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U. S. ARMAMENT CO. MODEL 1877 COLT BULLDOG GATLING

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:15,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
U. S. ARMAMENT CO. MODEL 1877 COLT BULLDOG GATLING

GUN. Cal. 45-70. S# 23. Bbls. 5 of 18 1/4" having 1 in 22" twist rate. Manufactured approximately 2011 per October 1, 2011 dated factory letter. U.S. Armament incorporated in 1988 and commenced production in 2007. Manufactured from original Colt blueprints of Gatling’s most advanced gun with direct drive crank at rear rather than at the side. The 1877 Bulldog was the first Gatling gun to have barrels fully encased in brass and a sustained firing rate of approximating 800 rounds per minute; this rate exceeds most machine guns of WWII. (Another reproduction variation of the Bulldog was produced with 10 barrels having a firing rate of approximately 1200 rounds per minute.) The sustained firing rate is made possible by a loading mechanism called the “Bruce Feed” which is not a magazine, but instead a gravity feed device that allows wooden blocks of 20 rounds to be fed into 40 round dual parallel cartridge guides allowing the operator to switch between them. In loading the Gatling gun, the upper portion of the Bruce Feed allows the loader to square up the cartridges in the block before sliding the cartridges downward into the guides. Each full revolution of the crank handle sequentially fires all five barrels. U.S. Armament manufactured approximately 50 units starting with Serial No. 1. Manufacturing was done with modern (ultra accurate) CNC equipment along with hand fitting where necessary to create a fully functional firearm that is also of museum quality. Each Gatling gun was fully tested before shipment. The 2007 MSRP was approximately $36,500. A reproduction 1877 Bulldog Model was featured 2010 in a Guns & Ammo Magazine article and also at a SHOT Show (year unknown). Most models came with a tripod (like this one), but a limited few were produced on a carriage. Legs of the tripod are made of ash and furnished with finished stained circular spacer blocks so that the iron anchoring points of the tripod legs will not marr a finished floor while on display. These reproductions were originally sold with 5 loading blocks that hold 20 rounds each. The sights consist of a dovetailed inverted V blade front sight that is drift adjustable for windage; the rear sight is adjustable and zeroed for 1,000 yards. Testing of the original Colt model was extremely successful, obtaining 996 hits out of 1000 at 500 yards. The firearm portion of this unit weighs 135 pounds as does the tripod leg set (10 barrel model weighs 170 pounds). Packed in original reproduction stained pine transit boxes having leather straps and buckle fastenings plus satin black iron handles on the ends. Each box has engraved on its lid (black colored characters) “MODEL 1877 CAL. 45 GOVT.” / “GATLING GUN” / “COLTS PT. FA. MFG. CO.” / “HARTFORD CONN.” S# 23 is on the right trunnion and the Bruce Feed; may have additional numbers, but only those two were noticed. Top rear of the firearm has an oval nameplate titled “GATLING’S BATTERY GUN” along with numerous patent dates ending in 1872 plus “Colt” and its address. The base where the Bruce Feed attaches is stamped “MODEL / 1877”. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: previously mentioned factory letter and five loading blocks plus spiral bound operator’s manual. CONDITION: spectacular collector quality example that has not been fired; only set up for display. No marks or brass tarnishing. Many enjoyable YouTube videos show the Bulldog being fired. (22-1439/NW). MODERN. $30,000-40,000.