WHITWORTH PERCUSSION TARGET RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL BOX OF SIGHTS.

WHITWORTH PERCUSSION TARGET RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL BOX OF SIGHTS. SN F435. Cal. .461. (.490 Groove diameter Whitworth hexagonal rifling). 36″ Tapered round bbl with “Rigby Flats” is fitted with 2-1/4″ rear sight base, engraved “Manchester Ordnance & Rifle Co”. Sight base for windage adjustable front sights has inset graduated platinum line. Top rear of bbl between sight base and top flat is engraved “Whitworth Manchester” surrounding crown under “sheaf of wheat” trademark. Bottom of bbl is stamped with Birmingham proofs for 52 bore and with SN. Nicely filed patent breech has platinum “blow-out” and is fitted with rifle type nipple. SN is on left side of hook. Plain breech iron with integral fence has matching SNed sight base installed on tang. Flat case hardened bar lock with tall, rounded, serpentine hammer is stamped “Joseph Brazier” “Ashes” on interior. Tumbler has detent. Lock is fitted with front sliding safety which engages at half cock. Tail of lock is engraved with “sheaf of wheat” in crown, bottom of lock with “THE WHITWORTH COMPANY LIMITED.” Plain trigger plate has round screw escutcheon. Steel trigger guard is engraved with SN at grip. Nicely streaked, dense, dark European walnut stock measures 14-3/8″ over checkered steel buttplate. There is an oval escutcheon in front of drilled and tapped widow’s peak, which is also drilled and tapped for mounting screws of large pedestal base with spirit level for back position vernier sight. Stock features horn capped pistol grip, point pattern checkering with mullered borders, vacant silver oval on toe line, and large 2-3/4″ x 2″ presentation silver oval on right side of butt, which is unengraved. Forend is fitted with horn tip, with no provision for ramrod, and attaches to bbl with side nail through oval steel escutcheons. SN is in bbl channel. Red morocco leather case with burl walnut interior block and green silk lined padding in lid contains complete array of sights serial numbered to this rifle, including ladder type bbl sight with patented rack and pinion elevation adjustment engraved “Patent” on top of ladder with its original mounting pin. Vernier tang sight with two different diameter interchangeable discs is engraved “THE WHITWORTH COMPANY” and “LIMITED”, with pinned on platinum vernier on right side, and graduated for yards on left, also serial numbered, and with its orig mounting pin. There are two front sight assemblies; one standard ring type with 4 removable apertures; another Halford type with 3 different interchangeable blades stamped “GOODWIN 260 PATENT”. Also included is original key to interchange these blades, as well as, blued steel wrench for unknown purpose. There are also two musket type nipples with platinum lined vents. Also with the rifle is an original Whitworth ebony loading rod with steel revolving hexagonal head and brass tail threaded to accept other implements. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains most of its orig blue under a considerable amount of overall light freckling. Lock and breech plug retain considerable amount of their orig case hardening color, but are mostly gray to brown. Trigger guard is mostly flaked to brown, as is buttplate. Stock is excellent, retaining nearly all of its untouched original oil finish, with numerous minor marks, and 3″ crack starting 3/4″ from toe of buttplate, following toe line into body of stock. A 2″ incipient crack is on right side at heel. A small chip about 3/4″ x 3/8″ is missing from lock mortise behind fence. Forend tip has had some worm damage, which has been filled. Bore is excellent, mostly bright and shiny, with some minor frosting toward muzzle, with a very slight ring of pitting, about 6″ back from muzzle. Lock is crisp. Safety works. Sight case leather has some minor scuffs and marks, but is generally fine. Interior cloth is good, marked from contact with sights, etc. Sights themselves are very fine, retaining most of their orig finish. Wrench appears to be modern replacement, with no apparent use. Loading rod is fine, steel head showing some pitting. 4-45131 MGM239 (7,000-10,000)

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
	1223	$10,350.00	WHITWORTH PERCUSSION TARGET RIFLE WITH ORIGINAL BOX OF SIGHTS. SN F435. Cal. .461. (.490 Groove diameter Whitworth hexagonal rifling). 36″ Tapered round bbl with “Rigby Flats” is fitted with 2-1/4″ rear sight base, engraved “Manchester Ordnance & Rifle Co”. Sight base for windage adjustable front sights has inset graduated platinum line. Top rear of bbl between sight base and top flat is engraved “Whitworth Manchester” surrounding crown under “sheaf of wheat” trademark. Bottom of bbl is stamped with Birmingham proofs for 52 bore and with SN. Nicely filed patent breech has platinum “blow-out” and is fitted with rifle type nipple. SN is on left side of hook. Plain breech iron with integral fence has matching SNed sight base installed on tang. Flat case hardened bar lock with tall, rounded, serpentine hammer is stamped “Joseph Brazier” “Ashes” on interior. Tumbler has detent. Lock is fitted with front sliding safety which engages at half cock. Tail of lock is engraved with “sheaf of wheat” in crown, bottom of lock with “THE WHITWORTH COMPANY LIMITED.” Plain trigger plate has round screw escutcheon. Steel trigger guard is engraved with SN at grip. Nicely streaked, dense, dark European walnut stock measures 14-3/8″ over checkered steel buttplate. There is an oval escutcheon in front of drilled and tapped widow’s peak, which is also drilled and tapped for mounting screws of large pedestal base with spirit level for back position vernier sight. Stock features horn capped pistol grip, point pattern checkering with mullered borders, vacant silver oval on toe line, and large 2-3/4″ x 2″ presentation silver oval on right side of butt, which is unengraved. Forend is fitted with horn tip, with no provision for ramrod, and attaches to bbl with side nail through oval steel escutcheons. SN is in bbl channel. Red morocco leather case with burl walnut interior block and green silk lined padding in lid contains complete array of sights serial numbered to this rifle, including ladder type bbl sight with patented rack and pinion elevation adjustment engraved “Patent” on top of ladder with its original mounting pin. Vernier tang sight with two different diameter interchangeable discs is engraved “THE WHITWORTH COMPANY” and “LIMITED”, with pinned on platinum vernier on right side, and graduated for yards on left, also serial numbered, and with its orig mounting pin. There are two front sight assemblies; one standard ring type with 4 removable apertures; another Halford type with 3 different interchangeable blades stamped “GOODWIN 260 PATENT”. Also included is original key to interchange these blades, as well as, blued steel wrench for unknown purpose. There are also two musket type nipples with platinum lined vents. Also with the rifle is an original Whitworth ebony loading rod with steel revolving hexagonal head and brass tail threaded to accept other implements. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains most of its orig blue under a considerable amount of overall light freckling. Lock and breech plug retain considerable amount of their orig case hardening color, but are mostly gray to brown. Trigger guard is mostly flaked to brown, as is buttplate. Stock is excellent, retaining nearly all of its untouched original oil finish, with numerous minor marks, and 3″ crack starting 3/4″ from toe of buttplate, following toe line into body of stock. A 2″ incipient crack is on right side at heel. A small chip about 3/4″ x 3/8″ is missing from lock mortise behind fence. Forend tip has had some worm damage, which has been filled. Bore is excellent, mostly bright and shiny, with some minor frosting toward muzzle, with a very slight ring of pitting, about 6″ back from muzzle. Lock is crisp. Safety works. Sight case leather has some minor scuffs and marks, but is generally fine. Interior cloth is good, marked from contact with sights, etc. Sights themselves are very fine, retaining most of their orig finish. Wrench appears to be modern replacement, with no apparent use. Loading rod is fine, steel head showing some pitting. 4-45131 MGM239 (7,000-10,000) 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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