Savage model 1899 B 38-55

Model 1899 and Model 99 rifles were offered in many configurations over the years, including solid frame and takedown models, far too many to go into in detail here. A letter after the Model 1899 or Model 99 model number designated the specific variation, starting with the Model 1899A Rifle (round barrel), Model 1899B Rifle (octagon barrel) and Model 1899C Rifle (half octagon barrel), all introduced in 1899 with 26 inch barrels. There was also a Model 1899A Short Rifle with a 22 inch round barrel.

The principle model variations included musket (rare), rifle, short rifle, carbine, featherweight and takedown models with round or octagon barrels in lengths ranging from 20 to 30 inches. For most of the rifle's life, the most common barrel lengths seem to have been 20, 22 and 24 inches.

Various types of open rear sights were normally dovetail mounted on the barrel and the top tang was drilled and tapped for peep sights, at least until the safety was moved to the top tang. Some special models were supplied with peep sights. Telescopic sights can be conventionally mounted low atop the receiver and, after scopes became popular, Model 99s came drilled and tapped for scope bases.

Like most lever action rifles, the Model 99 uses a two-piece stock. The buttstock is attached by a draw-bolt, a stronger system than the tang screws used to secure Winchester 94 and Marlin 336 stocks. Due to the Savage's thicker receiver, there is more wood where the stock meets the receiver.

Buttstock and forend styles varied. Perhaps the most common forend shape for most of the model's history was a slender Schnable, but plain end and carbine ring forends were supplied on some models. There were also variations in the shapes of the Schnable forends.

This rifle is in the hard to find 38-55 caliber, the Winchester calibers in Savage 99's are always less common than the Savage calibers and 38-55 being the most difficult to obtain.  This particular rifle has a beautiful bore, bright, shiny with very distinct sharp rifling.  The wood is solid with expected bumps and bruises and possibly some addition finish, but all there, the metal finish is a dull grey blue black which would indicate a possible re-blue or cold blue application.  mechanically it functions as expected and will make a great shooter/collector grade rifle.

$1,850 Canadian

This is a beautiful sword from the early 19th century, likely around the end of WW1,  It has not been polished or sharpened and remains in near perfect condition.  The hilt is starting to tarnish and could use a mild cleaning to bring up the shine, the blade is etched and marked R.J. Inglis   Montreal and Winnipeg on one side and Wilkinson Pall Mall London on the other.  The etching remains in near perfect condition.  The ray skin grip is in very good condition with the wire wrap remaining complete with only minor separation.  The scabbard is in excellent condition.

SOLD

The Snider first saw action with the British/Indian Army at the battle of Magdolia (Aroghee) in Ethiopia on 10 April 1868; during the battle the Kings own regiment alone fired 10,200 rounds.  The Snider–Enfield served throughout the British Empire, including Cape Colony, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, until its gradual phaseout by the Martini Henry, beginning in 1874. Volunteer and militia forces continued to use it until the late 1880s. It stayed in service with the Indian Army until the mid-1890s.  

The Snider–Enfield was produced in several variants. The most commonly encountered variants were the Rifled Musket or Long Rifle, the Short Rifle, and the Cavalry and Artillery Carbines. The Long Rifle has a 36.5 inches (93 cm) barrel and three barrel bands. Its total length (without bayonet) is 54.25 inches (137.8 cm) in length, longer than most rifles of the time. It was issued to line infantry and has three-groove rifling with one turn in 78 inches (200 cm). The Short Rifle has a 30.5 inches (77 cm) barrel and two barrel bands with iron furniture. 

This variant was issued to sergeants on line infantry and rifle units. It has five-groove rifling with one turn in 48 inches (120 cm). The Cavalry Carbine is half stocked and has only one barrel band. It has a 19.5 inches (50 cm) barrel, with the same rifling as the Short Rifle. The Artillery Carbine has a 21.25 inches (54.0 cm) barrel with a full stock and two barrel bands, and the same rifling as the Short Rifle and Cavalry Carbine.  There was also a shortened rifle for training purposes, aptly named the Cadet Carbine.  It has a full size rear sight and not the small sight seen on Cavalry Carbines.

This example has a perfect bore, bright, shiny , with sharp, crisp, rifling.

The wood is also in excellent condition, solid with no major issues, except some ancient initials art work.  Metal finish has turned a pleasing brown blue patina for the most part but there is still much original dark blue in areas,  actually I have owned many of these rifles and this is the best carbine I have ever had.  The butt stock is stamped 4 over 44, indicating the 4th Hussars and rack or weapon number 44.  Complete with original 2 piece cleaning rod.

The serial number on this carbine is the same on both the breech block and the flip up rear sight, #2183, and unfortunately it is not on the limited list of Mountie carbines by Don Klancher "Arms and Accoutrements of the Mounted Police 1873-1973" at page 182, listing 125 of the 300 plus Snider carbines as acquired by the NWMP.  This Snider does however come very close to a documented NWMP carbine, only 9 numbers below #2192.   As it is understood not all rifles were D.C. marked and being so close to a documented NWMP carbine it would not be a stretch to assume that this is in fact a NWMP carbine. 

Obviously, I cannot state this as fact unless more information comes forth from research on serial numbers.  Definitely, a nice as found, historical, Canadian piece.

From my collection.

The rifle was chambered for the same .50-70 Gov’t cartridge as the Model of 1866. The M1868’s breechblock was dated either “1869” or “1870,” and stamped with an eagle head over crossed arrows. It was equipped with a rear sight having a folding adjustable leaf rather than the non-adjustable units of the Civil War rifle-musket sights used on the M1865 and M1866. The M1868 had a cleaning rod of a different pattern than used with the earlier variants. They were generally issued with longer leather slings, often made from two Civil War rifle-musket slings sewn together.  On the M1868 Rifle, the serial number was stamped on both the receiver and barrel. The M1868 was the only Allin Conversion to have been serially numbered.  The M1868 also retained the M1855 bayonet and scabbard. But, in addition to the standard M1855 triangular blade bayonet, there were a relatively few “trowel bayonets” manufactured and issued in limited numbers in the late 1860s. The first was the Model 1868, which was followed by the Model 1869.

There were 52,145 Model 1868 rifles manufactured at Springfield Armoury. In addition, some 3,422 short rifles based on the M1868 pattern were made by Springfield and adopted as the “Model of 1869 Cadet.” In addition to the M1868 rifle and M1869 Cadet rifles, there were a very small number (believed to be four) Model 1868-pattern cavalry carbines made for evaluation, although none were issued. The M1868 rifles were serially numbered on the left side of the receiver and barrel.  The Model 1868 had a better extractor and a more secure breechblock than earlier models.  The M1868 rifle remained in active military service by the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps well into the early 1880s, when it was eventually supplanted by the later .45-70 Gov’t Trapdoor.

I believe this particular example is a cut down military full length rifle, barrel and wood has been shortened.  The remaining wood is in very good condition, solid without any cracks or chips.  The metal is lacking any original finish and remains mostly in the white.  The action works as it should, the bore has good strong, sharp, rifling, however there is black powder roughness throughout the length of the barrel, mostly in the grooves.  It is regimentally marked, I have not been able to determine which regiment.   The rifle should shoot as intended.  The rifle is an antique in Canada, no license required buyer must be 18 years of age.

$675 Canadian 

From the A. Wilson collection.

The 1908 Pattern Cavalry Trooper's Sword (and the 1912 Pattern, the equivalent for officers was the last service sword issued to the cavalry of the British Army.  It has been called the most effective cavalry sword ever designed, although its introduction occurred as swords finally became obsolete as military weapons. In use, it, like other thrust-based cavalry swords, is best described as a one-handed lance, due to its complete lack of utility for anything but the charge. In fact, the closely related US Model 1913 Cavalry Sabre was issued with only a saddle scabbard, as it was not considered to be of much use to a dismounted cavalryman. Colonial troops, who could expect to engage in melee combat with opposing cavalry frequently carried cut and thrust swords either instead of, or in addition to, the P1908/1912.

In military circles there had long been the debate over whether the use of the point or the edge was the better method of attack for a cavalryman. In the Napoleonic period, British cavalry doctrine as shaped by John Gaspard Le Marchant favoured the cut, resulting in the dramatically curved Pattern 1796 Light Cavalry Sabre. With the introduction of the 1822 Patterns,  the British Army adopted a series of "cut and thrust" swords with slightly curved blades which were theoretically stiff enough for a thrust. The 1822 swords and their descendants were inevitably compromises and not ideal for either cutting or thrusting, but the Army considered the adaptability to be of more importance. By contrast the 1908 pattern was designed from the outset purely to give point (thrust) from horseback.  The sword has lived on as the ceremonial sword for the British, Canadian and Australian cavalry units.

This sword is in excellent condition, as the pictures will show, I doubt you will find a better example.

$1,500 Canadian

Upper and Lower Canada were formed by the Constitutional Act of 1791, in response to the wave of United Empire Loyalists moving north from the United States into the French-speaking province of Quebec following the American Revolution 1765-1783.   The result was the division of the old Province of Quebec into two colonies, Lower Canada to the east and Upper Canada to the West, each with their provincial legislatures. While Lower Canada retained the seigneurial system, language, and religious institutions of Quebec, Upper Canada developed on a model of British society.

In the wake of the American Revolution, United Empire Loyalists fled northwards to the Province of Quebec, followed by other English-speaking settlers. By 1790 the influx of new settlers numbered about 10,000. The territories they settled were already occupied by Indigenous peoples, including the Wendat, Tionontatehronnon, and Algonquin. The Loyalists, guided by Sir Frederick Haldimand, settled primarily along the St. Lawrence River in the area of Kingston, along the shores of Lake Ontario by the Bay of Quinte, and around the Niagara Peninsula. While Quebec had been established as a British colony with the Treaty of Paris 1763 and the Royal Proclamation of 1763, the majority of the population remained French-speaking. The English settlers, however, brought with them their own political and religious ideals, and tensions soon arose between the two groups. One key issue was that of land ownership. The Province of Quebec had established a seigneurial system that awarded parcels of land to nobles and religious communities, who then allotted pieces of the land to tenants in return for farming the land. Used to the freedoms they had held in the Thirteen Colonies, the new settlers wanted instead to own their lands in their own right. Similarly, they pushed for representative government, a British system of parliament, and British civil law. Religion was another point of tension. While the Roman Catholic Church was the established Church in Quebec, the new settlers looked to establish their Protestant Church.

In the years prior to the division of Quebec into the Canadas, Britain had hopes that floods of English settlers would anglicize Quebec. Prior to the Loyalist wave, the floods did not materialize. The Quebec Act of 1774 had restored the Catholic Church in Quebec, and the old French civil law, reversing the Royal Proclamation of 1763. The Canadiens were not ready to give up their recently restored privileges.

The solution arrived at was the division of Quebec. The British Constitutional Act of 1791 officially divided Quebec into the primarily French-speaking Province of Lower Canada, and the primarily English-speaking Province of Upper Canada. Each province established its own government, with an appointed lieutenant-governor, executive council, legislative council, and elected representative assembly. While Lower Canada retained the seigneurial system, language, and religious institutions of Quebec, John Graves Simcoe, the first lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, was determined that the new province would be a model of British society.

The territory of Lower Canada extended west from the Ottawa River to the Great Lakes, south of Rupert's Land. Lower Canada extended east from the Ottawa River to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, including what is now Labrador.

The terms “upper” and “lower” refer to the relative location of each province along the St. Lawrence River, which hints at the importance of rivers as highways for travel in the period. Upper Canada was located nearest the source of the St. Lawrence, “upriver”. In contrast, Lower Canada was closest to the mouth of the St. Lawrence, “downriver” (traveling with the current).

With the establishment of Upper Canada, the seigneurial system of Quebec was abolished in favour of British freehold land tenure. Established as the official Church of the province, the Anglican Church received preferential treatment, for instance being granted large tracts of land as clergy reserves, "for the support and maintenance of a Protestant Clergy.”  Simcoe established British civil law and trial by jury, established the provincial capital at York (Toronto), and left a legacy of road building and town planning. Promises of free land drew more immigrants to the province. By 1811, the population of new settlers was almost 90,000.

In the early nineteenth-century, control of the province fell to the Family Compact, a small Conservative group, loyal to the British Crown. They were chosen from the friends of the lieutenant-governor and appointed to prominent roles within the government. The Family Compact was known for its corruption, granting government positions in return for favours of financial or political support, and preferential treatment of friends and supporters. But they were also “progressive industrialists,” promoting building programs and public works. But their aggressive hold on power, confined to a select elite few, fed political tension.

The War of 1812 was a defining moment for Upper Canada, which generated patriotic myths and heroic figures such as Laura Secord, Sir Isaac Brock, and Tecumseh. The war also strengthened ties with Britain, and immigrants flowed from Britain into Upper Canada in place of the American immigrants whom the war had halted.

As Upper Canada grew, it struggled economically, and by the 1820s had fallen into chronic debt. The province also lacked in infrastructures such as schools, hospitals, and local government. The government’s failings and corruption all contributed to the 1837-1838 rebellion. Early attempts to push through political reform, led by those such as Robert Baldwin, were moderate and unsuccessful. William Lyon Mackenzie took charge of the reformers in 1837 and left them into armed revolt against the government. The rebellion was defeated, but reform would follow.

The Act of 1791 did not put an end to tensions in what was now, Lower Canada. While the majority of the population remained French-speaking, the British imposed English as the official language. The House of Assembly was divided between the English-speaking Tory Party, and the French-speaking Canadian Party, the House majority. Similarly, two political papers, The Quebec Mercury and Le Canadien voiced the interests of the English merchants and the Canadiens, respectively. Gradually, English began to take over as the language of business; by 1831,  45% of Quebec City's population was English-speaking, and by 1842 they made up 61% of Montreal's population. 

Lower Canada appeared to thrive as the population boomed, growing from 110,000 in 1784 to 330,000 in 1812. Fur trade and commercial agriculture continued to dominate the economy. The timber trade grew rapidly after 1806 as demand rose, in part to meet the needs for shipbuilding. By 1832, however, the economy was in crisis. The declining price of furs and wheat resulted in a sharp decline in production, and many farmers were reduced to subsistence farming. The Province fell into chronic deficit importing wheat from Upper Canada. By the early nineteenth century, overpopulation had led to land scarcity and an increasing rural population, fuelled in part by British immigrants, which contributed to class struggle.

These events and conflicts helped to fan the growing nationalism sentiments which came to a head in the Patriot insurrection of 1837-1838. The subsidy crisis, attributed to the “château clique”, the problem of customs duties between Upper and Lower Canada, and rising ethnic tensions all added fuel to the fire. Tensions boiled over in 1837 and rebellion broke out, “Patriots” taking up arms against the English army. Poor organization proved fatal to the rebellion, and the English response was swift and decisive. In response to the rebellion, Sir John Colborne appointed a special council to govern Lower Canada in place of the House Assembly until 1841.

In 1838, Lord Durham, sent to report on the rebellions in Upper and Lower Canada, condemned the “political cliques”, the Family Compact and château clique”. He advocated for the establishment of responsible government and the amalgamation of Canadas into a single Union, as well as the assimilation of the French Canadiens. In 1841, the Act of Union officially united the two Canadas into the single Province of Canada.

This particular piece is in .577 Caliber, with a 24 inch barrel with a fine, bright bore. This is a very rare, Lower Canada marked carbine that uses one of the Liege contracted, E / LG proofed barrels; one of about 100 such carbines, and one of only 76 Foot Artillery marked carbines. The metal has an overall blue/plum-brown patina.  The lock plate is marked TOWER and dated 1856.  The stock is English walnut with Pryse and Redman stamped along the belly of the butt and inside the barrel channel in the stock and a large WD, broad arrow, War Department stamp on the right side.  There is a name stamped into the stock on the left hand side but I cannot make it out, it appears to be an H. LOD--.  

The brass furniture has an overall mustard patina with small hole drilled through the edge of the trigger guard with a chain attached to a nipple protector and unit issue markings on the butt plate tang: LC / D / 3, since there is no D designation in an artillery company, I believe it to be, 1st Sherbrooke Rifle Company.  If anybody has any different deduction I would love to hear it.  The wood has numerous handling marks and blemishes throughout, along with some tiny chips missing from the ramrod channel, and the barrel bands match the rest of the metal.  This is a fine example of a very hard to find, Canadian unit marked Enfield Artillery Carbine, and would make a fantastic addition to any collection. Ref: "Defending the Dominion - Canadian Military Rifles 1855-1955" by David W. Edgecombe, (2003).

From my collection.

I'm moving out of Marlins for the most part, so I am listing a few of my collector grade rifles.  This is a nice example of a rare Marlin Model 1893 Lever Action Rifle manufactured in 1907. Special order features include a beautiful half octagon to round barrel as well as factory sling swivels, most half octagon to round barrels had shortened magazine tubes, this one obviously has a rarer, full magazine, for this configuration.  This rifle is chambered in the highly desirable 38-55 Caliber. Most examples are  chambered in .30-30. It also has the earlier "Model 1893" designation. Later they changed it to "Mod 93". This particular example  is in extraordinarily high condition.  The barrel has retained most of its original dark rich bluing, a solid 95 % on the barrel and magazine. Just a hint of spotty patina here and there, mostly near the muzzle. There are areas that have hardened oil that appears brownish in the pictures, I have not cleaned this off as I believe it is in keeping with the rifle, however this is easily cleaned off.  The receiver has virtually all of its original vibrant case-hardening, except for a little loss around the carry area, a solid 90 % case colours.  The stock is very nice with minor storage marks, the butt stock sports the S shape butt plate. The bore has strong, sharp, rifling throughout with some minor black powder roughness.  From the wear on the loading gate and the slight loss of colour in the carry area you can tell this rifle was obviously hunted in its day but not very often, as well it must have been put away in a dark place, early in its life, as that would be the only way to keep the original case colours from fading. This is a rare, high condition, highly collectable rifle, for a serious Marlin collector.

​$7,850 Canadian

Foerster supplied guns to the Royal Court of Carl of Prussia,  also to the Russian Tsars and to a son of King Friedrich William III of Prussia,  The Förster business was founded in 1861 and had facilities in these two locations: Berlin W 8, Taubenstr. 47 and a branch in Berlin W 30, Mozarstr. 61. The company was last mentioned in 1920 as a member of an Association of Gun Makers and Dealers, possibly with a new owner.  The Foerster side-by-side hammer shotguns, double rifles and stalking rifles are known to be outstanding in every respect. They are all very slim and nicely shaped. The bolt action rifles were mostly built on Mauser 98 actions, and they are also very slim and elegant looking, all with fine engraving.  In the early years Foerster most likely made most of his guns in his shops in Berlin, but may have used other small gun makers and engravers who did the work in their own shops.    Foerster guns are now very desirable to gun collectors and bring very high prices at auction.  Among his later hunting rifles were bolt action rifles with Mauser 98 actions, and the company also became a representative of the Mauser Company.  

The 9.3×62mm was designed to fit into the Mauser 98 bolt action rifle.  European hunters and settlers in Africa often chose military rifles for their reliability and low cost, but colonial governments in Africa fearful of rebellions often banned military-caliber rifles and ammunition. The 9.3×62mm was never a military cartridge and so never had this problem. Like their military counterparts, Mauser rifles chambered in 9.3×62mm were relatively inexpensive and quite reliable. Because of these factors, 9.3x62mm quickly became popular, and usage of the cartridge became widespread.  The 9.3 x 62 has taken cleanly every dangerous game animal in Africa.  

SOLD

From the J. Miller Collection

#8885, Caliber 45-70, Built by Ted Girodat in approximately 1988 on a Shilo Sharps action.  The barrel is cut rifled by Ken Biesen, engraving by Heidemarie Hiptmayer and cased by John R. Miller in cherry wood, accessories are silver plated.  If interested or need more information, please contact me and I will put you in touch with Mr. Miller.

$24,500

From the Cousineau collection.

Based on a John Browning patent, Model 1886 was one of the finest and strongest lever-actions ever utilized in a Winchester rifle. Winchester introduced Model 1886, in order to take advantage of the more powerful centre fire cartridges of the time. Most popular caliber was .45-70, 45-90. Model 1886 Rifles and Carbines were furnished with black walnut stocks, case-hardened frames, blued barrels and magazine tubes. In 1901, Winchester discontinued the use of case-hardened frames on all its rifles and used blued frames instead.  This particular rifle is sporting a very nice bore, it has some black powder freckling through out and has an over all shiny bore with good strong sharp rifling, should make an excellent shooter.  The metal finish is turning a nice plum brown/blue colour, with darker shade of blue in the protected areas. Mechanically it functions flawlessly.  The wood has seen some repairs, the butt stock has a repair just behind the upper tang going all the way through the stock, it appears that it was well done and an epoxy was used.  As well there looks to be some epoxy in the fore stock, maybe to fill in a hole.  The wood has not been over sanded and is not receded from the metal, overall it looks like a decent repair.

$2500 Canadian