2020 September Premier, Volume I

LOT 53
Extraordinary Extremely Rare L.D. Nimschke
Presentation Engraved Evans Repeating Co. Transition
Lever Action Sporting Rifle - Serial no. 674, 44 Evans cal.,
28 inch octagon bbl., blue/nickel finish, walnut stock. This
Evans Lever Action Sporting Rifle was manufactured by the
Evans Repeating Rifle Company, Mechanic Falls, Maine in
1876-1877. The Evans Lever Action Rifle was a distinctive
design with revolving, butt-loading magazine and hammer
mounted on the underside of the frame. The rifles had an
exceptionally large magazine capacity of 34-rounds and were
chambered for the .44 caliber Evans Short cartridge. The
Evans Repeating Rifle Company manufactured an estimated
1,050 Transitional Model Sporting Rifles. The Transitional
Models had the same frame shape and concealed hammer
as the Old Model rifles but featured a thinner buttplate with
no heel piece and a lower butt-piece which covered part of
the magazine. The Evans Repeating Rifle Co. made a number
of deluxe presentation rifles for promotional purposes; this
rifle is apparently one of those deluxe presentation rifles. The
rifle has a 28 inch blued, full-octagon barrel with globe front
sight and folding leaf rear sight. The forearm cap, receiver,
hammer, lever, magazine and buttplate have a nickel plated
finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the legend:
“EVANS REPEATING RIFLE MECHANIC FALLS.ME/PAT. DEC.
8, 1868 & SEPT. 16, 1871” in two lines followed by the serial
number “674”. The forearm cap and the top and sides of the
receiver are fully engraved with flawlessly executed Germanic
scroll engraving on a punch-dot background. A banner on
the left side of the receiver is engraved with the name: “James
Barbour” in Old English lettering. Page 230 of “STEEL CANVAS”
by R.L. Wilson shows a deluxe Evans rifle engraved by Louis
Nimschke along with pulls for other Nimschke engraved Evans
Rifles. The stock and forearm are well figured, fancy, walnut
with a high polish varnish finish.
CONDITION: Excellent. The rifle is in excellent, original,
condition and retains 97% of the blue finish on the barrel and
95% of the original nickel plated finish on the forearm cap and
receiver. There is some minor finish loss on the bottom of the
lever. The buttplate shows more handling wear and retains
60% of the nickel plated finish. The flawlessly executed scroll
engraving is crisp and deep. The stock and forearm are both in
excellent overall condition with 95% of the varnish finish: wear
is limited to several minor handling and storage marks. This
is a rare example of a deluxe, engraved, presentation Evans
Lever Action Rifle.
Estimate: 30000 - 50000
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