Remington Model Remington-Keene .45-70 GOVT 24.5″ Tube Mag Rifle Antique
SOLD FOR: $3575
LSB#: 220118DW015
Make: Remington
Model: Remington-Keene
Serial Number: None
Year of Manufacture: 1880-1888
Caliber: .45-70 Govt.
Action Type: Tubular Magazine Bolt Action Rifle
Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “45 / 70” and has struck out figures, the struck out figures look like “U.S.”. The rear of the bolt handle is marked “E. REMINGTON & SONS, ILION, N.Y. / PAT. FEB’Y. 24 MCH. 17 1874 JAN. 18 / SPET. 26 1876 MCH. 20 JULY 31. 1877”. The right side of the buttstock is stamped “U.S.I.D”.
Barrel Length: 24 1/2?
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed into a barrel band at the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a two-position flip-up ladder sight. There is a “V” notch when down and a small “U” notch on the slider and small circular aperture when up.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece walnut with a straight grip, a straight comb, and a carbine-style metal buttplate. There is a crack on the bottom of the forend that runs from the front to the loading port. There is a repaired crack on the right side that runs from the back of the magazine well to the back of the top tang. There are some scattered compressions, scuffs, little nicks, and scratches. Most of the defects have colored with age. The LOP measures approximately 13” from the front of the trigger to the rear of the smooth metal buttplate. The plate has some scattered pitting and discoloration. The stock rates in about Good-Very Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dark and the rifling is strong where not interrupted by erosion. There is erosion and pitting throughout.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 50% of its metal finish. There is scattered mottled thinning, finish loss, patina, discoloration from previous oxidation, and areas of oxidation. There are some small dents on the right side of the magazine tube at the front. There are some scattered areas of erosion and little nicks into the finish. The sling loops are damaged. The screw heads are lightly worn with strong serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: This is a Remington-Keene Sporting rifle, Remington’s first production bolt action. At the time of its invention, the lever-action and single-shot dominated the market with a few bolt actions entering the fray, but they were single-shot designs. The inventor John W. Keene had been awarded patents for a rifle that would feed from a magazine tube but did not have mass production capabilities. This resulted in a mutually beneficial relationship for him and the Remington company and thus the Remington-Keene rifle was born. The magazine tube was similar to the lever actions of the time and the manually coked action was similar to a musket so it was not hard to transition shooters accustomed to their older rifles. The Navy made a purchase for some of the rifles and the U.S. Interior Department purchased some for Indian Tribal police but sales to the Government were not what Remington had hoped and they soon started marketing sporting rifles. This one has a U.S.I.D marking on the left side of the stock. it does not have the typical United States Interior Department markings on the receiver but does have markings that have been struck out on the left side, they appear to be “US”. The production numbers were about 5,000 and these don’t come up often, don’t pass this one up. Please see our photos and good luck!