Conrad F. Ulrich Master Exhibition "Patriotic" Engraved and Silver and Gold Plated Providence Tool Co. Peabody-Martini Single Shot Rifle with Bayonet

Description:
A true one-of-a-kind collector’s showpiece, this exhibition-grade Providence Tool Co. Peabody-Martini military rifle combines major 19th-century historical significance, documented publication history, Conrad F. Ulrich engraving, and striking silver and gold plating. Believed to have been embellished for the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, it is an exceptional centerpiece for an advanced martial arms or engraved firearms collection.

• Extremely rare Providence Tool Co. Peabody-Martini rifle:
  • Providence Tool Co. manufactured Peabody and Peabody-Martini rifles in many styles from the 1860s to 1882
  • Peabody-Martini rifles were manufactured circa 1873–1882
  • The company never secured U.S. government contracts
  • Providence Tool Co. sold 600,000 of these rifles to the Ottoman Empire alone
  • The Ottoman government’s failure to pay in full ultimately bankrupted the company in 1882
• One-of-a-kind exhibition-grade military rifle:
  • Described as a unique example
  • Unusual military rifle configuration with deluxe exhibition embellishment
  • Engraved by Conrad F. Ulrich, one of the most important American firearms engravers of the period
  • Marked “C.F. ULRICH” on the front of the frame
• Believed Centennial Exposition provenance:
  • Believed to have been embellished for the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia
  • The patriotic engraving theme strongly fits the United States centennial celebration
  • The right side of the action features a spread-wing bald eagle perched on Columbia’s shield
  • Columbia and bald eagles with Columbia’s shield were fitting and commonly used motifs during the Centennial celebrations
• Possible Old Abe connection:
  • The eagle-on-shield motif may be based on Old Abe, the famous mascot of the 8th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War
  • Old Abe was displayed in Agricultural Hall during the 1876 Centennial Exposition
  • Old Abe was probably the best-known bald eagle in the country in the 19th century
  • Old Abe had a special perch with a rendition of Columbia’s shield as the base
• Documented publication history:
  • Featured on the cover of Vol. 37, No. 4 of “Gun Report” from September 1991
  • Pictured in Tom Rowe’s “Engraved & Interesting Peabody Martinis”
• Highly detailed engraving:
  • Bayonet socket and locking ring feature interlaced scroll engraving
  • Forend cap is engraved
  • Barrel bands are engraved
  • Breech end of the barrel is engraved
  • Action is extensively engraved
  • Lever is engraved
  • Buttplate is engraved
  • Engraving includes:
    • Interlaced scrollwork
    • Shell accents
    • Crosshatch accents
    • Finely textured backgrounds
• Hand-engraved maker and patent markings:
  • Left side of the action is hand engraved:
    • “PEABODY & MARTINI. PATENTS./MANF’D’D BY/PROVIDENCE TOOL CO./PROV. R.I. U.S.A.”
• Silver and gold plated finish:
  • Forend cap is finished in gold
  • Barrel bands are finished in gold
  • Action is finished in gold
  • Barrel appears to have been silver plated
  • Buttplate appears to have been silver plated
  • Lever appears to have been silver plated
• Military-style features:
  • Equipped with military-style sights
  • Musket-length forearm, giving it the full-length military profile
  • Silver-plated bayonet included
  • Bayonet has a cruciform, or cross-shaped, blade
  • Bayonet socket and locking ring are engraved
• Deluxe wood and checkering:
  • Musket-length forearm has multi-point checkering in the grasping section
  • Wrist of the buttstock also has multi-point checkering
  • Buttplate has coarse checkering
• Collector appeal:
  • One-of-a-kind exhibition-grade Peabody-Martini
  • Engraved by Conrad F. Ulrich and signed “C.F. ULRICH”
  • Believed 1876 Centennial Exposition association
  • Patriotic eagle and Columbia’s shield motif
  • Silver and gold plated components
  • Published on the cover of “Gun Report”
  • Pictured in Tom Rowe’s reference work
  • Strong historical connection to Providence Tool Co., Ottoman contract rifles, and the company’s 1882 bankruptcy

This remarkable rifle offers far more than standard military collecting interest—it is a documented, exhibition-quality, Ulrich-engraved Peabody-Martini with patriotic Centennial-era appeal and extraordinary visual presence.

Condition

Extremely fine with 90% plus original gold plating on the action, 50% original gold plating elsewhere, strong original silver plating in the protected areas, aged patina on the silver, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, crisp engraving and markings, and general mild age and storage related wear. The bayonet is very good and has 30% of the original silver plating remaining and primarily concentrated in the grooves of the blade, gray and brown patina on the balance, some slight pitting, and crisp engraving. The wood is fine and has a few chips on the forearm, mostly crisp checkering, moderate dings concentrated on the sides of the butt, minor scratches, some nice figure, and glossy varnish. Mechanically excellent. This is truly an incredible documented Conrad F. Ulrich master engraved rifle.

Rifle Caliber: .45
Manufacturer: Providence Tool Company
Model: Peabody-Martini
Serial Number: 5
Barrel Length: 33 1/4 inch round
Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling.

Price: $37,499.99