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**RARE**.1874 American Evans New Model, .44 Evans Long, 26 Shot Repeating Obsolete Calibre Carbine. Sn - 23074 The Evans repeating rifle is often considered to be one of the oddest rifles to ever be produced in the United States. The gun was invented by Warren R. Evans and started the Evans Rifle Manufacturing Company of Mechanic Falls, Maine in 1873. The Evans rifle also had the largest magazine capacity of any rifle mass produced in the 19th century and it was hoped for a Army contract. The mechanism of the rifle was not very sturdy and did not do well with dust and after trials with the United States Army, the rifle failed the standard dust test. With no military contract, the gun was offered as a sporting rifle. The rifle has a radial block receiver similar to the Spencer, but the rounds were fed from an archimedean screw magazine which formed the spine of the rifle stock and could hold up to 28 rounds. The fluted cartridge carrier made a quarter turn each time the lever was operated, feeding a new cartridge into the breech. The mechanism was not very sturdy and did not do well with such things as dust and in December 1879, the Evans Rifle Manufacturing Company went bankrupt. Only 15,000 Evans repeating guns were produced between 1873 and 1879. This is a third model (New Model) Evans repeating carbine with a 22 inch barrel. The gun fired a unique .44 x 1 ½ inch rimmed centre fire cartridge and was loaded from a opening in the steel butt plate protected by a sliding cover. Previous models used a 1" long case of the same caliber and new cartridge necessitated a reduction in magazine capacity to only 26 rounds. Approximately 4,000 of these New Model carbines were produced between 1877 and 1879 when the company went bankrupt. Very few have survived. The New Model is easily distinguished by its larger, more robust 2 piece receiver and sliding dust cover over the ejection port to try to cure the dust problems. This carbine measures 39 inches in length and is in good condition. The carbines barrel is fitted with a 1000 yards ramp and ladder rear sight and a bead fore sight on a block near the muzzle. The top of the barrel is stamped EVANS REPEATING RIFLE MECHANIC FALLS ME PAT DEC.8, 1868 7 SEPT.16, 1871. The metal work has a nice even patina and retains some of its original blued finish. The mechanism works as it should and the archimedean screw magazine rotates a quarter turn when the cocking lever is moved. The rifle has a clean bore with feint rifling. Due to the magazine capacity, the Evans repeating rifle was also used by Buffalo Bill in his circus. The weapon’s loading, cocking and firing actions work crisply. As an obsolete calibre antique firearm, no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. Sn 23074 £2,400.00
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