1885 officers 45/70?

[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 smooth57724D08-D1C1-4A69-993A-0440F8B5D958.jpg0669FE19-EC06-4B0F-A7FA-5B2F9F039F3C.jpg

[Kragrifle]

I had only seen the 23K rifle.

[Belling10]

EA37CDDC-83E4-4741-83C9-F3055236248A.jpg