GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
VERY RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 THIRD MODEL LEVER ACTION MUSKET FROM THE BATTLE OF CANAL STREET NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA IN 1874.WINCHESTERHENRY 18663335144CALCal 44 RF Henry. Standard '66 musket with 27" rnd bbl, 7/8 magazine, long forearm, 3 bands, square base front sight/bayonet lug and 900 yard Henry style ladder rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut including straight stock with brass carbine/musket buttplate that has sliding trap. Top tang channel of buttstock has last 3 digits of matching SN and inside toe of buttplate has the last 4 digits of matching SN. Right side of buttstock has handcarved initials "BA". Bottom tang of the receiver is marked "LSM" which stands for Louisiana State Militia, between the lever latch and hammer spring tension screw. Also between the lever latch and bottom tang wood screw is marked "9C3",the Militia unit information. Buttstock & middle band have sling swivels. This rare musket was 1 of a shipment sold to the state of Louisiana to arm a regiment of local militia in New Orleans, mostly "colored" troops, known as the Metropolitans. The incidents that precipitated the Battle of Canal Street (Battle of Liberty Place) began with the elections of Nov 4, 1872 when Democrat John McEnery, Governor, and D.B. Penn, Lt Governor, had apparently received the majority of votes, but their Republican opponents William Pitt Kellogg, Governor, and C.C. Antoine, Lt. Governor, illegally had the votes "thrown out" and Kellogg's ticket was declared elected. The McEnery ticket declared themselves as having been elected and set up a shadow government nearby and both McEnery and Kellogg tickets were inaugurated Jan 14, 1873. The two governments continued operating, constantly waging publicity & newspaper battles which ultimately reached a climax on Sept 14, 1874 with the Battle of Canal Street. The Kellogg faction was supported by the Louisiana State Militia, armed with Winchester muskets and the New Orleans police. The McEnery faction was supported by an organization known as the White League composed of former Civil War soldiers and local citizens. The White League attacked the State House and other buildings occupied by the Militia and police. Over the course of the day the "Leagers" were victorious and occupied the State House. During the Battle of Canal Street approximately 300 of the Winchester muskets were captured by the attacking Leagers when they defending Militia dropped their arms and fled. The McEnery faction occupied the state house for 3 days until President Grant threatened to send in the Army to restore order. Gov. Kellogg resumed his position as Gov. and served out his term. An advertisement that appeared in the newspaper, Picayune on Oct 31, 1874, over the signature of Gov. Kellogg advertised a reward for the return of a large number and variety of "Stolen State arms" ranging from Mountain Howitzers and including 301 Winchester rifles, SN's ranging between 31,120 and 34,163 marked "LSM on butt-plates". Very few of these rare muskets have ever surfaced making them a very scarce Winchester collectible. The book "THE BATTLE OF LIBERTY PLACE", Landry reports on page 99 that 75 to 100 Winchester rifles were captured by insurgents. A copy of this publication is included with this rare and historical rifle. CONDITION: Fine, all matching including buttstock & buttplate. Bbl retains traces of blue in the most sheltered areas, being an overall blue/gray patina. Magazine tube retains about 75% orig blue with a few scattered spots of light pitting. Receiver & side plates show moderate edge wear with a few light nicks & scratches and overall retains a beautiful medium mustard patina. Buttplate is matching patina. Wood is sound and shows most of a very old restored finish. Mechanics are fine. Strong bright bore with fine pitting in the grooves. 51129-1 JRL (12,500-17,500)