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RARE BENJAMIN BIGELOW CALIFORNIA PILL LOCK

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
RARE BENJAMIN BIGELOW CALIFORNIA PILL LOCK

REVOLVING RIFLE. Cal. 40. NSN. Bbl. 28 3/4" round with faceted transition to octagon shank. Top flat marked “B. BIGELOW. MARYSVILLE, CAL.” Rocky Mountain front sight with semi Buckhorn V notch rear sight. Seven round cylinder has finely serrated grasping surface with circular indentions for priming pills at rear. Manually turned cylinder is released by protruding latch and rear of bbl. Iron frame with engraved back action lock. Pewter tipped forearm has German silver escutcheons with brass plate at rear. Straight grip stock, brass crescent buttplate. Right side of stock has a German silver circular lid patch box with Eagle finial. Brass tipped hardwood cleaning rod is held by 2 plain pipes. Rifles of this style were manufactured by several makers and are generally known as Billinghurst rifles. Benjamin Bigelow worked for Billinghurst in New York before moving to Marysville California during the gold mining era. His rifles history is intertwined with California's gold mining lore. CONDITION: fine. Bbl. and cylinder retain over 70% browned finish showing light carry wear with scattered small marks. Frame has traces of case colored finish remaining. Lock has fading blue finish. Wood has lightly worn finish showing numerous scratches and marks. Sound mechanics. Bore retains strong rifling showing scattered pitting. (01-21982/DS). ANTIQUE. $6,000-12,000.