RARE FRANK WESSON STYLE PROTOTYPE/EXPERIMENTAL SINGLE SHOT SCHUETZEN/TARGET RIFLE.

RARE FRANK WESSON STYLE PROTOTYPE/EXPERIMENTAL SINGLE SHOT SCHUETZEN/TARGET RIFLE. SN NSN. Cal. 32 (Appears to be 32 Long Centerfire or possibly the 32 Ballard Extra Long). Very unusual single shot rifle with Frank Wesson style 26-3/16″ oct bbl, turned at the muzzle for a bullet starter, made without forearm and fitted with a custom built windgage spirit level front sight (spirit level broken) and a small fixed rear sight with friction adjustable elevation. Receiver is Frank Wesson type in the forward two-thirds, flat-sided with front hinge screw. Sides of forward frame enclose bottom half of the bbl with an exposed stop on the left side. The bbl is self opening and exhibits an automatic extractor. Rear part of receiver is flat-sided with a humped back, rounded top that has fluted rear edge and integral tang with integral sight base, reminiscent of the Sharps Model 1878, which contains a Sharps-style 3″ staff. Receiver is fitted with a dbl trigger system in the shape of a split loop with the front half being a safety and the rear half the functioning trigger. The opening lever is short with a large trigger guard and small finger loop that when lowered allows the self-opening bbl to fall against the stop. Simultaneously a tab integral with the lever catches a projection on the front “trigger” which moves it to the rear and, in fact, is a functioning, effective safety. In order to fire one inserts a trigger finger into the trigger loop, presses the front trigger forward which allows the actual trigger to fire the striker. Mounted with very nicely figured, flame grain American walnut with a deep serpentine grip that is coarse checkered and has a very deep scalloped cheekpiece with nickeled brass Schuetzen buttplate secured with a sgl screw in the center of the face. Stock is secured with a draw bolt. This is an extraordinarily unusual and innovative design from a time when virtually all target rifles used an external hammer to fire a cartridge. This design, with its internal striker firing pin without a hammer would have greatly reduced “lock time” which should have increased accuracy to some degree. The Sharps Model 1878 Borchardt was the most effective of its day and utilized a striker form of firing mechanism. This design seems to be even quicker. CONDITION: Very fine. Metal retains about all of its orig bright finish, never having been blued or browned with a few spots of light surface rust; stock has a hairline by the buttplate tang, otherwise wood is sound with a few light handling & storage, very fine nicks and overall retains about all of its orig oil finish; buttplate retains about all of its milky orig nickel. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-45143 JR498 (4,000-6,000)

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
	2317	$3,450.00	RARE FRANK WESSON STYLE PROTOTYPE/EXPERIMENTAL SINGLE SHOT SCHUETZEN/TARGET RIFLE. SN NSN. Cal. 32 (Appears to be 32 Long Centerfire or possibly the 32 Ballard Extra Long). Very unusual single shot rifle with Frank Wesson style 26-3/16″ oct bbl, turned at the muzzle for a bullet starter, made without forearm and fitted with a custom built windgage spirit level front sight (spirit level broken) and a small fixed rear sight with friction adjustable elevation. Receiver is Frank Wesson type in the forward two-thirds, flat-sided with front hinge screw. Sides of forward frame enclose bottom half of the bbl with an exposed stop on the left side. The bbl is self opening and exhibits an automatic extractor. Rear part of receiver is flat-sided with a humped back, rounded top that has fluted rear edge and integral tang with integral sight base, reminiscent of the Sharps Model 1878, which contains a Sharps-style 3″ staff. Receiver is fitted with a dbl trigger system in the shape of a split loop with the front half being a safety and the rear half the functioning trigger. The opening lever is short with a large trigger guard and small finger loop that when lowered allows the self-opening bbl to fall against the stop. Simultaneously a tab integral with the lever catches a projection on the front “trigger” which moves it to the rear and, in fact, is a functioning, effective safety. In order to fire one inserts a trigger finger into the trigger loop, presses the front trigger forward which allows the actual trigger to fire the striker. Mounted with very nicely figured, flame grain American walnut with a deep serpentine grip that is coarse checkered and has a very deep scalloped cheekpiece with nickeled brass Schuetzen buttplate secured with a sgl screw in the center of the face. Stock is secured with a draw bolt. This is an extraordinarily unusual and innovative design from a time when virtually all target rifles used an external hammer to fire a cartridge. This design, with its internal striker firing pin without a hammer would have greatly reduced “lock time” which should have increased accuracy to some degree. The Sharps Model 1878 Borchardt was the most effective of its day and utilized a striker form of firing mechanism. This design seems to be even quicker. CONDITION: Very fine. Metal retains about all of its orig bright finish, never having been blued or browned with a few spots of light surface rust; stock has a hairline by the buttplate tang, otherwise wood is sound with a few light handling & storage, very fine nicks and overall retains about all of its orig oil finish; buttplate retains about all of its milky orig nickel. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-45143 JR498 (4,000-6,000) 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}