Remington-Keene Deluxe Sporting Rifle .45-70 Govt. 24.5″ Bolt Action Rifle

SOLD FOR: $4041

LSB#: 230126SH007

Make: Remington

Model: Remington-Keene Deluxe Sporting Rifle

Serial Number: None

Year of Manufacture: 1880-1888

Caliber: .45-70 Govt. (Black Powder Only)

Action Type: Tubular Magazine Bolt Action Rifle

Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “45 / 70”. The rear of the bolt 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”.

Barrel Length: 24 1/2″, Half Round & Half Octagonal

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 checkered walnut with a round bottom pistol grip, a straight comb, and a carbine-style metal buttplate with a for storage. There is a crack on the bottom of the forend that runs from the front to the loading port. There are some cracks on the top of the wrist. There are some scattered nicks, scrapes, and scratches. Some of the marks have removed portions of surface wood. There are areas of finish loss and thinning scattered throughout. The checkering is strong. The LOP measures approximately 13 1/2” from the front of the trigger to the rear of the smooth metal buttplate. The plate has finish loss, scratches, pitting, and areas of discoloration from previous oxidation. The stock rates in about 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 scattered pitting and erosion in the bore. There is a depressed spot towards the muzzle but it does not go all the way around the circumference so we don’t think its a bulge. Most antique firearms have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the use of black powder. When fired, black powder reacts corrosively. NRA Antique Firearm Conditions Standards are quite lenient for bores. In some cases the NRA standards disregarded the bore’s condition for collectors firearms.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 50% of its metal finish. There are some scattered areas of thinning and finish loss. There are scattered spots of oxidation and discoloration from previous oxidation. Some of the blued finish has taken on a patina. There are some dings, scratches, and scrapes into the metal, the most noticeable are on the edges of the muzzle, the front edges of the magazine tube, and magazine tube at the front of the forend. There are some spots of erosion, some of the most noticeable are on the bottom metal assembly. There are some little scabs, most noticeable on the magazine tube. The screwheads are used with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very 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 is a Deluxe Sporting rifle with a desirable half round and half octagonal barrel which sits in a checkered wood stock with a pistol grip. The production numbers were about 5,000 of all variants, and these don’t come up often…especially a submodel as rare as this, don’t pass this crown jewel up. Please see our photos and good luck!

Some are hot, some are not, but thankfully most can be shot!
-Red

Remington-Keene Deluxe Sporting Rifle .45-70 Govt. 24.5" Bolt Action Rifle
Remington-Keene Deluxe Sporting Rifle .45-70 Govt. 24.5″ Bolt Action Rifle