RARE DELUXE BROWNING MODEL 1878 SINGLE SHOT RIFLE.

RARE DELUXE BROWNING MODEL 1878 SINGLE SHOT RIFLE. SN 114. Cal. 40-70 Sharps straight. Early Browning rifle with 30-3/8″ oct bbl, half nickel front sight and Winchester style sporting rear sight. The Browning address & patent date are about mid-point on top flat and are barely legible. Top left flat of the bbl, at the receiver, is marked “NGTON” which is the last five letters of “REMINGTON” indicating that Mr. Browning purchased or recycled an old Remington bbl. Receiver on this rifle is first type, somewhat different than later production, being thicker & shorter with longer tangs. Breech block has rounded top with a conventional serpentine lever that became standard on the Winchester Model 1885. Mounted with straight grain American walnut with checkered long, schnable tip forearm secured with a single screw through the bottom and a long pistol grip stock with oval German silver cap that is lightly engraved and a crescent steel buttplate. Mr. Kontes states that when he bought this rifle from someone named Jim Munosic, it had been standing behind the door in a barn for many years and as the cows were walking past had apparently splashed it with urine and water leaving it with numerous grain checks. He states that he spent many weeks soaking it with linseed oil and leaving it in the sun until the cracks closed back up and then he hand rubbed it to its present finish. PROVENANCE: John C. Kontes Collection. CONDITION: Good. Bbl retains a light blue/brown restored finish, as does the receiver. Forearm is missing a splinter from the right edge at the bbl channel and the buttstock has a chipped heel, otherwise wood is sound showing heavy wear with a few nicks & dings and retains all of Mr. Kontes’ fine hand rubbed oil finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with moderate to heavy pitting. 4-46627 JR340 (30,000-50,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 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
	1339	$0.00	RARE DELUXE BROWNING MODEL 1878 SINGLE SHOT RIFLE. SN 114. Cal. 40-70 Sharps straight. Early Browning rifle with 30-3/8″ oct bbl, half nickel front sight and Winchester style sporting rear sight. The Browning address & patent date are about mid-point on top flat and are barely legible. Top left flat of the bbl, at the receiver, is marked “NGTON” which is the last five letters of “REMINGTON” indicating that Mr. Browning purchased or recycled an old Remington bbl. Receiver on this rifle is first type, somewhat different than later production, being thicker & shorter with longer tangs. Breech block has rounded top with a conventional serpentine lever that became standard on the Winchester Model 1885. Mounted with straight grain American walnut with checkered long, schnable tip forearm secured with a single screw through the bottom and a long pistol grip stock with oval German silver cap that is lightly engraved and a crescent steel buttplate. Mr. Kontes states that when he bought this rifle from someone named Jim Munosic, it had been standing behind the door in a barn for many years and as the cows were walking past had apparently splashed it with urine and water leaving it with numerous grain checks. He states that he spent many weeks soaking it with linseed oil and leaving it in the sun until the cracks closed back up and then he hand rubbed it to its present finish. PROVENANCE: John C. Kontes Collection. CONDITION: Good. Bbl retains a light blue/brown restored finish, as does the receiver. Forearm is missing a splinter from the right edge at the bbl channel and the buttstock has a chipped heel, otherwise wood is sound showing heavy wear with a few nicks & dings and retains all of Mr. Kontes’ fine hand rubbed oil finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with moderate to heavy pitting. 4-46627 JR340 (30,000-50,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 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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