"MODEL 1873 RIFLE WITH 7-LEAF EXPRESS SIGHT. SN 511906B. Cal. 44. Standard grade rifle with 24-1/4" oct bbl, full magazine, Beach's front sight and the aforementioned 7-leaf platinum line rear sight. Mounted with extra finish, uncheckered American walnut with straight stock and crescent buttplate with trap. Forend cap & butt stock have sling eyes and it has a single-set trigger. Accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter fully identifying this rifle with set trigger "7-LEAF EXPRESS AND BEACH" sights along with sling eyes. It was shipped Sept. 14, 1897 to order #13565. It is well known that the majority of these 7-leaf rifles were sold & shipped to agents in South Africa and were used extensively on the African continent. They are rarely ever found in orig configuration and almost never with any orig finish. They were a hard used tool in a hostile environment. CONDITION: Good. No orig finish remains with the bbl & magazine tube a plummy/brown patina with a band of rust, probably from a gun rack just in front of rear sight. The 100 yard leaf has been slightly altered, having been filed down. Receiver, lever & hammer are a cleaned metal color with some scattered spots of rust on both sides. There is a crack in the toe in line with the bottom buttplate screw, otherwise wood is sound with usual nicks, dings & scratches and retains a dark, hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine including set trigger, strong bore with scattered light pitting. 4-31933 JR173 (3,000-5,000)"
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