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*VERY RARE REMINGTON MODEL 12F PUMP ACTION RIFLE OWNED BY ANNIE OAKLEY & FRANK BUTLER.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:75,000.00 USD Estimated At:150,000.00 - 200,000.00 USD
*VERY RARE REMINGTON MODEL 12F PUMP ACTION RIFLE OWNED BY ANNIE OAKLEY & FRANK BUTLER.
SN 129999. Cal. 22 Short only. Rare Remington with 24" oct to rnd bbl, 3/4 magazine with ivory bead combination front sight, Lyman 6A 2-leaf folding rear sight and a Lyman tang sight with large target shooter's disc. Bbl is marked "MODEL 12B". Mounted with very highly figured, marbled, tiger-striped circassian walnut with checkered bullet-shaped forearm and uncheckered straight stock with Remington hard rubber buttplate. Receiver & trigger guard are beautifully engraved with nearly full coverage on both sides consisting of the large oval vignettes of two rabbits in a very detailed field scene on the left side and a squirrel on a limb on the right side, all surrounded by extremely fine foliate arabesque patterns with very fine pearled or punch-dot background. Vignettes have very fine shaded background. Engraving extends over the top & bottom of the receiver & trigger bow. Bottom of receiver is engraved with the number "129999" and the bottom tang is engraved "129909" around the "REMINGTON / UMC" logo, obviously an engraver's mistake. Accompanied by a letter on Remington Arms Company Inc. letterhead over the signature of S.W. Rose, Supervisor of Arms Service, dated Feb. 12, 1953 and addressed to Mr. Ross Biddle of Dayton, OH. Body of the letter states "We are very glad to tell you that, according to our records, this rifle was sold to Mr. Frank E. Butler, husband of Annie Oakley, on February 28, 1912." Another letter on Remington Arms Company Inc. letterhead over the signature of J.D. Heath, Historian, verifies the orig letter. Additionally accompanied by a notarized statement by Jerald R. Biddle which relates the history of this rifle. Family legend states that this rifle was given to James (Jimmy) Robinson by Annie Oakley. It was his understanding that Mr. Robinson was a newspaper writer in Dayton and assistant manager of the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA). He states that his grandfather told him that in the 1920s this rifle was won by Lou Brandt in a poker game from James Robinson at the Grand Nationals at Vandalia, Ohio. He continues that in about 1953 this rifle was inherited by Ross Biddle, his grandfather and a charter member of the ATA, from Lou Brandt at the time of his death. In 1966 Jerald Biddle inherited the rifle when Ross Biddle, his grandfather died. Additionally accompanied by a copy of an article from the Dayton Daily News of Jan. 14, 1973 which states that the ATA and one of its Hall of Fame members, Jimmy Robinson, were looking for a little target gun that once belonged to Annie Oakley. It continues that "Annie gave the gun to Jimmie, but sometime in the 1920s when he was assistant manager at the ATA, he gave it to another Daytonian." The article continues "It has been found. William Biddle, 71, 249 East Peach Orchard Dr., Oakwood, said that his father Ross, had the gun for many years. He got it from a man named Lou Brandt. Biddle said that when his father, a charter member of the ATA died, the gun passed on to a newphew, Dr. G.R. Biddle----". It is very well know & documented that Annie Oakley used Remington Model 12 rifles in her shooting exhibitions and the fact that this rifle was sold to her husband lends credence to the fact that the rifle belonged to Annie Oakley. There are several other instances of both rifles & shotguns that have been traced to Annie Oakley which were purchased and shipped to Frank Butler. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Bbl retains 93-95% strong orig blue with only light sharp edge wear and a few minor nicks; magazine tube retains about 85% dull orig blue; receiver retains 92-93% orig blue that has turned to a dull blue/brown patina with a few small spots of rust over the top. Wood is sound with the forearm showing moderate to heavy wear and a hand worn patina; buttstock is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and retains most of an old restored finish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-47764 JR353