Gun Collecting: Amoskeag

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Gun Collecting: Amoskeag
Martini Schuetzen rifle

Amoskeag’s recent auction saw strong sales. Among the highlights and prices realized:
Exceptional engraved takedown Martini Schuetzen rifle by Simon Heim of Nürnberg serial #326, 8.15 x 46R, 31 1/4″ ribbed octagon barrel with a bright excellent bore. This is a beautifully made and nicely embellished rifle. The takedown barrel retains about 98% to near 99% original rust blue.

The entire length of the top flat is nicely hand-matted and is maker marked on the rear portion of the sight dovetail “Simon Heim Nürnberg” while both diagonal flats left and right are marked “Rochling Spezial Stahl”.

Close up look

The front sight ramp is nicely cross-hatched and features an interchangeable front sight with single thin post and dual protective ears, it shows lovely pale fire-temper blue. The German Martini style action, in addition to the unique takedown system, features a lever-detachable trigger plate and lever assembly while the breechblock is detachable with a single push-pin.

The frame, triggerplate and lever assembly are nearly overall engraved in a loose foliate and floral pattern with geometric borderline engraving. The right side of action shows a German shooter with his Martini action rifle cupping his hands over his eyes gazing at some distant object, the left side shows a fellow leaning on his elbow, pipe in mouth, likely at some tavern table awaiting his refreshment.

Frame and trigger plate assembly show nearly all of their lovely color case-hardening. The rear sight seat is complete with its diopter style fully adjustable sight with large screw-in aperture. The checkered European walnut buttstock and Schnabel tipped forend rate excellent with only very minor handling marks from light use. The buttstock features a generous ram's horn style comb with scooped out cheekpiece which shows very nice grain figure.

In addition to flawlessly checkered borderless panels there are carved foliate accents and the right side thumb rest features nice cross-hatching. Even the Schuetzen style buttplate shows a nicely engraved upper tang and retains nearly all its original vivid color case-hardening.

The barrel takes down by actuating the lower lever forward, the barrel can then be withdrawn forward off the frame; this style is often seen on rifles by August Pachmayr. All numbers are matching on this beautiful takedown Schuetzen rifle. (3030-92) {C&R} [Schlegel Collection] (2500/4500)
SOLD FOR $4025.00


Remington-Rider

Remington-Rider Cased Factory Engraved Magazine Pistol .32 RF extra short, 3 1/8″ octagon barrel with a very good bore. Metal surfaces retain about 98% original nickel, the loss due to muzzle wear and a tiny area between barrel and magazine tube showing minor flaking and evidence of very light pinprick pitting.

The barrel shows minor geometric engraving while the frame shows excellent quality scroll on the sidepanels which continues onto the backstrap. The breechblock retains nearly all of its lovely pale fire-temper blue.

The smooth rosewood grips rate very good to near excellent showing only minor handling marks and nearly all of their original varnish. The gun is mechanically functional and rides in a period walnut presentation case with brass monogram plate on the lid, the case may have been refinished years ago and appears to have a more recent lining. Included in the case are 15 rounds of 32 extra short ammunition.

A very nice package overall.
SOLD FOR $2875.00


Model 47 Modern Range Rifle
Stevens Ideal Model 47 Modern Range Rifle on 44 1/2 Action
serial #4745, 25-20, 28″ part round part octagon barrel with a bright excellent bore.

This rifle is in superb condition. The barrel which was special ordered with no rear seat retains 97% evenly thinning original blue finish overall. The action, loop lever and small Swiss buttplate all retain 97% brilliant original color case-hardened finish overall.

Blue on single trigger, hammer and breechblock is vivid. The pistol grip buttstock and small one screw forend rate excellent plus retaining about 95% original varnish. Rifle is equipped with a beaded blade front sight and Lyman folding tang mounted peep sight.

A stellar example of the Stevens 47 rifle.
SOLD FOR $4600.00


Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Target Revolver serial #75, 32-44 S&W, 6 1/2″ barrel with an excellent, bright bore.

This is an exquisite revolver which has matching numbers on the frame, barrel, cylinder, and latch and retains 99% of the original nickel finish which exhibits only a few negligible dark specks on the front edge of the topstrap on the left side.

The latch and triggerguard have likewise retained nearly all of the original blue finish while the hammer has retained 90% of the original color case-hardening. The trigger is finely checkered and a trigger stop has been added to the rear of the triggerguard and staked in place.

The checkered, diamond center, walnut grips are in excellent condition with almost no flattening of the still sharp points and only a handful of faint handling marks around the butt.

This New Model No. 3 is as close to new as one is likely to find and, when one considers the two digit serial number, would compliment any collection handsomely.
SOLD FOR $8050.00


Colt
Colt Service Model Ace Pistol (U.S. Government Purchase) serial #SM224, 22 LR, 5″ barrel with floating chamber and an excellent, bright bore.

Colt Service Model Ace Pistol (U.S. Government Purchase) serial #SM224, 22 LR, 5″ barrel with floating chamber and an excellent, bright bore.

This is a lovely, 1938 manufactured pistol which has retained 95% plus original blue on the Stevens rear sight equipped slide and has mild silvering along the high edges, most noticeably at the muzzle as well as around the ejection port.

The frame has about 90% of the original blue remaining, again with silvering along the projecting edges, but also has some gray fading along the frontstrap and backstrap flanking the grip safety.

The checkered walnut grips are in fine shape and have only minor flattening of the points with some handling marks around the butt. A single blued “SERVICE MODEL” marked magazine is included.

A Colt factory letter accompanies the pistol which lists it as one of 155 purchased by the U.S. Government and shipped to Springfield Armory on July 20, 1937. This is a pretty prewar U.S. Ace which rates fine-excellent condition overall.
SOLD FOR $4887.50

Standard Catalog of FirearmsAuction results courtesy of Amoskeag Auctions. For more information and a complete list of prices realized, please visit www.amoskeag-auction.com or call (603) 627-7383.

For the ultimate gun collectors reference check out the 2010 Standard Catalog of Firearms, 20th Edition. Click Here.

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Corey Graff is the managing editor of the <i><a href="https://www.gundigeststore.com/product/2023-standard-catalog-of-firearms-33rd-edition-the-illustrated-collectors-price-and-reference-guide/">Standard Catalog of Firearms</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.gundigeststore.com/product/gun-digest-2023-77th-edition/">Gun Digest</a></i> annual book. In addition, he is the author of <i>What's In Your Bug-Out Bag?</i> and <i>The Comprehensive Guide to Concealed Carry Holsters.</i> His personal interest in firearms includes handguns for hunting and self-defense as well as bolt-action rifles for western hunting.

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