RARE Roper Repeating Rifle Company 16 GA Revolving Shotgun, 1867 Antique

SOLD FOR: $2,625.00

WOA#: WY240611RD026

Make: Roper Repeating Rifle Company

Model: Revolving Shotgun

Serial Number: 39

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1867

Gauge: 16 Gauge, Proprietary Cartridge

Action Type: Repeater with Four Round Revolving Cylinder. The cartridge is extracted when the hammer is cocked, and the cylinder rotates, bringing a new round in-line with the bore. Pulling the trigger causes the hammer to drive forward, pushing the cartridge into the chamber and firing the cartridge at the end of its travel. See Mechanics.

Markings: The top of the dust cover over the cylinder is marked “ROPER REPEATING RIFLE CO / AMHERST, MASS. / PATENTED. APRIL 10, 1866.”. The underside of the barrel and receiver (under forend) are marked “39”.

Barrel Length: 26 1/2”

Choke: Cylinder Bore, Fixed

Sights / Optics: There is a brass bead at the front of the barrel. The bead is mounted at the front of a shallow slot which may indicate it is a replacement.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with pewter caps at the front and rear of the forend, straight grip, straight comb and smooth steel buttplate. The stocks have scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is a more notable ding at the front of the comb. There are a few losses at edges, most notable in the bottom-front of the wrist. The fit of the wood to the metal may indicate refinishing, but may also be due to shrinkage from age. The LOP measures 14″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a mottled patina with scattered surface erosion. Overall, the stocks are in Good-Very Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright. There is scattered erosion and some pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 5% of its metal finish. There is a a little finish remaining in well protected areas. Most surfaces have worn to white or gone to a light patina. There is some scattered minor surface erosion. There are some light nicks and scratches. The head of the extractor has sheared off. The action shows operational wear. The takedown screw on the bottom of the cylinder housing has sheared off. There is a screw on the left of the receiver in front of the hammer screw that is disfigured and unusable. Other screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings are legible. Overall, this shotgun rates in Fair-plus condition (see Mechanics).

Mechanics: The mainspring is missing or broken, the hammer only moves manually. When the trigger is pressed forward or back, there is no notable sear engagement throughout the hammer travel. The head of the extractor has sheared off. When the bolt is back, the firing pin is able to slide too far back in its slot, preventing manual operation until it is pushed forward. The cartridge spindle does not advance automatically, only manually. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Roper shotgun was the invention of Sylvester H. Roper. He was a brilliant inventor who pioneered in the building of steam driven automobiles and motorcycles (or velocipede as he called them). He also invented a sewing machine and a hot air engine. He was granted a patent for the invention of a threaded shotgun choke and for his revolving rifles and shotguns. This is a very early shotgun made when his company was still in Amherst, Mass. This shotgun has a four round revolving cylinder. It was designed so that when the hammer is cocked, the bolt withdraws, extracting the fired cartridge and the cylinder turns to align a new cartridge with the bore. When the trigger is pulled the hammer falls, driving the cartridge into the chamber and firing it. A very early example, number 39, this gun’s barrel has a fixed choke while nearly all are observed with an adjustable choke. Another feature is the gas-slot in the top of the chamber ring, a feature found on some guns and not on others.

While this gun has some mechanical issues, it is a nice find for anyone who collects Ropers. Far fewer of the revolving shotguns were made at Amherst than at Hartford, and there were fewer 16 gauge chambered shotguns than the more popular 12 gauge. This is a somewhat rare shotgun, and a forerunner of all semi-auto rifles and shotguns. Please see our photos and good luck!

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud