The Galleries
- Robert E. Petersen Collection
- Ancient Firearms - 1350 to 1700
- Road to American Liberty - 1700 to 1780
- A Prospering New Republic - 1780 to 1860
- A Nation Asunder - 1861 to 1865
- The American West - 1850 to 1900
- Innovation, Oddities and Competition
- Theodore Roosevelt and Elegant Arms - 1880s to 1920s
- World War I and Firearms Innovation
- WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Beyond - 1940 to Present
- For the Fun of It
- Modern Firearms - 1950 to Present
- Hollywood Guns
Evans Rifle Co Lever Action Repeating Military Musket
With its 28-shot magazine, the Evans offered the ultimate in frontier firepower.
The Evans lever-action repeating rifle and carbine were
revolutionary for their time. Invented by Maine dentist Dr. Warren
R. Evans, these arms were quite distinctive in appearance,
featuring a walnut buttstock that partially enclosed a unique
rotary magazine that contained either 28 or 34 rounds. The magazine
operated on the principle of the Archimedean screw and took the
form of an enclosed fluted shaft that rotated within a spiral tube.
As the shaft rotated, the .44 Evans caliber cartridges were
advanced from the loading port in the buttplate to the receiver,
without requiring a magazine follower.
Although appearing to be hammerless, Evans' design also featured
an underhammer that impacted the firing pin on an upward sweep. The
U.S. government issued a patent for an "improvement in magazine
guns" in December, 1868, and in September, 1871, Evans received his
second patent for "improvements in gun locks." Taken together,
these two patents represent a complete firearm design.
In 1872, the U.S. Army announced that it would hold trials to
examine and test various breechloading firearms with the intention
of adopting a design suitable for use by troops. Although the Evans
rifle was fired 38 times in 19 seconds with no misfires, it
experienced mechanical difficulties that were sufficient in nature
to disqualify it from consideration. Warren was not the only
mechanically-inclined member of the Evans family. His younger
brother, George Franklin, was a machinist who had previously
purchased a manufactory of farm implements in Norway,
Maine.
After the failure of his rifle in Army trials, the Evans brothers,
together with several Norway businessmen, formed a company in
nearby Mechanic Falls to manufacture the Evans rifle for sale on
the commercial market. Adna C. Denison, a partner in the new
company, provided much of the financial resources, while Warren
supplied his patents and George his mechanical skills. In 1873, the
Evans Repeating Rifle Company employed 25 machinists, and by early
1874, the first rifles were offered for sale.
Meanwhile, Warren had relocated to Lynn, Massachusetts, where he
continued his dentistry practice. During this period, he also
received patents from Great Britain, France, Canada, and Belgium.
Both Warren and George Evans, as well as Adna T. Denison, Anda C.
Denison's son and a partner in the business, agreed to assign all
patent rights to the company. Denison later received compensation
in the form of both cash and stock, and the Evans brothers were
paid royalties of $1.25 per rifle manufactured.
The years 1874 to 1876 saw the production of approximately 500
guns. These "Old Model" Evans rifles may be distinguished from
later variants by the absence of a lower buttstock, thus leaving
the magazine tube completely exposed on the underside. By 1876,
Merwin, Hurlburt & Co. of New York had become sales agents for
the Evans company. A catalog issued in that year offered three
different Evans models. The Merwin, Hulbert & Co. exhibit at
the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia featured a military
musket, a carbine, and a sporting rifle. "Transition Model" rifles
manufactured during this period are distinguished by the addition
of a walnut lower buttstock. Some "Montreal" transitional carbines
were manufactured for sale by Ralph H. Kilby, Evans' Canadian
agent.
In 1877, George Evans patented two design modifications for the
Evans rifle. These permitted the gun to be loaded from the breech
without disturbing cartridges in the magazine, and provided a
mechanism for holding the hammer on half-cock. George also received
a patent for a system that prevented the movement of the magazine
when the breechblock was closed. In addition, he also received a
separate patent for a method of forming metal. While not
specifically related to the Evans rifle, this process could be used
to manufacture parts for these arms. "New Model" arms manufactured
between 1877 and 1879 included the George Evans improvements and
featured a round-topped frame, redesigned hammer and cocking lever,
and a receiver with a squared fore end.
Evans rifles were used by such notables as Kit Carson, Jr. and
William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody. Ornate presentation-grade models
were given to various foreign heads of state and military officers.
At least one Evans New Model Carbine was engraved by Louis D.
Nimschke for presentation to Mexican president Portfirio Diaz.
Frank and George W. Freund, known for their work as agents for the
Sharps Rifle Company, also sold and perhaps modified Evans
rifles.
In addition to U.S. sales, Evans also found markets in South
America, and with military forces from both Turkey and Russia.
Additional military sales to Russia in the aftermath of the
Russo-Turkish War failed to materialize, however. Although Evans
rifles were favorably received by many who used them, the company
found itself in the unenviable position of competing with
Winchester and other manufacturers of lever-action repeaters. Most
of Evans' assets were in the form of tools and machinery, while
cash reserves were small and debts mounted.
By December 1879, the Evans Repeating Rifle Company was in
bankruptcy, and its failure also caused the collapse of Merwin,
Hulbert, & Co. and several subsidiaries. After six years of
operation which saw the production of over 12,000 rifles and
carbines, the assets of the Evans company were liquidated in March
1881. George Evans eventually relocated to Massachusetts, where he
continued to patent various mechanical devices until his death in
1901. Warren Evans' association with the company had ended by 1877.
He established a dental practice in Portland, Maine, and took up an
active interest in local affairs. During this period, he also
received patents for inventions related to dentistry.
After a prolonged bout with heart disease, Warren died in Portland
on June 8, 1912.