EXTREMELY RARE DEVELOPMENTAL PISTOL GRIP RIGBY MODEL MARLIN BALLARD SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE THAT BELONGED TO FAMED 1880’S SHOOTER, H. G. BIXBY WITH ONE OF HIS SILVER TROPHIES DATED 1882.

SN 389. Cal. .38-50 Everlasting. Spectacular Rigby Ballard that appears to be a transition from first model off-hand Rigby Ballard to pistol grip model. It has 28″ rnd bbl, spirit level windgage front sight, no provision for a rear sight, and has a vernier tang sight with 3″ staff. Mounted with very highly figured French or Circassian Walnut, stained dark with checkered schnable horn-tipped forearm and Serpentine grip buttstock with cheekpiece and nickeled steel Swill buttplate. Receiver is spectacularly engraved by Conrad Ulrich in extra special medium relief with large vignettes of a bull elk & hind and a forest scene with very fine stippled background on left side. Right side is equally spectacular with a comparable vignette of a large male lion and his cow-like kill in a grassland scene, also with fine stippled background. Both vignettes are rendered in great detail and are surrounded by equally spectacular, intertwined foliate arabesque patterns that have very fine stippled background. Top of receiver and Rigby flats are engraved to match. The name “H. G. Bixby” is stamped on each side of frame and “Bixby” on right front wrist of buttstock. Marching SNs were observed on bbl, forearm, buttstock, and buttstock spindle. This exact rifle is pictured on pgs. 208, 209, & 225 of Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle, Dutcher. Mr. Dutcher reports that the breechblock is also matching numbered. Accompanied by a beautiful silver shooting trophy with the engraved inscription “FOSTER RIFLES – AUG 31ST, 1882 / WON BY / H. G. BIXBY”. Trophy measures 16″ high x 4-3/4″ on a square base. It is extremely elaborate with central pedestal a cannon bbl supporting silver urn on top. The urn has small rosette handles from which are suspended two silver cartridge boxes with long silver shoulder straps. Cannon bbl is supported by four percussion rifles with a stack of four cannonballs on each corner. Base is square on decorated feet. Bbls of rifles and straps of cartridge boxes are surrounded by a laurel wreath. It appears that the urn may have had a cover at one time which is now missing, but then it may not have had a cover. Mr. Dutcher reports in referenced publication that H. G. Bixby of Nashua, New Hampshire was one of the premier rifle shooters of the 1880’s. He is reportedly known to have used a Ballard rifle chambered 38-55 almost exclusively. Numerous newspaper and magazine articles were printed about his exploits, including one in the first issue of The Rifle, volume I, No. 1, May 1885. This magazine was the forerunner of the American Rifleman. That article reported that Mr. Bixby used a Ballard rifle. Mr. Bixby fired at least 28 “clean scores” at 200 yards off-hand on a number of well-known rifle ranges. In May 1885, he is reported to have won over 40 medals and badges of great value, as well as quantities of rifles, field glasses, and numerous other merchandise prizes. Mr. Dutcher, in a telephone conversation related that this rifle had been discovered, possibly on the east coast by Ed Kennedy several years ago. Over the ensuing years, after Mr. Kennedy sold his collection, someone had rifle restored by a master restoration artist named “Sellke”, with repairs to buttstock. Buttstock, at time of discovery, had a “Helm” buttplate installed which would not have been found on a Ballard rifle. Very close scrutiny of heel and toe of buttstock discloses that each area has a virtually indistinguishable splice with corresponding restored finish. PROVENANCE: Ed Kennedy Collection; Stephan Gordon Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all-matching except buttplate. Bbl retains 93-95% strong restored blue and receiver a fine blue-gray patina with bright case colors on hammer. Stock has a couple of small hairlines in wrist, otherwise wood is sound with a few light nicks and scratches and aforementioned repairs and retains just about all of its fine custom finish. Hammer is not solid and safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. Trophy is fine with no visible damage, showing only silver turned dark. 49124-5 JR (20,000-30,000) – Lot 2466

Auction: Firearms - October 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2466	$22,425.00	EXTREMELY RARE DEVELOPMENTAL PISTOL GRIP RIGBY MODEL MARLIN BALLARD SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE THAT BELONGED TO FAMED 1880’S SHOOTER, H. G. BIXBY WITH ONE OF HIS SILVER TROPHIES DATED 1882. SN 389. Cal. .38-50 Everlasting. Spectacular Rigby Ballard that appears to be a transition from first model off-hand Rigby Ballard to pistol grip model. It has 28″ rnd bbl, spirit level windgage front sight, no provision for a rear sight, and has a vernier tang sight with 3″ staff. Mounted with very highly figured French or Circassian Walnut, stained dark with checkered schnable horn-tipped forearm and Serpentine grip buttstock with cheekpiece and nickeled steel Swill buttplate. Receiver is spectacularly engraved by Conrad Ulrich in extra special medium relief with large vignettes of a bull elk & hind and a forest scene with very fine stippled background on left side. Right side is equally spectacular with a comparable vignette of a large male lion and his cow-like kill in a grassland scene, also with fine stippled background. Both vignettes are rendered in great detail and are surrounded by equally spectacular, intertwined foliate arabesque patterns that have very fine stippled background. Top of receiver and Rigby flats are engraved to match. The name “H. G. Bixby” is stamped on each side of frame and “Bixby” on right front wrist of buttstock. Marching SNs were observed on bbl, forearm, buttstock, and buttstock spindle. This exact rifle is pictured on pgs. 208, 209, & 225 of Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle, Dutcher. Mr. Dutcher reports that the breechblock is also matching numbered. Accompanied by a beautiful silver shooting trophy with the engraved inscription “FOSTER RIFLES – AUG 31ST, 1882 / WON BY / H. G. BIXBY”. Trophy measures 16″ high x 4-3/4″ on a square base. It is extremely elaborate with central pedestal a cannon bbl supporting silver urn on top. The urn has small rosette handles from which are suspended two silver cartridge boxes with long silver shoulder straps. Cannon bbl is supported by four percussion rifles with a stack of four cannonballs on each corner. Base is square on decorated feet. Bbls of rifles and straps of cartridge boxes are surrounded by a laurel wreath. It appears that the urn may have had a cover at one time which is now missing, but then it may not have had a cover. Mr. Dutcher reports in referenced publication that H. G. Bixby of Nashua, New Hampshire was one of the premier rifle shooters of the 1880’s. He is reportedly known to have used a Ballard rifle chambered 38-55 almost exclusively. Numerous newspaper and magazine articles were printed about his exploits, including one in the first issue of The Rifle, volume I, No. 1, May 1885. This magazine was the forerunner of the American Rifleman. That article reported that Mr. Bixby used a Ballard rifle. Mr. Bixby fired at least 28 “clean scores” at 200 yards off-hand on a number of well-known rifle ranges. In May 1885, he is reported to have won over 40 medals and badges of great value, as well as quantities of rifles, field glasses, and numerous other merchandise prizes. Mr. Dutcher, in a telephone conversation related that this rifle had been discovered, possibly on the east coast by Ed Kennedy several years ago. Over the ensuing years, after Mr. Kennedy sold his collection, someone had rifle restored by a master restoration artist named “Sellke”, with repairs to buttstock. Buttstock, at time of discovery, had a “Helm” buttplate installed which would not have been found on a Ballard rifle. Very close scrutiny of heel and toe of buttstock discloses that each area has a virtually indistinguishable splice with corresponding restored finish. PROVENANCE: Ed Kennedy Collection; Stephan Gordon Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all-matching except buttplate. Bbl retains 93-95% strong restored blue and receiver a fine blue-gray patina with bright case colors on hammer. Stock has a couple of small hairlines in wrist, otherwise wood is sound with a few light nicks and scratches and aforementioned repairs and retains just about all of its fine custom finish. Hammer is not solid and safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. Trophy is fine with no visible damage, showing only silver turned dark. 49124-5 JR (20,000-30,000) – Lot 2466 Auction: Firearms - October 2015 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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EXTREMELY RARE DEVELOPMENTAL PISTOL GRIP RIGBY MODEL MARLIN BALLARD SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE THAT BELONGED TO FAMED 1880’S SHOOTER, H. G. BIXBY WITH ONE OF HIS SILVER TROPHIES DATED 1882.