1029

EXTREMELY RARE MODEL 1877 COLT "BULLDOG" GATLING

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:225,000.00 USD Estimated At:450,000.00 - 650,000.00 USD
EXTREMELY RARE MODEL 1877 COLT  BULLDOG  GATLING
CURRENT BID
0.00USD
ENTER YOUR MAXIMUM ABSENTEE BID[?]
You must bid at least
225,000.00USD
USD
225,000.00 x 1 unit = 225,000.00USDApplicable fees & taxes are added at checkout.
[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2026 Aug 05 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
GUN. Cal. 45-70. S# 211. The famous Colt "bulldog" was the most compact gatling gun made to date. It was the first model to come with full brass shroud. 5 18" barrel cluster could fire an amazing 1000 rounds a minute. This high firing rate was due to updated design utilizing hand crank on back of gun attached direct to central main shaft instead of series of gears found on earlier models. Most "bulldog" production was sold overseas but 17 of these guns were purchased by US army for use in Indian Wars, this being one, all were inspected by Henry Nettleton, and most every part bears his "N" inspection initial as found on Colt SAAs. Documented serial numbers for US purchase are 203-218, where this rare survivor falls in middle. These guns stayed in service till 1911 when fully automatic Browning's & Maxims made the hand crank obsolete. Standard configuration with fixed brass front blade sight, brass manufacturer's plaque "GATLING'S BATTERY GUN / PAT. NOV 4. 1862 MAY 9. 1865 FEB 28. 1871 APR 9. 1872 / MADE BY COLT'S PT. FIRE ARMS MFG CO HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A.". "MODEL 1877 / N" stamped on base ring & under breech cover on barrel retaining plate, "No 211" on right trunnion rim base, ".45 CAL" stamped on hinged breech. Additional "N" inspection found on both trunnion faces, breech housing, and front sight base. Assembly number "5" is noted on breech, front sight base and back plate above oscillator casing. Gun is mounted on commercial un-inspected model 1876 tripod with heavy iron yoke, mechanical oscillator with hand wheels, transversing elevation screw. This very rare fully operational "Bulldog" Gatling Gun is one of only two to be sold in public auction. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: pertinent pages from Wahl & Toppel text "THE GATLING GUN" 1965. CONDITION: fine overall as restored to full function, there is braised crack repair to hinged breech mostly obscuring "MODEL 1877" marking, the gravity feed vertical Bruce feed magazine is well made functional reproduction. Gun measures 31" overall and weighs about 90 pounds without tripod mount. PROVENANCE: Military Museum Collection of Shooters Outpost, Hooksett NH. (01-28745/JS). ANTIQUE. $450,000-650,000.