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J.P. Gemmer, St. Louis, Sporting or Buffalo Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD
J.P. Gemmer, St. Louis, Sporting or Buffalo Rifle
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Antique Heavy-Barrel American Sporting or Buffalo Rifle, built on a Spencer action by J.P. Gemmer of St. Louis, NVSN, .52 RF cal., 32'' very heavyweight (perhaps No. 5) octagonal barrel with dovetailed buckhorn-style sights, marked ''J.P. Gemmer St. Louis'' on top flat, has full-length rib underneath; Spencer receiver (likely sold as Civil War surplus) was converted to single-shot and lacks all Spencer markings, retains serpentine operating lever that drops to open breech; steel fittings include crescent buttplate with door to buttstock magazine tube (now fixed closed), two barrel keys with oval escutcheons on both sides, nosecap, and three ferrules to retain the brass-tipped hickory ramrod; two-piece varnished walnut stocks, the forend with fancy grain, the matching buttstock with vacant 1.625'' German-silver nameplate at belly, marching 5'' ''sideplate'' at left wrist. Originally mfg'd ca. 1860s, altered by Gemmer ca. 1870s-80s, with blued barrel, case hardened receiver, lever and buttplate. Condition is fine, the barrel with approx. 50% smooth thinning blue, sharp edges and markings, the case hardened parts having silvered out but showing strong traces of case colors, bright German-silver. Stocks are sound having nice grain, color and a smooth oiled finish. Action is smooth; bore is shiny showing scattered black-powder erosion and sharp rifling. This is a quite rare and desirable heavy-barrel, buffalo-caliber sporting rifle. Est.: $8,000-12,000. (Antique)(Doug Beneck collection)