Solid Silver 1866

[trickshot]

One of my hobbies is collecting pictures of beautiful antique guns. Today I was browsing through the book 'Steel Canvas' looking at all the pretty pictures when I came across a gun that I had previously overlooked. On page 13 is a Winchester model 1866 rifle, with frame, forend cap, and buttplate of solid silver. Profusely engraved. This gun was made for a presentation by the president of Peru to the president to Bolivia.

Wow, solid silver.

[Will Ketchum]

Trickshot, are you sure the frame is solid silver?  I wouldn't think that it would be very strong, in fact you could probably bend it over your knee.  The rest maybe but I would think that plate would serve the purpose and would more functional.

Will Ketchum

[Delmonico]

I've seen some information on that and I'm almost sure it was solid "Sterling Silver."  But it was not meant to be shot, just to look at.

[trickshot]

The description of this rifle says it's solid silver. It is not silver plated. As Will Ketchum points out, it couldn't be 100% pure silver because that would be too soft. I assume it is a silver alloy of some kind, maybe like sterling silver, which is still pretty amazing. And I assume it is a working rifle that could be shot. This book has many photos of some of the most beautiful cowboy guns ever made, but it doesn't give lot of information about the individual guns.

[Coffinmaker]

Several year back, Uberti built 7 or 8 Silver rifles.  They were copies of the South American Rifle.  They were solid silver (an alloy) and they were Proofed and shootable.  When Uberti USA went away, The rifle Uberti USA had was sold.  I believe it went for $28,000.
Rest Assured, yes, Aunt Agness, there were solid silver rifles and they were shootable.

Coffinmaker