POTD: The New Model Evans – Evolving for the West
Sam.S 01.30.25
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have the New Model Evans. By 1877, responding to demands for more power, Evans introduced the “New Model” featuring a more robust receiver with a sliding dust cover and straight-cut front edge. Chambered for the longer .44 Evans New Model cartridge (1.5″ vs. 1″ case), it offered increased power though capacity decreased to 26 rounds. Popular with Western figures like Buffalo Bill, the New Model saw production of roughly 10,000 units across sporting rifle, military musket, and carbine variants before the company’s 1879 bankruptcy.
“One of approximately 3,000 manufactured from 1877 to 1879 by Evans Repeating Rifle Co. of Mechanic Falls, Maine. Until the 20th century the Evans rifles were the only arms mass produced in the state of Maine and they boasted an innovative rotary magazine that held up to 34 rounds, putting them well above their competitors at the time. Perhaps the main downfall of these rifles, as well as the company, was their unique cartridge, which was at times difficult to find on the frontier. The barrel features a dovetail blade front sight and the one-line address/patent dates legend ahead of the notch and folding ladder sight, which is graduated out to 1,100 yards. The New Model features include the forearm that fits square at the front of the receiver and a dust cover. The lever and buttplate are case hardened, and the remaining surfaces are blued.”
Lot 54: Evans Repeating Rifle Co. New Model Lever Action Sporting Rifle – Outstanding Evans Repeating Rifle Co. New Model Lever Action Sporting Rifle. (n.d.-a). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/80/54/evans-repeating-rifle-co-new-model-lever-action-sporting-rifle.
