MR1710 RARE “NEW MODEL” EVANS CARBINE; 22 inch barrel and receiver magazine show about 70% original blue finish. The left side of the receiver shows some dents leaving a slightly distorted profile, The load through trapdoor buttplate shows about 75% case coloring. It has a fixed pinched blade front sight and stepped military rear sight. Equipped with sling swivels. Walnut forearm and two piece buttstock show a number of handling marks but are solid and show no breaks or wood loss.
ANTIQUE $ 4,395.
ttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttEvans Repeating Rifle Company made the first “High Capacity” rifles manufacturing an estimated 15,000 rifles from 1873 to 1879. Only about 4,000 of them were the New Model carbines which were made from 1877-1879. The original “Old Model” Evan’s repeaters boasted the greatest capacity of any production model lever action produced in the U.S. at 34 rounds with the New Model only having only a 26 round capacity. The reduced capacity was due to the increased cartridge length. The original Old Model Evans rifles were considered underpowered performing poorly against the competition. The improved New Model Evans rifles used a a longer 1½ inch long cartridge giving it more power but reducing the magazine capacity.
When Warren Evans designed his rifle he also designed his own cartridge. What he came up with is now known as the .44 Evans short. This is noted in the factory catalogs as being a 1″ shell. The original cartridges were loaded with 33 grains of black powder and a 220 grain lead bullet. This gave a velocity of about 850 fps. The more common new model Evans rifle used the 1.5″ case. This was known as the “.44 New Model” cartridge. The original cartridges were loaded with 40 to 43 grains of black powder and lead bullets ranging from 275 to 300 grains. With a 280 grain bullet velocity was about 1,200 fps.
