November 5th & 6th 2016 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2016
Offered is one of the finest condition Martially marked Henry rifles to surface. According to the Springfield Research letter, this rifle was issued to Private Matthew Johnson, Company K, 73rd Regiment, U.S. Veterans Volunteer Infantry, May 13th, 1865. Johnson volunteered in Philadelphia, March 29th, 1865. Johnson was previously enlisted in the 73rd Regiment of the Pennsylvania Reserves during the Civil War. This data was found in Company K records, the United States Archives in Washington, D.C. It is astounding that this Henry rifle has remained in such fine all original condition; the flutes between the barrel and tube retain the majority of their original brilliant factory blue finish. The tube is a soft brown patina with generous amounts of high polish blue at loading port. Barrel also retains generous amounts of factory blue blending with soft patina. The Henry barrel legends are sharp as new; nearly all of the original blue remains under rear sight, there is none of the usual blotching, nor is there any pinprick freckling of any kind. Brass frame and buttplate have never been touched and are a beautiful rich mustard color. Generous amounts of case colors still visible on hammer. Lever is a soft patina with traces of color. All original screwheads are nearly perfect and retain generous amounts of the Nitre blue finish. Walnut stock is excellent, proud to metal with no cracks, chips or shrinkage of any kind with nearly all of the original finish; never touched, with just a few minor bruises. The Charles G. Chapman cartouche in oval on right side of stock is extremely sharp. The following inspector marks can be found: "C.G.C." and "H" can be found on the right barrel flat at breech; "H.H." is stamped on right side of receiver at breech; "H" at top right of buttplate; "H" at heel on right side. Bolt retains 50% original Nitro blue. Bore is excellent with sharp rifling. This is considered a Type 1 Martially marked Henry with a Type B folding rear sight. Buttstock is the type found on page 92 in the Henry Rifle book by Les Quick; with a round heel brass buttplate. Front sight is a later style square-back, as seen on page 121. Serial numbers can be found on top of barrel, inside buttplate, both buttplate screws, inside lower tang, and stamped within the stock channel at top. The original hickory four piece wooden cleaning rod is contained in the trapdoor and also comes with two original cartridges. It is readily apparent from examination of this rifle, both inside and out, that it has seen very little use and was kept tucked away from the ravages of time to have survived in such phenomenal for this past 151 years. One would be hard pressed to find a finer, all original example of an original Martially marked Henry rifle. Simply put; one of the finest known surviving examples, an investment quality firearm of the highest degree that must be seen to be truly appreciated.
CORRECTION: The regiment should read 73rd regiment not third regiment. This was a typo in the Springfield research letter.