Evans Rifle Sighted...

[Hobie]

I was very pleased and surprised when a local collector who also works at my favorite candy store showed me an Evans Sporting Rifle. It is a neat thing beyond what you might expect by looking at the photos in the linked article. It even seems pretty handy despite the long barrel.

The fellow is selling the gun and asking about $1500. The barrel had a bend in it which he straightened but it bears examination. The bend was at the muzzle end and in the last 6 inches. The front brass blade sight was also damaged in whatever incident bent the barrel. However, the rest of the gun is in excellent condition. The wood isn't chipped, the gun functions smoothly and there isn't any corrosion that I could see.

[gamekeeper]

A rare and unusual find!
But why would Kit Carson want to shoot his wifes eye brows off with one???

[Nath]

Perhaps they just didn't get on GK

Nath

[Doc Hudson]

Don't worry about why Kit Carson trimmed his wife's eyebrows nightly with a rifle, and shot those other things off her head or out of her hand. Kit was very devoted to his wife.

The thing that is simply amazing is that Kit Carson was credited with these incredible feats of marksmanship not less than five years after his death!!

Kit Carson died in 1868 and the Evans Rifles did not hit the market until 1873. So that is mighty fine shooting for a dead man.

Truth in advertising is not an old concept.

[gamekeeper]

Doc, I should have known that too! I'm reading Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides, it's all about Kit Carson. Theres a photo of Kit taken in 1868 a few months before his death.

I still think its a strange endorsment "shooting your wifes eye brows off"

[Nath]

oh I dunno GK, there has been numerous occasions of frustration at home to warrant a stunt or two with a gun but fortunatly I don't let the Mrs any where near m'

Nath.

[Ysabel Kid]

Interesting - but I am flat broke at the moment due to recent purchases!!!

[gamekeeper]

Interesting - but I am flat broke at the moment due to recent purchases!!!

Jay, I bet your wife will be relieved.

[Ysabel Kid]

Interesting - but I am flat broke at the moment due to recent purchases!!!

Jay, I bet your wife will be relieved.

I doubt it - she doesn't know about some of those recent purchases!

[gamekeeper]

I found an interesting photo of a well armed Apache with a fancy Evans rifle.

http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A1f4cfvcD. ... ic=20365.0

[flatfender]

G K that is an interesting picture, that Apache looks pretty tough, til I got to the bottom of the photo and he was standing in his bare feet on a piece of wood. Was the sand hot or was that how the camera man marked the spot he was to stand on? It gave me a chuckle - but I have an unusual sense of humor.

[Hobie]

[Sixgun]

Hobie,
Thats a rare bird. I say it would be a very neat thing to show up at the cowboy shoot with one of those. In all of my "old gun travels", I have only run across a couple of those and the prices were out of touch--plus, I get a little squeemish parting with money on a gun I know little about. ----------------------------Sixgun

[colo native]

Hobbie is it a new mod or old mod, ya can uae mine for reference if its a new mod, I'm still in the prosess of maching up brass for mine. theyr a hoot to shoot... i think mine holds 26 or so boolets..

[awp101]

G K that is an interesting picture, that Apache looks pretty tough, til I got to the bottom of the photo and he was standing in his bare feet on a piece of wood. Was the sand hot or was that how the camera man marked the spot he was to stand on? It gave me a chuckle - but I have an unusual sense of humor.

Or he could have been smarter than the average bear...

[Hobie]

Hobbie is it a new mod or old mod, ya can uae mine for reference if its a new mod, I'm still in the prosess of maching up brass for mine. theyr a hoot to shoot... i think mine holds 26 or so boolets..

Gary at Nuckols has the gun. I think it is the "new" model. Couldn't examine it with the references handy. The action is in really good shape, so is the butt stock. He wants $1500 for it.

[colo native]

the new mod has a gate to cover the port, the old one does not have the gate or flag as some call it. the old mod has a much shorter chamber than the new mod... I must say the ejection port, as the but on both has a gate... there were several versions of both, some whare I have a book on this fine wepon...

[Griff]

What I found interesting about the photo was the cartridges in the indian's belt. Wonder what they were for???? Or did the photographer not trust the indian with the correct ammo for the guns he held?

But I agree with Sixgun, that'd be a mighty strong conversation starter amongst a group of cowboy shooters.

[Hobie]

the new mod has a gate to cover the port, the old one does not have the gate or flag as some call it. the old mod has a much shorter chamber than the new mod... I must say the ejection port, as the but on both has a gate... there were several versions of both, some whare I have a book on this fine wepon...

It has the gate/dust cover. NEAT thing that. Works a treat. So it IS the new model.

You do know Gary don't you? He's about 5-8, big belly, white hair, former corrections officer...

[colo native]

Naw dont kno him... lead a somewhat sheltered life, no time in the slammer...

[hfcable]

the new mod has a gate to cover the port, the old one does not have the gate or flag as some call it. the old mod has a much shorter chamber than the new mod... I must say the ejection port, as the but on both has a gate... there were several versions of both, some whare I have a book on this fine wepon...

would like to see that book; i have an evans and have shot it some; mine is the evans 44 long, so only holds 28 shots! unusual rifle for sure.

[colo native]

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/blancard/evans.htm

google evans rifle co, several good articals...

[Hobie]

Naw dont kno him... lead a somewhat sheltered life, no time in the slammer...

I think he's been thoroughly institutionalized... Today he turned 60. I talked to him for 15 minutes at OUR shop and he got calls from his daughter, son and ex-wife! Funny.