J. Schudt N.Y. 45-70 Prototype Rifle  
A single shot rifle marked on the left frame "J. (John) Schudt Pat. June 5, 1877". The large thumb lever on the right is marked "J. Schudt 1877 Seeger" The barrel is marked on top at the breech "45." A 3 band musket with 34 1/4" barrel in .45-70 caliber and having a bright, excellent bore. The front sight is a barleycorn, with the rear a military type folding type with the leaf graduated to 1000 yeards and the leaf missing. Antique. A long takedown lever has 2 detents and appears to lock the knurled safety plate. The 2 piece walnut stock shows no markings and grades fine with some handling marks. The barrel retains over 90% original blue with light surface rust and the receiver is mostly gray/brown with traces of case color. A very scarce piece with less than 200 reported made for the State of New York,( Before Hillary Rodham Clinton was in Office, and therefore not subject to any misery from HER). Frank Sellers gives Schudt from New York N.Y. with his patent of 1877 being number 191721, for breech loading firearms. Ref. American Gunsmiths by Frank Sellers. ANTIQUE