RARE & UNUSUAL MEIGS PROTOTYPE MAGAZINE RIFLE.

RARE & UNUSUAL MEIGS PROTOTYPE MAGAZINE RIFLE. SN NSN. Cal. 50 Meigs. Extremely rare rifle believed to be one of only three in existence, with 25-1/4″ rnd bbl, having an unusual rotating front sight with blade on one side and a globe sight opposite. Rear sight is an unusual 2-position ladder sight with a single arm that has a sliding aperture. Bore is rifled for only a short space in front of chamber with balance being smoothbore. It has a full length forearm on bottom with short handguard over the top that has been reinforced with wrapped linen cord. Buttstock is similar to an Evans rifle with long round tube that contains the spiral magazine which holds fifty cartridges. It is very simply & easily reloaded through a trap door at the buttend. It has an attached comb made of straight grain American walnut with raised carved foliate patterns at the heel. Left side of the ring at the muzzle and magazine tube are mounted with swiveling folding sling eyes. Mechanism is most unusual in that it uses the triger guard which is attached to a slide that actuates the breech block which ejects the empty and positions a fresh round for insertion into the chamber. All metal surfaces are nickel finished with German silver magazine tube. Trigger guard & frame are of steel. Capt. Josiah V. Meigs was issued a patent to cover this rifle on May 22, 1866 and claimed that it could fire 50-rds in nineteen seconds and was apparently willing to back up his claims in testing. He had calculated that a running infantryman covers 109 yards in one minute and that a competent rifleman, familiar with this rifle would be able to fire an aimed shot every two steps which would therefore give him fifty shots on target before the running enemy could reach his position. He claimed that a regiment of 1,000 men armed with his rifles could fire 50,000 shots in one minute. Unfortunately his rifle was not adopted by the military and fell into obscurity. Accompanied by a single, extremely rare, Meigs 50 caliber cartridge and a copy of American Rifleman Magazine, dated 1955 with Meigs article. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Overall retains most of its milky orig nickel finish with some edge wear and a few minor nicks & scratches. Handguard appears to be cracked with its cord wrapping and is missing a small sliver of wood on left side at the frame. Comb of stock is missing small slivers at the toes, otherwise wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and moderate wear retaining about 50% orig varnish. Mechanics are a little loose but functional. Front sight is loose on the pivot. Bore is smooth & clean with fine pitting. 4-37301 (15,000-25,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

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
	2423A	$10,350.00	RARE & UNUSUAL MEIGS PROTOTYPE MAGAZINE RIFLE. SN NSN. Cal. 50 Meigs. Extremely rare rifle believed to be one of only three in existence, with 25-1/4″ rnd bbl, having an unusual rotating front sight with blade on one side and a globe sight opposite. Rear sight is an unusual 2-position ladder sight with a single arm that has a sliding aperture. Bore is rifled for only a short space in front of chamber with balance being smoothbore. It has a full length forearm on bottom with short handguard over the top that has been reinforced with wrapped linen cord. Buttstock is similar to an Evans rifle with long round tube that contains the spiral magazine which holds fifty cartridges. It is very simply & easily reloaded through a trap door at the buttend. It has an attached comb made of straight grain American walnut with raised carved foliate patterns at the heel. Left side of the ring at the muzzle and magazine tube are mounted with swiveling folding sling eyes. Mechanism is most unusual in that it uses the triger guard which is attached to a slide that actuates the breech block which ejects the empty and positions a fresh round for insertion into the chamber. All metal surfaces are nickel finished with German silver magazine tube. Trigger guard & frame are of steel. Capt. Josiah V. Meigs was issued a patent to cover this rifle on May 22, 1866 and claimed that it could fire 50-rds in nineteen seconds and was apparently willing to back up his claims in testing. He had calculated that a running infantryman covers 109 yards in one minute and that a competent rifleman, familiar with this rifle would be able to fire an aimed shot every two steps which would therefore give him fifty shots on target before the running enemy could reach his position. He claimed that a regiment of 1,000 men armed with his rifles could fire 50,000 shots in one minute. Unfortunately his rifle was not adopted by the military and fell into obscurity. Accompanied by a single, extremely rare, Meigs 50 caliber cartridge and a copy of American Rifleman Magazine, dated 1955 with Meigs article. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Overall retains most of its milky orig nickel finish with some edge wear and a few minor nicks & scratches. Handguard appears to be cracked with its cord wrapping and is missing a small sliver of wood on left side at the frame. Comb of stock is missing small slivers at the toes, otherwise wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and moderate wear retaining about 50% orig varnish. Mechanics are a little loose but functional. Front sight is loose on the pivot. Bore is smooth & clean with fine pitting. 4-37301 (15,000-25,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 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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