VERY RARE BULLARD MODEL 1886 DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

Revised: 3/9/2012

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: According to Scott Jamieson, noted Bullard scholar, the correct product number of these rare large frames was only 1700, not 12,000 as stated in the catalogue.

VERY RARE BULLARD MODEL 1886 DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 2681. Cal. 45-85. Large frame deluxe Bullard with 30″ tapered oct bbl, full magazine, ivory bead front sight, slot blank in rear seat & Lyman No. 15 windgage tang sight. It is mounted with nicely figured, straight grain, checkered American walnut with serpentine pistol grip stock and crescent steel buttplate. Top left side of receiver is marked with the company name, address & patent number. Receiver ring is marked with caliber number and the SN is on the top tang, back of hammer slot. Bullard rifles are considered today as the smoothest operating and finest lever action rifles ever produced. They utilized a rack & pinion system to operate the bolt which was extremely smooth and strong. A patent was granted to James Bullard in 1881 with production not beginning until about 1883. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms there were only 10,000-12,000 of these fine rifles produced by the time they ceased production in 1890. Mr. Bullard, a consummate inventor, was known to have a short attention to business attitude once a product was perfected, then on to something more interesting. He had numerous patents in all sorts of machinery, steam production, steam engines, oil burners and firearms. The Bullard rifle was produced in both large frame & small frame versions along with a musket model and a carbine. Although the design of these rifles was far superior to either the Winchester or Marlin or any other lever action available at that time or since, the stiff competition from Winchester & Marlin, with their advanced manufacturing & distribution systems, ultimately forced the demise of the Bullard rifle with only these few, noted above, ever having been manufactured. Few are found today with high orig finish. PROVENANCE: Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Bbl & magazine tube retain 98-99% strong, orig factory blue with only light muzzle end & sharp edge wear; receiver, lever, hammer, breech block & buttplate retain virtually all of their brilliant factory case colors with evidence of orig shellac still on the receiver; right side of receiver is lightly faded and bottom edge of receiver is moderately faded; forend cap retains about all of its orig case colors, brilliant in sheltered areas, lightly to moderately faded elsewhere; stock has a gouge on the comb with a few light nicks & scratches and retains nearly all of its orig bright factory varnish showing moderate wear on the very bottom of the forearm which is the carry point. Mechanics are crisp & smooth, brilliant shiny bore. 4-44537 JR464 (4,000-7,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	2147	$29,900.00	Revised: 3/9/2012 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: According to Scott Jamieson, noted Bullard scholar, the correct product number of these rare large frames was only 1700, not 12,000 as stated in the catalogue. VERY RARE BULLARD MODEL 1886 DELUXE LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 2681. Cal. 45-85. Large frame deluxe Bullard with 30″ tapered oct bbl, full magazine, ivory bead front sight, slot blank in rear seat & Lyman No. 15 windgage tang sight. It is mounted with nicely figured, straight grain, checkered American walnut with serpentine pistol grip stock and crescent steel buttplate. Top left side of receiver is marked with the company name, address & patent number. Receiver ring is marked with caliber number and the SN is on the top tang, back of hammer slot. Bullard rifles are considered today as the smoothest operating and finest lever action rifles ever produced. They utilized a rack & pinion system to operate the bolt which was extremely smooth and strong. A patent was granted to James Bullard in 1881 with production not beginning until about 1883. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms there were only 10,000-12,000 of these fine rifles produced by the time they ceased production in 1890. Mr. Bullard, a consummate inventor, was known to have a short attention to business attitude once a product was perfected, then on to something more interesting. He had numerous patents in all sorts of machinery, steam production, steam engines, oil burners and firearms. The Bullard rifle was produced in both large frame & small frame versions along with a musket model and a carbine. Although the design of these rifles was far superior to either the Winchester or Marlin or any other lever action available at that time or since, the stiff competition from Winchester & Marlin, with their advanced manufacturing & distribution systems, ultimately forced the demise of the Bullard rifle with only these few, noted above, ever having been manufactured. Few are found today with high orig finish. PROVENANCE: Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Bbl & magazine tube retain 98-99% strong, orig factory blue with only light muzzle end & sharp edge wear; receiver, lever, hammer, breech block & buttplate retain virtually all of their brilliant factory case colors with evidence of orig shellac still on the receiver; right side of receiver is lightly faded and bottom edge of receiver is moderately faded; forend cap retains about all of its orig case colors, brilliant in sheltered areas, lightly to moderately faded elsewhere; stock has a gouge on the comb with a few light nicks & scratches and retains nearly all of its orig bright factory varnish showing moderate wear on the very bottom of the forearm which is the carry point. Mechanics are crisp & smooth, brilliant shiny bore. 4-44537 JR464 (4,000-7,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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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