Details for Item # 10203		+
Evans Repeating Sporting Rifle Old Model		Sold
	Maker: Evans Model: Antiques

This old model was made from 1874 to 1876 with about 500 produced. The capacity was 34 rounds making it the highest capacity of any repeating rifle ever mass produced and marketed in the United States. The rifle used the.44 Evans 1 inch cartridge. The octagon barrel measures 30" long with a very good bore and strong rifling. The serial number 185 appears on the barrel flat near the breech, on the breech itself and on the frame. This example has factory nickel plated hammer lever, trigger and buttplate. A rifle with nickel trim is scarce - see page 140 figure 1X-12 of "Maine Made Guns and Their Makers" by Dwight B. Demeritt Jr. The sight is missing the elevator. The stock appears to retain its original varnish with 90% remaining. A much better than average Evans old model rifle with the less than common nickel trim. About 80 % original blue remains with some spots of moderate staining. The forend is new light colored with a chip that shows. During a military test of the Evans rifle on Sept 6, 1872, "Mr. W.R. Evans presented a magazine-carbine for holding 38 cartridges, it was charged in 60 seconds, the magazine emptied in 15 seconds, and 38 shots fired in 27 seconds". On Feb 27, 1975, a report appeared in the Portland transcript indicating that the company was producing 10 rifles per day and employed 35 men. By June, the company had doubled its work force and on July 1, it was announced the company was about to start producing a rifle utilizing a larger cartridge of 50 grains powder with 300 grain bullet (this is the second model using the 1 1/2" cartridge). Ammunition was regularly supplied by Union Metallic Cartridge Co., American Cartridge Co., United States Cartridge Co. and Winchester. Throughout its existence, the Evans company was under the daily control of George Frank Evans with his older brother Warren taking little or no part in the operation. By December of 1879, the Evans Company was bankrupt. In March 1881, 3 trustees conducted an auction sale and raised $21,000.00. Antique