Like Russian long guns?

[LarryHoosier]

Here is a really rare one to gaze upon.

It is a Berdan II made in 1883. Yes, that is rare enough but this one is all matching even the cleaning rod! The stock is like new with only minor scuffs and dings ( I shouldn't call them dents) and the barrel looks unfired. Most of these that you find are mismatched and really beat up. I don't know how this one remained so pristine but it is by far the best I have seen anywhere!

 

[rob63]

That is really nice!

 

[pinshooter45]

WOW very cool!

 

[Miller Tyme]

Bredans are very hard to come by and yours is top shelf Sir.

 

[BogWalker]

You make me jealous on a weekly basis. Excellent firearm! That cartouche looks like it was stamped a week ago!

 

[Wabatuckian]

Berdanka! Very nice Sir! Will you be shooting it? Those .42 caliber critters were some accurate.

 

[SmileDocHill]

Nice! So, is the name Berdan somehow related to the origins of the term "Berdan primed" to describe one of the 2 styles?

 

[Wabatuckian]

Nice! So, is the name Berdan somehow related to the origins of the term "Berdan primed" to describe one of the 2 styles?

Both refer to Captain Hiram C. Berdan, of Berdan's Rifles (1st US Sharpshooters). Russia hired him to help them modernize.

Josh

 

[LarryHoosier]

Yes Doc, Hiram Berdan was a prodigious inventor and there was a prior "Berdan I" design which was a trapdoor affair. Now if you can point me toward one of those I would be happy to add it to my collection! Yes, I will shoot this one a few times to verify function but I have another which I already shoot. The other is mismatched with very nice metal but the wood was toast and I had to do extensive repairs to it, but it really is a nice shooter.

 

[johntheplinker]

Very nice! You can definitely see the similarities with the later Mosin.

 

[JettaKnight]

This thread did not disappoint!

 

[Rexmage]

I got to see one behind glass at a furniture store in Tennessee back in 2006 I guess. Yours is just about the same condition, a very nice rifle.