I put this mini-stage coach ammo box together for Dad (now 86) for his rifle last fall.
Dad picked up the rifle in 1940 when he was 10 years old for $10.
A little history of the rifle before I show the pictures, in his own words:
"Serial # 57XXX, The rifle is King's Improvement, Patented March 20,1866 ....October 20, 1880. Round Barrel, Interior Brass Shell Feed and Extractor. with Lever Action. Rear fold down Elevated Sight. It is really in good shape for its age and has never been refinished. I bought this gun in the early 1940's at around 12 years old and used it as a youngster for deer hunting....at my Grandpa's Resort at Cass Lake, MN.
During the second World War there were not any new firearms for sale. My Uncle Ed who was a traveling salesman bought it in Iowa from one of his customers before he was drafted into the Second World War. He use to take me deer hunting and put me in the woods somewhere on a log while he went off and tried to chase deer my way. I paid for it from the money I made at that early age by taking people out fishing from my Gramp's resort on Cass Lake. It cost me a whole $10.00 that was a lot of money for a kid in the 40's. So basically that is all the info I have on it."
He hasn't shot it since the 50's but takes it out every year and gives it some TLC before putting it back into his dehumidified safe.
So, I thought I'd reload some .45-75 Starline brass and 350 gr pills in black powder, low pressure loads, however I highly doubt he'll ever shoot these, it's more of a display than anything.
First, photos of the rifle: