VERY RARE AND UNUSUAL FRENCH LEVER ACTION CENTER FIRE RIFLE.

VERY RARE AND UNUSUAL FRENCH LEVER ACTION CENTER FIRE RIFLE. Cal. appears to be 44 American (44 American functions fine, 44 Russian and 44-40 are too long. Could be a European cartridge similar to the 44 American ). French attempt to create a lever action, repeating rifle based roughly on the design of the Henry rifle. Metal is iron with a 24” oct to round 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 the top flat. The front sight is numbered 45. The forearm is rounded and about 7/8 length with a groove near the tip. It is secured with a single musket band with integral wire swivel and a corresponding larger swivel in the butt. The receiver is reminiscent of the Henry with a carrier that extends about 1/8” below the frame. The forward part of the frame has a loading system similar to the Briggs Patent System. The buttstock is more European musket in design with a semi-crescent smooth steel buttplate that has a long stepped top tang. The top tang has been filed and probably modified for a tang sight, which is missing. The bottom of the bbl, underneath the forearm is marked “LEOPOLD BERNARD CANNONIER A PARIS, 450 23177 1870”. It was featured in an article by C.W. Slagle in the fall 1992 edition of The Winchester Repeater magazine and is pictured on Pages 16 & 17 of Winchester, An American Legend by R.L. Wilson. It also sold as lot #776 in the May 20th 1998 Littlejohn auction. The Cody Firearms Museum currently has Oliver Winchester’s favorite shotgun in their inventory, which as made by Leopold Bernard and it is known that Winchester was friendly with Bernard. It is likely Winchester had some influence in the development of this rifle. CONDITION: Overall fine, bbl retains 60-70% plum blue with the damascus patterns showing through. The receiver has some light to moderate pitting on the left side and top of the receiver with the balance strong dull blue. Stock has a nicely repaired break through the wrist and a 1/2” x 2” area of fill. Retains most of an old refinish. Bore is bright and shiny, action is fine. 4-48473 JR3 (Dr. Ladd Heldenbrand Est.) (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2003

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
	884	$0.00	VERY RARE AND UNUSUAL FRENCH LEVER ACTION CENTER FIRE RIFLE. Cal. appears to be 44 American (44 American functions fine, 44 Russian and 44-40 are too long. Could be a European cartridge similar to the 44 American ). French attempt to create a lever action, repeating rifle based roughly on the design of the Henry rifle. Metal is iron with a 24” oct to round 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 the top flat. The front sight is numbered 45. The forearm is rounded and about 7/8 length with a groove near the tip. It is secured with a single musket band with integral wire swivel and a corresponding larger swivel in the butt. The receiver is reminiscent of the Henry with a carrier that extends about 1/8” below the frame. The forward part of the frame has a loading system similar to the Briggs Patent System. The buttstock is more European musket in design with a semi-crescent smooth steel buttplate that has a long stepped top tang. The top tang has been filed and probably modified for a tang sight, which is missing. The bottom of the bbl, underneath the forearm is marked “LEOPOLD BERNARD CANNONIER A PARIS, 450 23177 1870”. It was featured in an article by C.W. Slagle in the fall 1992 edition of The Winchester Repeater magazine and is pictured on Pages 16 & 17 of Winchester, An American Legend by R.L. Wilson. It also sold as lot #776 in the May 20th 1998 Littlejohn auction. The Cody Firearms Museum currently has Oliver Winchester’s favorite shotgun in their inventory, which as made by Leopold Bernard and it is known that Winchester was friendly with Bernard. It is likely Winchester had some influence in the development of this rifle. CONDITION: Overall fine, bbl retains 60-70% plum blue with the damascus patterns showing through. The receiver has some light to moderate pitting on the left side and top of the receiver with the balance strong dull blue. Stock has a nicely repaired break through the wrist and a 1/2” x 2” area of fill. Retains most of an old refinish. Bore is bright and shiny, action is fine. 4-48473 JR3 (Dr. Ladd Heldenbrand Est.) (10,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2003 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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