POTD: Up For Debate! – The Remington Vest Pocket Buggy Rifle
Sam.S 05.16.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a typical Remington Saw Handle…Wait. It’s a Buggy Rifle! This is a Remington Vest Pocket otherwise referred to as the “saw handle”. I have probably covered these already but just in case I will say they were affordable little derringers that are not very common today despite the rather large production of roughly 20,000 made. They were usually in rimfire cartridges like 30RF. These Buggy Rifles are unique and up for constant debate since no one can really pin down whether they are a factory-produced configuration or a special gunsmith job. I would wager the latter since in the 1880s Remington was falling on hard times and going through bankruptcy (its nothing new folks) so they most likely where not interested in gambling on an oddity for funzies.
“Much debate surrounds the Remington Vest Pocket Buggy Rifles. Experts have argued that these arms were manufactured by Remington while others have argued that these arms were built by highly talented period gunsmiths using Vest Pocket Pistol frames. The debate has yet to be settled. Strong evidence to make firm conclusions has proven to be elusive. Nevertheless, the Buggy Rifle is one of the most unusual variations of the Remington Vest Pocket. For more see Robert Hatfield’s “Remington’s Vest Pocket Pistols,” and this pistol is pictured several times in Chapter Seven (pages 67, 68, 69, and 70). Hatfield concluded, “Though it appears that Remington did assemble some long-barreled pocket/buggy/wire-stocked rifles for very special occasions, they did not build any of them for the regular retail market.” This example has a lovely floral scroll engraving on a punch dot background on the frame sides and back strap and a combination of scrollwork, crosshatching and scalloped borders on the breech section of the barrel. Fitted with a gold plated combination Beach front sight and a folding adjustable rear peep sight. The grips are pearl and are numbered to the gun. The frame is plated in gold. The top barrel flat has the two-line Remington address and 1861/64 patent dates marking. Comes with a wire skeleton stock and a leather travel case. The stock is connected behind the frame and again at the bottom of the frame.”
Lot 3340: Engraved/Gold Plated Remington Vest Pocket Buggy Rifle, Case – Documented Engraved Remington Vest Pocket Buggy Rifle with 18 Inch Barrel, Pearl Grips, Shoulder Stock, and Case. (n.d.-s). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/76/3340/engravedgold-plated-remington-vest-pocket-buggy-rifle-case.
