EXTREMELY RARE BROWNING SINGLE SHOT RIFLE.

EXTREMELY RARE BROWNING SINGLE SHOT RIFLE. Cal. 45-100. SN 347. This most rare rifle is one of the approximately 500 made by Browning Brothers in Ogden, Utah on his original design before the patent was purchased by Winchester in 1885. History records that Browning had designed and patented this rifle and began production when he was visited by a Winchester representative regarding what may have been a patent infringement matter involving reloading tools. They apparently reached an agreement absolving Browning of any liability in the patent infringement by allowing Winchester to purchase the patent rights for this rifle. Browning had already produced a few hundred rifles and the agreement allowed them to finish whatever rifles they had already produced parts to make. It is reported that only about 500 total rifles were ever produced under the Browning Brothers name.

This rifle has an additional rare feature of 34-1/8″ oct bbl that is the exact width of the receiver, i.e. about 1-1/4″ at the receiver, and 1-1/16″ across the flats at the muzzle. It has a dovetailed front sight with small German silver blade and its original semi-buckhorn rear sight. The top flat above the rear sight is marked “BROWNING BROS. OGDEN UTAH, USA”. It has patent date below the rear sight of “Oct. 7 79”, then the caliber marking and the serial number. This rifle has the additional rare feature of two original iron guides on the bottom flat which contain a replacement hickory ramrod. It has uncheckered straight grain American walnut wood with a long semi-Schnable tipped forearm and straight stock with crescent steel buttplate. The forearm is secured with a single screw that passes through the bottom of the bbl. This early rifle’s action differs slightly from the final Winchester production model in that it has a taper bevel on the front edge of the breech block and a short hammer spur along with a short thick lever. CONDITION: Very good. No original finish remains, being an even dark brown patina on the bbl with some light dents on the edges and some light surface rust on the side and bottom flats. The receiver is a medium gray/brown patina with moderate rust pitting and the lever a dark brown patina with slightly heavier pitting. The wood is sound with a series of gouges on the right side and several long scratches on the left side and retains most of an old refinish. Mechanics are fine with strong dark bore and moderate pitting. A truly rare and desirable single shot rifle. 4-51989 JR765 (25,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2004

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
	1363	$20,125.00	EXTREMELY RARE BROWNING SINGLE SHOT RIFLE. Cal. 45-100. SN 347. This most rare rifle is one of the approximately 500 made by Browning Brothers in Ogden, Utah on his original design before the patent was purchased by Winchester in 1885. History records that Browning had designed and patented this rifle and began production when he was visited by a Winchester representative regarding what may have been a patent infringement matter involving reloading tools. They apparently reached an agreement absolving Browning of any liability in the patent infringement by allowing Winchester to purchase the patent rights for this rifle. Browning had already produced a few hundred rifles and the agreement allowed them to finish whatever rifles they had already produced parts to make. It is reported that only about 500 total rifles were ever produced under the Browning Brothers name. This rifle has an additional rare feature of 34-1/8″ oct bbl that is the exact width of the receiver, i.e. about 1-1/4″ at the receiver, and 1-1/16″ across the flats at the muzzle. It has a dovetailed front sight with small German silver blade and its original semi-buckhorn rear sight. The top flat above the rear sight is marked “BROWNING BROS. OGDEN UTAH, USA”. It has patent date below the rear sight of “Oct. 7 79”, then the caliber marking and the serial number. This rifle has the additional rare feature of two original iron guides on the bottom flat which contain a replacement hickory ramrod. It has uncheckered straight grain American walnut wood with a long semi-Schnable tipped forearm and straight stock with crescent steel buttplate. The forearm is secured with a single screw that passes through the bottom of the bbl. This early rifle’s action differs slightly from the final Winchester production model in that it has a taper bevel on the front edge of the breech block and a short hammer spur along with a short thick lever. CONDITION: Very good. No original finish remains, being an even dark brown patina on the bbl with some light dents on the edges and some light surface rust on the side and bottom flats. The receiver is a medium gray/brown patina with moderate rust pitting and the lever a dark brown patina with slightly heavier pitting. The wood is sound with a series of gouges on the right side and several long scratches on the left side and retains most of an old refinish. Mechanics are fine with strong dark bore and moderate pitting. A truly rare and desirable single shot rifle. 4-51989 JR765 (25,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2004 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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