{"product_id":"original-u-s-evans-1877-new-model-44-caliber-repeating-carbine-with-leather-sling-28-round-magazine","title":"Original U.S. Evans 1877 New Model .44 Caliber Repeating Carbine with Leather Sling - 28 Round Magazine","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. Invented by Warren R. Evans of Thomaston, Maine, the Evans Repeating Rifle was one of the most ambitious and mechanically fascinating firearms to emerge from the post–Civil War era. Production began in 1873 under the Evans Rifle Manufacturing Company of Mechanic Falls, Maine, but despite its ingenious design and advanced engineering, the company succumbed to the intense arms industry competition of the 1870s. Only about 15,000 Evans rifles and carbines were produced before the firm declared bankruptcy in 1879, leaving behind one of the most intriguing repeating rifles of the 19th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Evans stood apart for its extraordinary 34-round tubular magazine ingeniously housed in the buttstock — a marvel of capacity for its time. If the Spencer was “the carbine you loaded on Sunday and shot all week,” the Evans could quite literally “shoot for a month.” Its unique Archimedean screw mechanism rotated four internal ammunition channels each time the lever was operated, automatically feeding a new round into the chamber.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough it appeared destined for military adoption, field testing revealed that the system was susceptible to dust interference, preventing official acceptance. The original chambering was .44 caliber, firing a cartridge approximately one inch long, known as the .44 Evans Short.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver its brief production run, the Evans design evolved through three main models familiar to collectors today:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOld Model\u003c\/strong\u003e – The earliest version, lacking a lower buttstock extension, which made the rifle difficult to aim comfortably.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransitional Model \u003c\/strong\u003e– Introduced a revised buttstock and new buttplate for improved handling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNew Model\u003c\/strong\u003e – The final and most refined iteration, chambered for a more powerful .44 Evans Long (or “.44 New Model”) cartridge measuring 1½ inches in length. This change reduced magazine capacity from 34 to 28 rounds, but offered greater ballistic performance. The New Model also introduced a dust cover over the ejection port to prevent fouling — a key improvement addressing earlier reliability issues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe majority of Evans repeaters encountered today are of the New Model pattern, including approximately 4,000 carbines produced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe barrel on this example is still marked with the complete Evan's patent stamping:-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEVANS REPEATING RIFLE. MECHANIC FALLS ME. PAT. DEC.8,1867 \u0026amp; SEPT.16,1871 U.S.A.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis carbine is in nice condition, and has has a lovely patina of age. We only gave it a light cleaning and it really looks nice, looking to have seen light to moderate use during service. As with most we see, repeated cleaning to remove dirt and light oxidation has worn most of the original bluing away on the barrel and receiver, while the rear of the magazine between the butt stock pieces still shows some great original bluing. There is also a good amount of the original finish on the rear sight and slider. The stocks show the lovely dark red brown color of aged and oiled walnut, and show some light wear and minor damage such as small chips, dings, and gouges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThe action functions well with a crisp dry fire, and you can see the rotating magazine through the ejection port. The action has very little slop, and we did not notice any of the usual finicky action we see from this type of firing system. The loading door on the rear of the butt stock opens easily. We checked the butt plate thoroughly, but did not see any serial number visible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bore is in very good condition, with clear lands and grooves and a mostly bright finish. There is some overall wear, as well as evidence of past fouling and oxidation, now cleaned away. The rear sight is present with an intact sight slider, and the front sight looks to be original. The sight works well, though the slider is definitely loose on the ladder. Both sling swivels are both present and move easily, and the installed leather sling looks great, though it is definitely from a later period than the rifle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have handled only a handful of Evans repeaters over the decades, and this is really a lovely honest used example. Combining historical importance, mechanical innovation, and outstanding preservation, this carbine represents a true landmark in American firearms development and an essential addition to any advanced collection of 19th-century U.S. arms or early repeating rifles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYears of Manufacture: 1870s\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: \u003cspan\u003e.44 Evans \"New Model\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmmunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 22 inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 39 1\/2 inches\u003cbr\u003eAction: Lever Action\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 28 Rotating Round Tube Magazine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTE:\u003c\/strong\u003e International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44825497436229,"sku":"ONAC26BMA13","price":2295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONAC26BMA13.jpg?v=1774898352","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-evans-1877-new-model-44-caliber-repeating-carbine-with-leather-sling-28-round-magazine","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}