VERY RARE & UNUSUAL FRENCH LEVER ACTION CENTER FIRE RIFLE.

VERY RARE & UNUSUAL FRENCH LEVER ACTION CENTER FIRE RIFLE. SN NSN. Cal. 44 CF (Actual cartridge undetermined but a 44 RF Henry functions perfectly so it probably is the 44 Henry centerfire that Winchester made for their last batch of ’66 rifles). French attempt to create a lever action, repeating rifle based roughly on design of the Winchester Model 1866 rifle. Internally it is an exact copy of the 1866 and subsequent models 1873. Metal is iron with a 24″ oct to rnd bbl that is either Damascus or at least has Damascus pattern, with a small European style barleycorn front sight and a wide, unfinished 2-leaf express sight on top flat. Front sight is numbered “45”. Forearm is rounded and about 7/8 length with a groove near tip. Secured with a sgl musket band, and 2 screws through rear bracket into sides of bbl, with integral wire swivel and a corresponding larger swivel in butt. Receiver is reminiscent of the Henry but has a carrier that extends about 1/8″ below frame. Forward part of frame has a loading gate similar to Briggs Patent System. Buttstock is European musket in design with a semi-crescent smooth steel buttplate that has a long stepped top tang. Top tang of receiver has been filed and probably modified for a tang sight, which is missing. Bottom of bbl, underneath forearm is marked “LEOPOLD BERNARD CANNONIER A PARIS, 450 23177 1870”. This rifle was featured in an article by C.W. Slagle in Fall 1992 edition of The Winchester Repeater magazine and is pictured on pp. 16 & 17 of Winchester, An American Legend by R.L. Wilson. It also sold as lot #776 in the May 20th 1998 Little John auction. The Cody Firearms Museum currently has Oliver Winchester’s favorite shotgun in their inventory, which was made by Leopold Bernard and it is known that Winchester was friendly with Bernard, and therefore likely Winchester had some influence in development of this rifle. CONDITION: Overall fine. Bbl retains 60-70% plum blue with Damascus patterns showing through. Receiver has some light to moderate pitting on left side and top of receiver with balance strong dull blue. Stock has a nicely repaired break through wrist and a 1/2″ x 22 area of fill. It retains most of an old refinish. Bore is bright and shiny, action is fine. 4-31500 JR100 (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 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
	2296	$0.00	VERY RARE & UNUSUAL FRENCH LEVER ACTION CENTER FIRE RIFLE. SN NSN. Cal. 44 CF (Actual cartridge undetermined but a 44 RF Henry functions perfectly so it probably is the 44 Henry centerfire that Winchester made for their last batch of ’66 rifles). French attempt to create a lever action, repeating rifle based roughly on design of the Winchester Model 1866 rifle. Internally it is an exact copy of the 1866 and subsequent models 1873. Metal is iron with a 24″ oct to rnd bbl that is either Damascus or at least has Damascus pattern, with a small European style barleycorn front sight and a wide, unfinished 2-leaf express sight on top flat. Front sight is numbered “45”. Forearm is rounded and about 7/8 length with a groove near tip. Secured with a sgl musket band, and 2 screws through rear bracket into sides of bbl, with integral wire swivel and a corresponding larger swivel in butt. Receiver is reminiscent of the Henry but has a carrier that extends about 1/8″ below frame. Forward part of frame has a loading gate similar to Briggs Patent System. Buttstock is European musket in design with a semi-crescent smooth steel buttplate that has a long stepped top tang. Top tang of receiver has been filed and probably modified for a tang sight, which is missing. Bottom of bbl, underneath forearm is marked “LEOPOLD BERNARD CANNONIER A PARIS, 450 23177 1870”. This rifle was featured in an article by C.W. Slagle in Fall 1992 edition of The Winchester Repeater magazine and is pictured on pp. 16 & 17 of Winchester, An American Legend by R.L. Wilson. It also sold as lot #776 in the May 20th 1998 Little John auction. The Cody Firearms Museum currently has Oliver Winchester’s favorite shotgun in their inventory, which was made by Leopold Bernard and it is known that Winchester was friendly with Bernard, and therefore likely Winchester had some influence in development of this rifle. CONDITION: Overall fine. Bbl retains 60-70% plum blue with Damascus patterns showing through. Receiver has some light to moderate pitting on left side and top of receiver with balance strong dull blue. Stock has a nicely repaired break through wrist and a 1/2″ x 22 area of fill. It retains most of an old refinish. Bore is bright and shiny, action is fine. 4-31500 JR100 (10,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 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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