EXTREMELY RARE FRANK WESSON NO. 1 LONG RANGE SINGLE SHOT FALLING BLOCK RIFLE.

EXTREMELY RARE FRANK WESSON NO. 1 LONG RANGE SINGLE SHOT FALLING BLOCK RIFLE. SN 7. Cal. Appears to be 45-100. Fine American made target rifle that resembles those made by the famous Scottish maker, Alexander Henry of Edinborough. It has 33-1/4″ tapered oct bbl with windgage globe front sight, no provision for a rear sight with a long range vernier tang sight that has 5-1/2″ staff graduated to 5,000 yards on left edge. Top flat of bbl is engraved “Frank Wesson M’F’R. Long Range Rifle No. 1, Worcester, Mass.” Receiver has the Alexander Henry style square shape with vertical falling block and side mounted hammer on a back action lock. Top tang is recessed into the wrist to form a direct loading chute to the chamber. Lever, like the Alexander Henry’s, has a lock and push button release in the tip with a notched stud in trigger guard. It has sgl set trigger that needs attention. Receiver, lockplate, hammer & lever are lightly, but very nicely engraved with intertwined foliate arabesque patterns and a chip & dot border with fleur-de-lis in corners on each side of receiver. Rifle is mounted with very highly figured, flame & shell grain, checkered American walnut with rnd Henry style forearm that has a black horn tip, secured with a sgl wedge through oval steel escutcheons. Buttstock has raised side panels with deep checkered wrist and oval horn grip cap and is 14″ over a checkered steel buttplate that has matching engraved tang. The SN “7” was observed on the wedge, extractor and bottom right flat of bbl under forearm. No further disassembly was effected to check for other matching parts. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms, less than fifty of these rare rifles and “probably less than 25” were produced in the early to mid-1870’s. PROVENANCE: David D. Sobel Single Shot Rifle Collection. CONDITION: About fine. Bbl retains blue under forearm with balance a thin blue/gray patina. Markings on bbl are fine & legible. Receiver, hammer, lockplate & lever retain smoky case colors, stronger in sheltered areas. Stock has a hairline on right side of wrist, otherwise wood is sound with light handling & use marks and retains most of its orig factory varnish. Set trigger needs adjustment, otherwise mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-39118 JR24 (6,000-10,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

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
	1438	$23,000.00	EXTREMELY RARE FRANK WESSON NO. 1 LONG RANGE SINGLE SHOT FALLING BLOCK RIFLE. SN 7. Cal. Appears to be 45-100. Fine American made target rifle that resembles those made by the famous Scottish maker, Alexander Henry of Edinborough. It has 33-1/4″ tapered oct bbl with windgage globe front sight, no provision for a rear sight with a long range vernier tang sight that has 5-1/2″ staff graduated to 5,000 yards on left edge. Top flat of bbl is engraved “Frank Wesson M’F’R. Long Range Rifle No. 1, Worcester, Mass.” Receiver has the Alexander Henry style square shape with vertical falling block and side mounted hammer on a back action lock. Top tang is recessed into the wrist to form a direct loading chute to the chamber. Lever, like the Alexander Henry’s, has a lock and push button release in the tip with a notched stud in trigger guard. It has sgl set trigger that needs attention. Receiver, lockplate, hammer & lever are lightly, but very nicely engraved with intertwined foliate arabesque patterns and a chip & dot border with fleur-de-lis in corners on each side of receiver. Rifle is mounted with very highly figured, flame & shell grain, checkered American walnut with rnd Henry style forearm that has a black horn tip, secured with a sgl wedge through oval steel escutcheons. Buttstock has raised side panels with deep checkered wrist and oval horn grip cap and is 14″ over a checkered steel buttplate that has matching engraved tang. The SN “7” was observed on the wedge, extractor and bottom right flat of bbl under forearm. No further disassembly was effected to check for other matching parts. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms, less than fifty of these rare rifles and “probably less than 25” were produced in the early to mid-1870’s. PROVENANCE: David D. Sobel Single Shot Rifle Collection. CONDITION: About fine. Bbl retains blue under forearm with balance a thin blue/gray patina. Markings on bbl are fine & legible. Receiver, hammer, lockplate & lever retain smoky case colors, stronger in sheltered areas. Stock has a hairline on right side of wrist, otherwise wood is sound with light handling & use marks and retains most of its orig factory varnish. Set trigger needs adjustment, otherwise mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-39118 JR24 (6,000-10,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 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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