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Bullard Large Frame Repeating Sporting Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,500.00 USD
Bullard Large Frame Repeating Sporting Rifle
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Bullard Large Frame Repeating Lever Action Sporting Rifle, #1264, .40 CF cal., blued 28'' octagonal barrel (measured from muzzle to face of chamber) marked only ''Cal/40'' ahead of breech with dovetailed Rocky Mountain front sight and adjustable ramp open rear sight; full-length under-barrel blued tubular magazine; blued receiver marked on left side below top ejection port ''Bullard Repeating Arms Company/Springfield Mass. U.S.A. Pat. Aug. 16, 1881'' in two lines and with blued sliding dustcover; case hardened operating lever, hammer, and trigger; varnished walnut forend with blued nose cap and buttstock, with gutta percha buttplate having the ''Bullard/Rept'g. Arms Co'' encircled elk logo within a checkered background. Includes a copy of the book ''Bullard Arms'', by G. Scott Jamieson, along with a hand signed letter from the author. Mfg'd 1886-90. Overall condition is near excellent. Barrel retains approx. 90% thinning and toning original blue, receiver and dustcover having 95% deep blue with one swirled area in finish on right side; cartridge tube and nose cap retain much original blue in protected areas but are mostly a soft muted blue-brown patina; lever, hammer and trigger with muted case hardening colors. Stocks are smooth and sound, having a ''C''-shaped ding on left buttstock and a soft satiny finish; gutta percha buttplate with sharp checkering and relief details and one chip out at toe. Rifle has clear markings and crisp edges throughout. Sometimes known as the Model 1886 Rifle, this patented rack-and-pinion action by James Bullard (formerly a mechanic with Smith & Wesson and a prolific inventor) was the smoothest and quietest of the lever actions, and produced great leverage for seating and extracting cartridges. Action is silky smooth; bore shines with deep rifling. Est.: $5,000-$7,500. (Antique)