3007

**COLT 1914 "DIGGER" IN ORIGINAL CASE WITH SPARE BARREL.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
**COLT 1914  DIGGER  IN ORIGINAL CASE WITH SPARE BARREL.
SN 14192. Cal. 30-06. 28" bbl. This Colt Model 1914 is an extremely rare find in its orig military wooden transit box with spare bbl and tripod pin. The other accessories which would have originally been in box are not present. Sight adjusts freely. Action operates smoothly when cycled by hand. Bbls match receiver SN. Extra bbl has an "A" suffix. Front sight protection hood is not present on bbl mounted on gun but is present on spare bbl. Brass reinforced orig wooden transport case is stenciled "NOV. 10, 1917" inside. Interior is also embossed "GUN 14192 30-CAL". This gun appears fully functional. The Colt potato digger was a refinement of the John Browning Model 1895 "GasHammer" machine gun. The swinging actuating arm moving underneath the bbl, driven by gas tapped from the bbl drives the action effectively, and gives the weapon it's name, as the arm could quite literally dig a hole into the ground. PROVENANCE: Collection of Carl "Bill" Morrison. Consignor states this was used in WWI and brought back by a member of the 103rd Regiment. CONDITION: Overall finish and appearance is extremely fine. 80% lustrous blue finish, fading in some places with loss being at high points and bottom of receiver, thinning to a gray patina. Bbl mounted in gun still has grease in cooling grooves. Spare bbl has more of a gray blue finish with some pinpricks of corrosion at rear smooth band which should clean up. Bore is excellent, shiny and bright, with some frosting at the muzzle. Bolt face is extremely fine. Internally parts are likewise extremely fine with oil in receiver. Spare bbl bore is also excellent, shiny and bright with frosting at muzzle, with some corrosion in recesses around front sight, which should clean up with some attention. Wooden transit box interior condition is fine. Exterior is good with some chips and gouges. Handles are deteriorating, leather has become hard and is flaking off and stitching is coming lose. One latch is sprung and the other is serviceable. Handles can support the weight but this cataloger wouldn't trust them. There is a longitudinal crack that runs about 2' of one side of the case and another crack about 10" on the other side. This lot is an exceedingly rare find with a matching spare bbl in the orig transit chest as well as provenance to a Maine unit. 4-48651 JWK8