GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
ENGRAVED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. HENRY 1860 8243 44 RF HENRY Cal. 44 RF Henry. Late Civil War era Henry rifle with 24-1/4" oct bbl that has integral magazine, rnd top nickel silver front sight & 900-yd Henry ladder rear sight that has replaced slide & stop screw. Mounted with very nicely figured, replacement, uncheckered American walnut straight stock & crescent brass buttplate with small trap. SN was observed in the usual place on the bbl, left side of lower tang under the wood, in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Rnd portion of bbl under the loading sleeve is marked with the assembly number "731", which number is also found on rear face of loading sleeve. Left side of buttstock & bbl have sling swivel and loop. Receiver is very nicely engraved, probably from the L. D. Nimschke shop in beautiful flowing foliate arabesque patterns that has pearled background. Matching engraving is on the top tang and buttplate tang. Front receiver ring is engraved in a very finely detailed hunter''s star. Top flat of receiver is engraved in geometric patterns and small hunter''s stars. Bottom of carrier is engraved in diamond & dot patterns. Accompanied by an orig Henry black leather sling with brass hook and buckle. Also accompanied by a Kittridge brass hinged lid cartridge box. This rifle was produced in about early 1865, toward the end of the Civil War. There is a strong probability that it would have been used in that conflict. However, like most of its predecessors, this rifle would have seen hard service on the American frontier and at that time was the most popular repeating rifle in the world and remained so until the advent of the Winchester 1866 with improved loading system and lighter weight. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Phil A. Bleakney, Jr. CONDITION: Fine, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain minute traces of orig blue at the receiver, otherwise is a smooth blue/brown patina with some very fine scattered spots of rust near the nuzzle end. Receiver has a few minor nicks on top edges of side plates, otherwise shows light to moderate sharp edge wear and retains a medium to dark mustard patina. The stock is sound with nicks & scratches and retains a cleaned, old finish. Mechanics are fine. Strong dark bore. Sling is sound with crackled finish. Cartridge box has a couple minor nicks on the lid and is sound showing a dark mustard patina. 49059-3 JR (20,000-35,000)