ITEM # 30
serial #31933, .32-40, 32 1/4" early Stevens-Pope heavy No. 5 weight octagon barrel with a bright excellent bore. In the world of American single shot target rifles, this is likely the most storied, important and sought after of them all. The barrel, false muzzle and brass piston bullet starter are all numbered "437". This rifle is built on an engraved Marlin Ballard 6 1/2 Rigby action with a custom No. 6 Ballard type lever and with custom double set triggers featuring a delicate wire front trigger with a protective rigid standing post behind front trigger. The rifle was originally stocked with, and includes a wonderful set of Birdseye maple Schoyen off hand stocks with fancy checkering pattern, the buttstock fitted on the rifle currently (more of a bench rest stock) was the stock Rowland preferred which was likely made by Hervey Lovell and features an engraved brass patchbox bearing Rowland's initials and a brass Pope style buttplate bearing a rich patina. The rifle is equipped with a full length 20 power Stevens two diameter telescope in special Stevens scope mounts made especially for Mr. Rowland. The right side of the action is fitted with a custom round pivoting finger rest and action is equipped with a tang sight base with no staff. The condition of the rifle is quite nice with the barrel retaining about 80% evenly thinning original blue finish. The action retains a good deal of faded original case color which is blending nicely with a smooth gray patina. The rifle weighs 19 pounds. It has been published many times and is generally accepted by many astute single shot rifle authorities, that this rifle is the "32 Pope" used by Rowland to shoot the record 10 shot 200 yard group on May 16, 1901. Included with the rifle are nine targets shot by Rowland including the original 1901 record target along with two of Rowland's leather shooting kits specifically for this rifle. The larger of the two leather kits (both bear plaques which read "C.W. ROWLAND / BOULDER COLO") has a period photograph of this rifle on the inside of the lid above a photograph of the world record target. The larger kit includes three cans of powder, assorted small tools including screwdrivers, files and picks along with brass rests. The smaller leather case includes a wooden bullet block with 75 cast bullets which we assume were cast by Rowland. A third wooden shooting chest is included which contains a two cavity Pope bullet mold, Pope lubricating pump, Pope re-de-capper, Pope duplex powder measure complete with Pope mounting spider, assorted cast bullets, cartridge cases and numerous other shooting accessories including a set of sieves for sifting gunpowder to uniform sizes. Additionally four photographs of Rowland with this rifle are included, the most notable shows Rowland standing with this rifle in hand next to his leather shooting kit which shows a photo of the rifle and the world record target pinned inside the lid just as it is today. There is no logical explanation why Rowland would have a photograph of this rifle next to a photograph of the record target on the inside lid of this rifle's shooting kit if it was not indeed the rifle he used to shoot the target. While over the years, there have been conflicting opinions about this rifle, most of the people voicing their opinions had never personally handled the rifle or viewed its shooting kits and other items that have been preserved with the rifle all these years. A letter from Chuck Brockway is included with the rifle which outlines a conversation he had with Bob Rowland (C.W. Rowland’s grandson and third owner of the rifle) about this rifle and he stated that it was always known within the Rowland family that this was absolutely the rifle that C.W. Rowland used to shoot the record target. This is the first time this rifle has been on public view and offered for sale publicly. A most historic and important target rifle considered by many to be the most famous American target rifle of all time. A rare opportunity for the advanced collector or institution to acquire an American target shooting treasure. {Provenance: C.W. Rowland, C.C. Hankins, Bob Rowland, Ray Day} (1915-34) {ANTIQUE} [Ray Day Collection] (40,000/60,000) |
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