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THUNDERVALLEY 1872 REPRODUCTION GATLING GUN.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:8,500.00 USD Estimated At:17,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
THUNDERVALLEY 1872 REPRODUCTION GATLING GUN.
Cal. 45-70. S# 11782-0001. Bbls. 31.75" An iconic Gatling gun repro from Thunder Valley based on the original Colt 1872 variant. The familiar 10 bbl. cluster in the iconic brass receiver is augmented w/ steel receiver rails & mounted on an attractive wooden carriage. Carriage wheels w/ wooden spokes & steel banded, measure a whopping 53" in height. Green spokes & wheels w/ dark stained wood construction. The pedestal height when mounted is 36" off the ground. Carriage is 8' long from wheel to hitch. This particular model utilizes a Bruce feed mechanism. This gun, like the early originals employs an interesting oscillating traversing mechanism which causes the gun to gently sweep the impact area, maximizing hit potential. The intended target area is adj. by a few degrees & the elevation mechanism is micro adj. by the operator. The top of the brass receiver has affixed a brass nameplate bearing original style markings including “GATLING’S BATTERY GUN” above block of patent dates & below “MADE BY COLT’S PT. FIRE ARMS MFG CO HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.”. Left side of brass receiver has a sm. inlet marked “SERIAL NUMBER 11782-0001”. Right side of brass receiver has milled flat surface bearing the following: “MANUFACTURED BY / THUNDER VALLEY MACHINE COMPANY INC. / P.O. BOX 192, 7700. S. SIXTH AVE. / CLINTON, OHIO 44216 U.S.A.” Steel receiver rail on right side also marked w/ S# & triangle proof mark, indicating Suchka manufacture. Elevation adj. rear sight post & coinciding front blade are mounted on the right side of the mechanism so as not to interfere w/ any feed device. This unique Gatling variant had an unusually slow cyclic rate, even for guns of this nature, firing 1 rd. approx.. every 3/4 turn of the crank (slightly faster than a 1:1 ratio). An interesting feature of this model is a lockout/safety device which deactivates the firing mechanism when used for static display. MAGS: 1 Bruce feed mechanism. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: steel tripod that can be utilized for firing in place of the carriage mount. Correctly scaled, 32" legs offer the pedestal height a full 28" of ground clearance & each leg is terminated w/ a large 7.5" diameter integral pad for soft ground stability. CONDITION: exposed brass surfaces enjoy a time honored deep rich mustard patina which could be effortlessly polished to a high luster if desired. Exposed metal surfaced painted black. Bores appear very lightly used w/ strong rifling, though having spent most of its time in a static display has earned a gentle patina, but remains clean. The fire control mechanism appears to function correctly & effortlessly when cycled by hand. (20-464/JZ). MODERN. $17,000-20,000.