Guns International #: 101654151
Seller's Inventory #: 210712

Category - Winchester Rifles - Antique Bolt - Winchester Rifles - Bolt Action

Category
Winchester Rifles - Antique Bolt
Winchester Rifles - Bolt Action

c1885 PAINTED Chinese WINCHESTER-HOTCHKISS Bolt Action Rifle.45-70 GOVT One-of-a-Kind Ornamented Rifle from the Orient!

Description:
c1885 PAINTED Chinese WINCHESTER-HOTCHKISS Bolt Action Rifle.45-70 GOVT

One-of-a-Kind Ornamented Rifle from the Orient!

Here we present an antique Winchester-Hotchkiss Bolt Action Rifle in .45-70 GOVT, manufactured in New Haven, Connecticut circa 1885. The Winchester-Hotchkiss rifle was first conceived by Benjamin B. Hotchkiss in 1875 and by 1877 he had four US patents on the design which was sold to the Winchester company in early 1877. This was Winchester’s first bolt action rifle and their first firearm with a magazine fed from the butt stock. US Ordnance did acquire some, but apparently in small numbers as they are rarely found with inspection markings. However, other nations purchased them, including China, from which this one comes.

This rifle was very likely ordered under the direction of Li Hongzhang, an extremely influential politician, government official, and military leader for the Qing dynasty. He became especially useful in putting down many of the rebellions that threatened the empire, including the Taiping Rebellion, and would eventually lead China’s forces against the Japanese in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). Li was also responsible for some of the attempt at Westernization of the Chinese military to include academies, general training and equipment—including arms. Small arms were purchased from many different makers in Europe as well as the US, this due to the military being extremely segmented by region and ethnicity—basically overseen by a system of warlords—which was not a good long-term decision when it came to supplying munitions for so many differently chambered rifles. This Winchester-Hotchkiss is one of 11,000 Third Models that were acquired by the Chinese and probably received at Tientsin (Tianjin). This rifle was made during the last year of the Sino-French War, 1885, but things would not settle down for China for a long time to come. In addition to the previous rebellions and riots and the war with Japan, then came the Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901), the Second Guangzhou Uprising (1911), and the Wuchang Uprising (1911) all of which set the stage for the Xinhai Revolution (also called the 1911 Chinese Revolution) which ended the last imperial dynasty of China.

There are two small Chinese characters stamped into the left side of the barrel, like proof marks. This rifle appears to have been personalized in a tribal fashion by a user along the line. It makes you wonder if this was issued to one of the small ethnic factions that made up part of China’s decentralized military or if this was perhaps captured by rebels. The stock has been heavily painted and plated along the comb and butt. The foremost portion of the stock bears a thin brass sheeting. A very neat piece of history.

The overall condition is very good. Strong action. The bore is in good condition, bright with shallow rifling—this rifle has clearly been shot much and kept in great shape. The stock is solid. A unique example of a very scarce Winchester-Hotchkiss in .45-70 GOVT!

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 28 inches.

Caliber: .45-70 Government

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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ancestryguns

$2185

#210712
 

SOLD

Antique: Yes