1885 officers 45/70?

[Belling10]

Got this one also at the auction.

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[Belling10]

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[Dick Hosmer]

Congratulations! No questions needed on that one.

[Belling10]

Would this be a 1875 type 3 with the 1885 stamped on the stock?

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Also does this one have any significant value?

[Dick Hosmer]

Yeah - one of the last 100 made, easily ID'd by cartouche and tip profile.

You're kidding, right? Several thousand dollars, as in at least 15K unless something is sorely amiss that I do not see.

From your question, even being aware that "significant" means different things to different people, I probably don't want to know what it went for! Must have hammered really "cheap", unless you are one of those lucky few who can drop Benjamins like gum-wrappers, or, the auctioneer made a huge mistake, which they try VERY hard not to do. Maybe he thought it was an H&R or Pedersoli replica?

[Belling10]

Would you believe me if I told you I got it for $550. Where’s the best place for me to sell it?

[Dick Hosmer]

www.gunbroker.com

I have no particular reason not to believe you, but that's the strangest auction I ever heard of. Big collector had NO idea what he had? No notes to family? Auctioneer did NO research?

[Tom Trevor]

Two things I do not see a tang sight on the stock behind the receiver? is there a base or recess in the stock second if you full cock the hammer and push forward on the trigger does it click into the set position and let off with slight pressure? No doubt you made the buy of the year. Well done.

[Dick Hosmer]

From the low angle of the photo, i"m not sure you could see it, if it was up. Note the Rocky Mountain front.

[Tom Trevor]

Dick, I did notice the front sight and it looks like the blade might be part of a silver coin. That's why I wondered if the tang sight may have been removed.

[Belling10]

The tang sight is missing and the front sight has been replaced with something not a coin. The trigger pushed forward at full cock does push forward and I can feel a click but releases back
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[Belling10]

Well if anyone knows someone who wants to make an offer send them my way.

[Tom Trevor]

Thank you I was curious.

[Kragrifle]

Schuyler , Hartley and Graham?

[Dick Hosmer]

No, that's a real OM, admittedly with some warts. I'd have been all over it, twenty years ago. Even now, it's tempting - if he would go for, say, quickly quadrupling his investment. Obviously, $15K is now out the window, waay out - but the basis is there for someone to have something they never even DREAMED of ever acquiring.

[Belling10]

Thanks Dick, but I might take a chance and post it on gunbroker and see what happens.

[Dick Hosmer]

Thanks Dick, but I might take a chance and post it on gunbroker and see what happens.

Of course, I'm guilty of tongue-in-cheek!! You are entitled to whatever you can get out of it, obviously.

I had a similar "problem" with my wife when we had our antique store. She would buy something worth $100 for $20 and think she killed a fat hog when she got $40. Yes, we made a profit on the item AND we turned it (a NOT inconsiderable part of the equation) but you will get stuck with enough $20 items that finally sell for $18, that, when you get a chance to make a REAL killing you have to do it, just to balance things out.

I have absolutely NO idea as to how you got that for $550 - even if you paid $5500 you got a good deal. Sights can be custom replicated.

On the other subject, a good friend of mine in SC, who regularly travels up to the Lynchburg VA area, has indicated a desire to see your strange carbine. He is well-qualified to render an advanced-level opinion. Would you like his email address? I'd need yours too, of course. I'm at richardahosmer@comcast.net

[free1954]

quite the exciting thread. I hope we all here hear the final stories on these guns.

[Carlsr]

Should you post it on gun broker please let me know!!

[Belling10]

I’ll probably post it within the next 2 weeks with a reserve of 8500 and see what happens.

[Tom Trevor]

Before listing please go to Gunbroker and look at item 795753498 An officers rifle the selling company is Heritage auctions in Dallas Texas. They are known for anything but conservative pricing. Just compare your rifle to theirs and you will see what you want for a reserve is SLIGHTLY off. Hope this helps.

[Dick Hosmer]

I ALWAYS look at the GB pictures first, before reading the sales text, IF I read it at all. It was very interesting, in this case, that that my observations matched perfectly.

I see them as being fairly equal, money wise. Neither is a truly high-grade OM. OMs are NOT "rare", just very expensive. If you have the bucks there is ALWAYS a couple for sale.

But, refinishing (and that one's been heavily cleaned) is a REAL drawback. Given roughly the same dollars, I'd take this one in a heartbeat, warts and all, even though it is a more common version, because it just screams "original". Sure, the other one is "pretty" but I'd have to wonder a bit about a type 3 tang sight get on a early narrow-receiver gun, slotted screws on the barrel sight (which doesn't come even CLOSE to a finish match, etc.) and, I could go on.

[Kragrifle]

So the OM on Gunbroker has been restored?

[Dick Hosmer]

You mean the $9500 one? Yes. Refinished and repro rod.

[Belling10]

Definitely was used a lot, several areas on the checkerboard are smooth4537745378

[Kragrifle]

I had only seen the 23K rifle.

[Belling10]

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