Very Fine Evans New Model Repeating Sporting Carbine in .44 Caliber

NSN, .44 Evans, 22" barrel with an excellent, bright bore. This is a rare New Model Carbine, one of about 4,000 made, that retains about 90-92% of the original blue finish with mild fading and freckling along the edges and at the muzzle. The lever, hammer, and some of the buttstock fittings have retained a like amount of their original color case-hardening which has dulled slightly, but is still fairly bright. Additionally, some of the original bright, nitre blue is still present on the rear ladder sight base. The checkered walnut forend with schnabel tip and unique, two-piece buttstock are also in excellent condition with only some very minor handling marks in the original varnish finish. The mechanism is in excellent condition as well, and functions flawlessly. The Evans was the first firearm to be mass-produced in Maine and utilizes a helical magazine in the buttstock that originally held 34 rounds of ammunition, but by the time the New Model was released the capacity had been reduced to 28 rounds. This particular example retains an exceptionally high degree of original finish and is mechanically superb. It would make a fantastic addition to any collection of unusual firearms or early American repeaters. Antique