite nice with some shine and distinct rifling. Receiver has import marks on the charging handle sleeve. This rifle’s serial number (21640X) places its date of manufacture in 1898 (They must have a serial # under 236,500 to be legally antique.) The serial number  has “P” suffix, indicating that this rifle was Privatized. Of all of the various Schmidt-Rubin straight-pull rifle variants, it is only the Model 1896 that is both Federally antique, yet also rated to safely handle the high-pressure 7.5×55  GP11 cartridge and modern commercial cartridges. I’ll leave the treasure hunt for a possible soldier’s name tag under the buttplate up to you. (GASC-113)

An exceptional Winchester Round Barrel Model 1894 chambered in .32-40, made in 1898. Serial # 10180X indicates that frame was manufactured in early 1898.  Most Winchester Model 1894 rifles were made with octagonal barrels, so the few round barrel examples bring a premium. has a 25″ barrel — possibly special-ordered. This original pre-1899 antique Winchester has excellent bluing and just a few dings and scratches in the stock and forend. Has 98% original bluing on barrel and magazine, and 85% on the crescent buttplate.  The barrel markings are crisp, indicating that it was not re-blued. The color case-hardened receiver has mostly faded to an even blue-gray. The original adjustable buckhorn sight is in excellent condition. The bore has darkened, but it has just very light pitting and nice deep rifling. Antique Model 1894 rifles are rarely seen with round barrels, and in such fine condition.  The .32-40 chambering is also scarce and sought-after. (ENPL-365)

A very nice and desirable Remington Rolling Block 7×57 Mauser South American Contract rifle with original 3-line Remington factory tang markings — with patent dates from 1864 to 1874. This rifle was likely produced by Remington in the mid-1890s, when the modern smokeless 7×57 first became the rage. It has a 29″ pencil barrel and a sleek forend profile that makes it weigh substantially less than the 28″-barrel Mauser 7×57  bolt action rifles of the same era. It has a very nice dark walnut stock with no cracks, chips, or gouges. There are just a few light marks from storage and field use. It has an exceptionally nice (95%)  blued finish. The rolling block action works perfectly, although it has a fairly heavy military trigger pull. The original flip-up range-adjustable “ladder and ramp” rear sight is graduated out to an optimistic 2,300 yards, and it locks properly in both the up and down positions. The only serial number — on the bottom of the action — appears to have been pen-engraved to meet post-1968 import requirements. The bore has grayed but has distinct rifling. It passed a muzzle bullet tip test.  So, in addition to being a desirable collector’s piece, this should make a great shooter (CFKM-772)

Mauser 1895 Chilean contract (Ludwig Loewe, circa 1895 or 1896) Mauser that has been converted to a .45 ACP sporter carbine using a Rhineland Arms conversion kit. The best of both worlds. Uses any standard M1911 magazines! One 6-round Colt-made stainless steel .45 ACP magazine is included.  Feeds from M1911 magazines, with difficulty. To explain: Because the action was designed for a long 7×57 rifle cartridge and the .45 ACP cartridge is fat and stubby, the cartridges do not usually make the “jump” from the magazine feed lips to the chamber unless you cycle the action with the muzzle pointed downward. Also note that with this conversion the difference in the ejector means that the ejector block will always be at an angle, rather than laying flush.  (See photos.) Has a new fiberglass stock. 16.5″ barrel is new, with threaded muzzle and thread protector. An XS Clifton 6″ long Scout (forward) scope mount Picatinny scope base has been installed. (Accepts any Picatinny-compatible rings or optics.) This will make a great Federally-exempt “antique” suppressor host. At considerable expense, the barrel, action, and scope base have been freshly Cerakoted in MagPul OD green, with contrasting brown Cerakote on the stock. The bolt and bolt stop still have a worn finish. (NGBN-089)

A sporterized and scoped Carl Gustaf M1894 Swedish Mauser bolt action with a 23.5″ Swedish arsenal stepped barrel chambered in 6.5×55. Dated 1898 on the receiver ring. It is in a nearly new condition Choate black Dupont Rynite Monte Carlo recoil pad stock with standard QD sling studs installed. The barrel has been gray-black Parkerized. Has a low-swing safety installed.  The bolt cocking piece has been gray-black Parkerized. Recontoured bolt.  The bore is gray and presently needs cleaning, but it has quite distinct rifling, so it should be a great shooter. Equipped with Weaver scopes bases and rings and a Weaver CK 2.5X IRAC duplex reticle scope that is in nice condition. Carries serial number 244X that is matching on the receiver and bolt cocking piece. The Choate stock uses a 4-round blind magazine with no floorplate. A great federally-exempt Swede sporter, that is quite practical. (HNNK-791)

A desirable 1895-dated Oberndorf Mauser-made Swedish M1894 carbine 6.5×55 semi-sporter.  This Swede has had its front metal removed and the stock forend shortened square to the front band, but is otherwise original.  It is restorable! (with thinning bluing) and dovetailed front sight installed. The receiver has NOT been drilled and tapped, so this is a great candidate for restoration to its original configuration.  (I have a brand new blond replacement military profile stock and an original bayonet mount with front sight ears available. (E-mail me, if you are interested.) The original carbine ladder rear sight is excellent, and works as it should.  The action works perfectly and the trigger pull is crisp. Has a fairly shiny bore with sharp rifling, but it has some darkness in the grooves. This should make a great shooter. The sling retainer and stock disc are absent, but those are readily available on eBay. . The original steel buttplate is intact but is a bit rough. It could easily be replaced with a rubber recoil pad — or just buff the buttplate (or not) and use the Tourbon leather slip-over recoil pad that I am including. Has a nice crisp receiver ring markings–clearly dated 1895! Serial numbers are mostly mismatched.  The floorplate and buttplate numbers do match the receiver, but the bolt assembly does not. Serial # 611X. Has arsenal inspector initials “H.K.” (APKF-895)

A scarce 1898 production Colt Model 1895 .38 Colt New Army & Navy Double Action, commercial production, 6-shot swing-out cylinder with unusual factory special-order 3″  barrel. Original finish and mechanically sound. Bore has nice rifling. Nice original grips. The serial number 11394X places it in the last few months of production 1898. Has the assembly number 794 stamped on the crane, inside frame, and on the cylinder latch. Three-line barrel roll mark with “95” as last patent date. Faded blue finish. The numbers and letters UHV 351 — possibly a police department (Univerisity of Houston Victoria?) and rack number are lightly scratched in the left side, but otherwise a nice antique patina and 60%  overall blue finish. Has some nice original fire blue still visible on the sides of the hammer and trigger. The checkered black gutta percha grip panels are in amazingly good condition for their age. (EBAN-503)

A scarce original Swiss Vetterli Repetiergewehr Model 1871 Bolt Action Military Rifle, made in Switzerland. Serial # 11386X. Chambered in 10.4x38mm Swiss Rimfire. The receiver is stamped with a Swiss cross and a “M.W.”  This maker mark indicates production by Eidgenössische Montier-Werstätte (Federal Assembly Workshop in Bern, Switzerland.) This was an early Federal arms factory that produced only 8,900 Vetterli M1869 & M1871 weapons between 1869 and 1874. This was one of many contractors employed before the completion of the more famous Waffenfabrik Bern arsenal.  The condition of this rifle is antique “very good”.  The finish is fading to  brown patina. The bore is excellent, shiny with sharp rifling. This example has matching numbers on receiver, bolt, and trigger guard. Cleaning rod is absent, but they are available from several online vendors. Comes with a period leather sling.  Barrel is 32-1/2 inches. Please see the photos.  The stock has just modest handling wear — particularly nice wood for a 148-year old rifle. Given the excellent bore condition, this is a good candidate for centerfire conversion.  A wonderful piece of Swiss history!  (BKU-881)

A scarce first year of production Colt Model 1895 .41 Colt New Army & Navy Double Action, commercial production, 6-shot swing-out cylinder 4-½” Barrel. Original finish and mechanically sound. Bore has nice rifling, with just a few scattered pits. I’d rate it at 6/10. Nice grips. The very low serial number is 19X — so this is from the first few months of production for a Model 1895. Three line barrel roll mark with “95” as that last patent date. The cylinder has a slight wobble as the hammer falls. Faded blue finish. Two prominent scratches at the right rear of the barrel, but otherwise a nice even antique patina. Has some nice original fire blue still visible on the sides of the trigger. The checkered black gutta percha grip panels are of the same style, but have differing amounts of wear, so one of them has obviously been replaced. (CBGB-502-LTII)

A quite scarce Martini-Henry Gehendra rifle. This one is in unusually good condition, with a nice shootable bore. This one has five characters of Nepalese script lightly carved into the right side of the stock. (See photos.)  There is a non-threatening crack in the right side of the handguard just behind the front band. The action works properly.  The cleaning rod is present. Most of the original finish has gone to gray and spotting. (Again, see photos.)  No visible markings except on the rear sight and a faint serial number in Nepalese script can be seen on the bottom of the loading lever. There is some pitting inside the loop of the loading lever.

Some History: The Martini-Henry Gehendra was based on an 1869 Westley Richards patented design was produced under the direction of General Gehendra Rana in the 1880s to provide Ghurka regiments with the equivalent of the latest British military rifle. Chambered in .577/.450. An ingenious design, it actually surpassed the standard Martini in that its entire action was removable as one unit for ease of servicing or exchange. Production however caused massive logistics problems and by 1894 the Ghurkas were dangerously short of viable .450 caliber breechloaders. The British came to the rescue with the delivery of several thousand Martini short-lever rifles in late 1894 and even more long-lever Martini Rifles in 1908. The more complicated Gehendra Rifle was thereafter shelved.  The small remaining inventory of Gehendra rifles sat in an arsenal in Nepal for 110 years until they were finally released as surplus. Just a few were imported into the U.S., around 2005. Considered one of the rarest Martini-Henry variants, the Gehendra rifle has a characteristic loading lever but in other respects outwardly resembles and mechanically emulates the standard Martini-Henry.  This rifle is quite a piece of history. If only it could talk about where it has been! (HKRF-529)

A scarce original Swedish M1894/14 carbine, 6.5×55 Mauser, that is unmolested. (The vast majority fo these that were imported were sporterized.) Serial #  337X. Dated 1898. 6.5mm Swedish, 18” barrel with a very good bore. This is a Carl Gustaf arsenal-made carbine that has the modified 1914 pattern nosecap with bayonet boss. It is clearly dated 1898 on the receiver ring!  The metal retains 90%+ of the arsenal finish. The serial numbers on the receiver, bolt, and cocking piece all match, but the number on the floorplate is mismatched.  (See photos.) The walnut stock and handguard are in good shape with typical small handling marks and scattered blemishes. The only detractor is that there is a round inlet in the stock for its original brass disk, but it is absent.  (Replicas and originals and their brass screws are easily found on eBay, and quick and easy to put in place.)  (EUIP-655)

An original Swiss Vetterli Repetiergewehr Model 1869/1871 Bolt Action Military Rifle, made in Switzerland. Chambered in 10.4x38mm Swiss Rimfire. The receiver is stamped with serial # 1980X, “B.G.”, and “Ostschweiz”. (Ostschweiz is the common name of the region situated to the east of Glarus Alps, with the cantons of Schaffhausen, Thurgau, St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, and Glarus. There was a Swiss arsenal of the same name, where this rifle was assembled.) The barrel is also stamped “B.G.” This rifle has a well-worn finish — mostly gray patina on the receiver, although there is some bluing remaining on the barrel. The only noticeable flaws are some gouges on the left side of the rear receiver ring and some buttplate pitting. The wood is in nice shape. (See photos.) The condition of this rifle is antique “good to very good”.  The bore is dark with some pitting. This example has matching numbers on the receiver, bolt, trigger guard, and stock. Comes with a period leather sling.  Barrel is 32-1/2 inches. Please see the photos.  The stock has just modest handling wear — particularly nice wood for a 154-year-old rifle.  A wonderful piece of Swiss history! (BKU-882)

Winchester M1887 12 Gauge Lever Action Shotgun in very good original condition. Has a fluid steel barrel with 2-9/16″ chamber (will NOT accept 2-3/4″ shells) and a very good bore. Overall nice wood with just typical dings – quite nice for its 135-year age. This is a lever-action, magazine-fed, shotgun. Brass bead front sight. The receiver has WRA logo. Walnut stock with steel butt plate.  This gun has approximately  80% bluing remaining — possibly an older reblue — with substantial  bluing wear on the buttplate, action high points, lever, and the grip (tang) area. (See photos.) The stock and forend are dark walnut and have a lacquer finish. The action seems to work properly.  The hammer holds full cock, but the trigger pull feels quite light — perhaps only 2 pounds. All of the model 1887 shotguns were manufactured pre-1899. Serial number 737X — thus it was made circa 1889.  Note that Kent brand 2-1/2″ shotgun shells are now fairly widely available in the U.S., and very reasonably priced. Kent makes a very mild 2-1/2″ load that is perfect for older shotguns with fluid steel barrels. (NSKG-889)