EXTREMELY RARE SMITH-JENNINGS 2ND MODEL REPEATING RIFLE.

EXTREMELY RARE SMITH-JENNINGS 2ND MODEL REPEATING RIFLE. Cal. 54. SN 6S. Beautiful historic repeating rifle, the forerunner to several rifles & pistols preceding the Winchester repeating rifle, as developed by Horace Smith & B. Tyler Henry, who were both instrumental in the development of this rifle. It is believed that less than 400 of these 2nd models were ever produced and few survived and almost never with any orig condition. This rifle & its sisters utilized the “rocket ball” self contained cartridge which had its propellant in the base of the hollow bullet and was ignited by means of a pellet primer fed automatically into the proper position under the long hammer nose. The Smith-Jennings rifles were the successor to the Jennings rifle, which was relatively unsuccessful, as was its predecessor, the Hunt repeating rifle. With the lack of success of the first two rifles, the talents of Henry, Smith & Daniel Wesson were combined to produce this rifle and while it was not overly successful, the importance to the development of future repeating firearms is immeasurable, having drawn these three huge talents together to collaborate on improving the Jennings rifle. As it is well known, Henry later developed the cartridges & rifles for the famous Model 1860 Henry rifle and Smith & Wesson needs no explanation. This rifle has 26” heavy rnd bbl with full length front loading magazine tube underneath. It has a tiny German silver front sight with Kentucky rifle style fixed rear sight. The iron receiver is flat-sided with a pronounced bulge in bottom and has the covered pill primer reservoir on the top. Right side of frame, just forward of the hammer, has a small rectangular door which, when opened, exposes the breech mechanism, apparently for single shot loading. It has a ring trigger without triggerguard which, serves to both open the breech, recharge the chamber from the magazine and then release the hammer. Both sides of receiver and across the top are lightly engraved with foliate arabesque patterns. Left side has an oval vignette marked “PATENT 1849 / C.P. DIXON AGENT / NEW YORK”. The magazine tube cover is missing. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with a steel semi-crescent buttplate with engraved tang & toe. Right side of stock has a 2-3/4” x 1-5/16” oval German silver inlay that is also lightly engraved with a large stylized “S” and light foliate patterns. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl & magazine tube retain generous amounts of thin orig brown finish with dark brown finish on the ribs between bbl & magazine tube. There are a few spots of moderate pitting. Receiver retains traces of silvered case colors, being mostly a brown patina. Stock is sound & retains 85-90% strong orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong dark bore with moderate pitting. 4-30233 JR74 (17,500-22,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2007

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
	1053	$26,450.00	EXTREMELY RARE SMITH-JENNINGS 2ND MODEL REPEATING RIFLE. Cal. 54. SN 6S. Beautiful historic repeating rifle, the forerunner to several rifles & pistols preceding the Winchester repeating rifle, as developed by Horace Smith & B. Tyler Henry, who were both instrumental in the development of this rifle. It is believed that less than 400 of these 2nd models were ever produced and few survived and almost never with any orig condition. This rifle & its sisters utilized the “rocket ball” self contained cartridge which had its propellant in the base of the hollow bullet and was ignited by means of a pellet primer fed automatically into the proper position under the long hammer nose. The Smith-Jennings rifles were the successor to the Jennings rifle, which was relatively unsuccessful, as was its predecessor, the Hunt repeating rifle. With the lack of success of the first two rifles, the talents of Henry, Smith & Daniel Wesson were combined to produce this rifle and while it was not overly successful, the importance to the development of future repeating firearms is immeasurable, having drawn these three huge talents together to collaborate on improving the Jennings rifle. As it is well known, Henry later developed the cartridges & rifles for the famous Model 1860 Henry rifle and Smith & Wesson needs no explanation. This rifle has 26” heavy rnd bbl with full length front loading magazine tube underneath. It has a tiny German silver front sight with Kentucky rifle style fixed rear sight. The iron receiver is flat-sided with a pronounced bulge in bottom and has the covered pill primer reservoir on the top. Right side of frame, just forward of the hammer, has a small rectangular door which, when opened, exposes the breech mechanism, apparently for single shot loading. It has a ring trigger without triggerguard which, serves to both open the breech, recharge the chamber from the magazine and then release the hammer. Both sides of receiver and across the top are lightly engraved with foliate arabesque patterns. Left side has an oval vignette marked “PATENT 1849 / C.P. DIXON AGENT / NEW YORK”. The magazine tube cover is missing. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with a steel semi-crescent buttplate with engraved tang & toe. Right side of stock has a 2-3/4” x 1-5/16” oval German silver inlay that is also lightly engraved with a large stylized “S” and light foliate patterns. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl & magazine tube retain generous amounts of thin orig brown finish with dark brown finish on the ribs between bbl & magazine tube. There are a few spots of moderate pitting. Receiver retains traces of silvered case colors, being mostly a brown patina. Stock is sound & retains 85-90% strong orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong dark bore with moderate pitting. 4-30233 JR74 (17,500-22,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2007 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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