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Frontier Firearms from the Lifetime Collection of Larry Ness
|
- Sale 1987
Live
| Cincinnati
Jun 8 | 10:00 AM EDT
Live
| Cincinnati
Sale 1987
| Cincinnati
| Cincinnati
Estimate$10,000 – $20,000
.45 caliber (cartridge unknown). 31.25" double keyed heavy octagonal barrel. SN: 96492. Browned and color casehardened finish, German silver, pewter and iron mountings, smooth walnut stock and forend. Standard 3-line Spencer markings on top of receiver. Heavy barrel measures 1" across the flats at muzzle and is marked "W.H. SOPER/RIFLE/MAKER". Spencer magazine cut off on top of action, elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sight, dovetailed blade front sight, double barrel wedges secure the Hawken style forend with German silver escutcheons and pewter nose cap. Sling bar and ring removed, with mounting plate in place. Model 1865 magazine follower tube with grooved base plate. William H Soper (1814-1888) worked as a gunmaker in London, Ontario (Canada) from circa 1858-1875 before moving to California and working in San Francisco, San Luis Obispo and Eureka. He worked for Liddle & Reading in San Francisco circa 1876 before working on his own and in a partnership with George Remington in San Luis Obispo circa 1879-1882. While Soper's conventional plains rifles are occasionally found for sale, a "Hawken-style" Spencer action Plains Rifle is a real rarity.
The Collection of Larry Ness
Very good. Metal with a mottled and lightly oxidized brownish patina with some thin traces of brown. Metal shows some scattered minor oxidized roughness and some lightly scattered pitting. Markings remain clear and legible. Mechanically functional action, fine bore is mostly bright with fine rifling. Stock with scattered bumps, dings and mars.
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Tim Carey
Associate Vice President, Head of Department, Arms, Armor and Militaria
