rare french contract winchester 1894

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This is beautiful example of a rare and early Remington Hepburn Number 3 Target, in 32-40 Caliber, Circa late 1800's, custom built       by Axel Peterson of Denver, Colorado.  Axel Peterson was a gunsmith specializing in building Schuetzen style target rifles, he was active up until around 1930 in his Denver shop.  His rifles are sought after pieces of target shooting history.  This rifle sports one of his scopes also likely built by Peterson, as he built scopes as well.  The Schuetzen butt stock has an old repair and can be seen in the pictures, the forearm is in very nice original condition with a metal fore end tip.  The receiver shows 98% of its original case colours which remain quite vivid, indicating a well looked after rifle.  The blue on the barrel is very nice, likely from a reblue at some point, it has an excellent bore, bright and shiny, with good sharp deep rifling, should shoot like a dream.  There are 3 holes drilled and tapped in the upper tang for vernier peep sights.  The 10-12 power scope is still fairly clear with a very delicate sharp standard reticle.  Not many of the medium/long range Hepburns were produced to begin with, let alone a rare rifle from Axel Peterson.  This rifle is an antique in Canada and does not require a license to own or purchase.

$3,850 Canadian SOLD

When it comes to antique military arms, there is probably no name better known than “Brown Bess”. The term is a generic reference to the iconic musket of the British soldier during the 1700s, and is applied to a wide variety of British musket patterns that saw service over the course of a century. While many stories and theories abound about the origin of the name “Brown Bess”, nobody is aware of a documentable origin for the term.  “the nickname is obviously an affectionate one. Bess was a sturdy, dependable wench who felt good in your hands during desperate moments.” While the British military did not refer to the arms at the time with pattern or model dates as we collectors do, they did utilize terms like “Long Land Pattern” and “Short Land Pattern”, terms that are now fairly well known to most antique military arms collectors. The first of the muskets typically referred to as a “Brown Bess’ was what we now refer to as the Pattern 1730, which established the basic pattern that all British military infantry muskets would follow for 100 years. The Pattern 1730 was a produced from about 1727 to 1740 with “significantly less than 96,000” being produced during that time. The musket was about 62” in overall length, with barrel that was usually about 46” long, smoothbore and nominally .76 caliber. The musket barrel was secured to the stock by a single screw through the breech tang, several transverse pins through the stock, and by the mounting screw for the upper sling swivel. The lock was the classic Brown Bess “banana” shaped lock with a rounded profile, an unbridled pan and a swan neck cock. The rammer was wooden with a brass tip, and was retained via three brass pipes and a fourth tail pipe. The balance of the furniture was brass as well, including the buttplate, side plate, trigger guard and nose cap. The musket was improved circa 1740 with the addition of a bridled pan and beefier furniture. These muskets, produced from roughly 1740-1742 have been categorized as Pattern1730/40 muskets, and are in fact a transitional pattern to the Pattern 1742. The most significant change in the 1730/40 muskets was the adoption of the Pattern 1740 “double bridled” lock. This lock incorporated a bridled pan on the outside of the lock plate, in addition to the traditional bridle inside the lock that retained the tumbler. The Pattern 1742 Long Land Musket was produced from 1742 to 1750, and although the subsequent P-1748 and P-1750 were in production by the time it came to pass, the Pattern 1742 was the standard issue musket during the Seven Years’ War, which is better known in America as the French & Indian War. Like its predecessors, the Pattern 1742 was approximately 62” in overall length, with a nominally 46” long barrel of about .76 caliber. The total production of the muskets is estimated to have been around 106,900, which Goldstein & Mowbray base upon known orders for socket bayonets to accompany the guns. According to their research, roughly 1/3 of all Pattern 1742 musket production was shipped to the American colonies for service in the French & Indian War, with at least 15,833 shipped “for and with British troops” and an additional 14,798 sent for the use of colonial volunteers and militia. The guns were referred to in period British ordnance documents as “Land Service Musquets of King’s Pattern with Brass Furniture Double-bridle Locks, (and) Wood Rammers”. The Pattern 1742 was significantly beefier than its predecessors, with a much more robust stock that was better suited to the harsh life of military service and extensive campaigning. It also incorporated a much more robust triggerguard. While the earlier Pattern 1730 and 1730/40 muskets had utilized a brass nose cap, this feature was dispensed with on the Pattern 1742, although many muskets were retroactively upgraded with brass nose caps post-1748, when a steel rammer was adopted to replace the wooden one. After the steel rammer was adopted, many of the early production Pattern 1742 muskets had their upper and tail pipes modified for use with the new rammer and had a nose cap added at the same time. The Pattern 1742 was essentially replaced the transitional Pattern 1748 which remained in production only long enough to bridge the gap to the Pattern 1756 which was the last of the 46” barreled “Long Land Pattern” muskets to be produced. The Pattern 1756 was produced in significant quantities when compared to its predecessors, with between 200,000 and 250,000 being produced. While other patterns of “Brown Bess’ muskets would continue to be produced over the next 50 years, the Pattern 1756 brought an end to the era of the Long Land Pattern. 

This musket is marked Warranted on the lock, indicating a musket used for trade, likely it was intended to use as trade goods in the slavery era, perhaps on board the British East India Company ships.  It has the usual Birmingham proof stamps indicating manufacture in Birmingham.  A warranted gun would have been made with the permission of the reigning Monarch.  This musket is in extremely fine condition, with good solid wood throughout, the lock works perfectly and would likely make as excellent shooter if one were so inclined.  This is a prescribed antique in Canada.

 $3250 Canadian

The 1803 Pattern British Infantry Officer’s Sword was a response to a needed design change in swords. The official 1796 sword was a thin-bladed straight sword, regarded as wholly inadequate for light infantry and riflemen officers who, separated from the dense masses of line infantry and their bayonets, were vulnerable to the fast sabres of light cavalry. Many officers would replace the 1796 with a blade that they purchased, usually a sabre with enough heft to parry those wielded by their cavalry foes, and in particular Napoleon's elite skirmishers, among them the Voltiguers. The 1803 Pattern was a final standardization of this trend, finally providing the light infantry officers the sword they needed.​  The makers name "Osbourne & Gundy" along with Sword Cutler to HIs Majesty Warranted, is on the gilded blade.  The blade has some corrosion but is still in very acceptable condition, the handle has lost all the shark/ray skin as well as the wire, it has also been touched up with some gold and black paint.  In the right light the blue of the blade is still visible.  Overall very nice example of a very scarce sword.

$1600 Can.

This is a very nice example of a first pattern British made P-1837 Brunswick bayonet, with the classic ribbed brass handle and swept forward cross guard. It has an impressive 22 inch long double edged blade, which swells slightly towards the end, and has a small fuller on each side. Overall length is about 26 inches on this very nice example. Many of these bayonets were imported to the United States during the civil war, along with obsolete Brunswick rifles.

The only real difference from the Second pattern bayonet is the attachment system. The first pattern extended button on the post was very prone to catching on things, and sometimes breaking off. Most seen on the market have the button top either broken or cut off like this one. 

The bayonet is regimentally marked and bears a proof mark on the ricasso. The other side is marked CROWN / GR indicating King George which is very unusual given that King George was not reigning Monarch when the Brunswick rifle was put in production.  Condition of this bayonet is extremely nice, with a lovely patina on the hilt. The blade has very little staining, one of the nicest 1st model pattern 1837 I have come across.

$425 SOLD

Manufactured between 1896 and 1919 there were only about 4,300 of these Quackenbush single shot rifles made.  Most all of these are in well used condition and are missing the retractable wire stock.  This 12 inch barrel Quackenbush is in very good condition and retains well over 90% of its original; nickel finish.  The bore has scattered pitting, but the rifle functions and shoots well.  This is one of the "neatest" boys rifles ever made. Restricted.

$875 Canadian

Great Britain purchased three different Winchester lever-action models: the Model 1886, Model 1892 and Model 1894. The first wartime purchase, by the Royal Flying Corps, was for fewer than 50 Model 1886 Winchesters chambered in .45-90 Win. Special cartridges were developed with incendiary bullets designed to ignite the hydrogen gas in German airships and balloons. The rifles allowed the Royal Flying Corps to counter this airborne threat while they were developing more effective arms.  Winchester repeaters were also purchased by the Royal Navy, and they were used shipboard for guard duty and mine clearing, the details of which are unknown. The Royal Navy acquired 20,000 Model 1892 rifles in .44-40 Win. and approximately 5,000 Model 1894 carbines in .30 WCF (.30-30 Win.). 

This rifle is in excellent condition, as with many rifles from the same era, with similar nickel steel receivers, the blueing flaked off with very little handling, leaving nicely blued barrels and mags and grey receivers, as is the case with this rifle.  It has a very good bore, it shows a little dark but has very strong rifling.  Stocks were typically gum wood.  Overall a very important, rare Winchester.

$2495 Canadian SOLD

• I built this rifle a number of years ago, it started life as a Ruger No. 1 in 7mm magnum, I will attempt to list all the work that was done to this rifle as much my old brain will allow.  I wanted this rifle to reflect a Celtic theme.

• Green Mountain Barrel shaped round to rapid taper Octagon
• Chambered for 7x57 with high polish crowned muzzle
• Barrel was rust blued to a satin finish
• Shaved receiver
• Hand fitted quarter rib will accept Ruger scope mounts
• Custom built shell holder in butt stock
• Trap door butt plate
• Presentation grade XXX Walnut
• ebony forend tip
• Stag themed wrap around checkering
• Screws Nitre Blued 
• Sling swivels mounts inset
• Engraving by Brian Frank
• Stock work Chris Dawe
• Colour Case Oskar Kob

$9,600 Can.

Anyone into long range shooting, a history buff or have had sniper training should have heard of the Whitworth rifle. The Whitworth Rifle was a single-shot muzzle-loaded rifle used in the latter half of the 19th century. Possessing excellent long range accuracy for its time, the Whitworth, when used with a scope, was the world’s first sniper rifle, and saw use with Confederate sharpshooters in the American Civil War. This rifle was invented by Sir Joseph Whitworth, a famed British engineer and inventor.

Trials were held in 1857 to compare Whitworth’s design against the Enfield. The Whitworth rifle outperformed the Enfield at a rate of about three to one in the trials, which tested the accuracy and range of both weapons. Notably, the Whitworth rifle was able to hit the target at a range of 2,000 yards, where the Enfield was only able to hit the same target at a range of 1,400 yards.

At just over a mile, the Whitworth rifle’s group was almost twelve feet, this may not seem extremely accurate. However, we must consider the fact that the shooter would probably be firing on a group of officers or artillery men. In which case, being able to consistently hit a twelve foot target would at least cause great disorder, if it did not prove deadly.
While the trials were generally a success for the Whitworth rifle, the British government ultimately rejected the design because the Whitworth’s barrel was much more prone to fouling than the Enfield, and the Whitworth rifle also cost approximately four times as much to manufacture. The Whitworth Rifle Company was able to sell the weapon to the French army, and also to the Confederacy during the American Civil War. While the barrel design of the Whitworth rifle was innovative, the rest of the rifle was similar to other rifles and rifle-muskets used at the time. The rifle was muzzle loaded, and used a percussion lock firing mechanism. The lock mechanism was very similar to that used on the Enfield rifle-musket.  Whitworth chose to use a longer and more slender bullet than was common at the time, which resulted in a bore diameter of .451 caliber, significantly smaller than the Enfield’s .577 caliber bore. Whitworth’s bullets were more stable at longer ranges than the shorter and larger diameter bullets found in other rifles of the time. Whitworth also engineered the barrel with a 1-in-20″ twist, quite a bit tighter than the 1-in-78″ of the 1853 Enfield, or the later 1856/1858 variants with 5 groove barrels and a 1-in-48″ twist. The extra spin the faster twist imparted to the projectile further stabilized the bullet in flight.
The Whitworth rifle weighed 9 pounds. Other long range rifles of the period tended to have much larger and heavier barrels, which made them too heavy for standard infantry use.  Whitworth rifles, being used by sharpshooters, were usually rested against a tree or log while fired to increase their accuracy. 

This example is in very good condition, the metal fit is excellent with the finish taking on a nice pewter colour, mechanically it functions as expected with the barrel sporting a very good shootable bore.  The wood has the usual expected bumps and bruises with the checkering mostly still sharp and defined, the fore-end has been replaced from the first barrel band forward, leaving the wood a slightly different tone.  The steel fore-end cap has been replaced with a brass cap.  A very good representable piece with fantastic interesting history.

$4,795 Can. SOLD