June 9-10, 2017 Premier Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/10/2017
Manufactured 1864. The top of the rifle is professionally engraved "James B. Hume" and dated "1864" on receiver bridge. James B. Hume will forever be remembered as the man that captured the infamous gentleman bandit, Black Bart. Hume is still regarded today as one of the premier detectives of the 19th century. He was relentless in following hunches, much like the fictional Sherlock Holmes, and he did not rest until he got his man. Hume first traveled West to the California gold fields in 1850 following the 1849 Gold Rush at Sutter's Mill. Little is known of James until 1864 when he was appointed City Marshall of Placerville, California, and was also undersheriff and sheriff in El Dorado County, California. In 1871 he went to work as a detective for the Wells Fargo Freight Company. He took a year off in 1872 to act as deputy warden at the Nevada State Penitentiary. It was in 1883 that he left his mark in California history books. Already considered the pre-eminent detective of his time, he had been tracking the infamous Black Bart since his earliest robberies. His big break came on November 3rd, 1883, when Black Bart's attempted Wells Fargo robbery was aborted, leaving behind a small handkerchief stamped "F.X.O.7". Hume tracked down the owner of this scarf by investigating over 90 laundries in the San Francisco area, when he stumbled upon the name of the customer known as "F.X.O.7". Black Bart was arrested and confessed to his crime, ending a long and colorful criminal career. Once released from San Quentin Prison in 1888 he was never heard from again. It was said that the Wells Fargo robberies started anew and he was added to the payroll, giving him a salary for the remainder of his life. This was denied by the Wells Fargo Company. This historical and fine all original Henry rifle was displayed at the old Wells Fargo Museum in San Francisco between 1949 and 1982. This rifle is steeped in California history and American folklore. The events in which it saw service are worthy of a novel. Standard features include brass frame, brass rifle buttplate, octagon barrel, full magazine, Henry ladder folding rear sight and standard front sight. Razor sharp edges and barrel legends. Barrel and tube were originally finished in blue, traces of which are still evident in recesses but metal is basically a brown-grey patina with some age spotting. There is evidence of fire blue on numerous screw heads. The brass frame and buttplate are an unmarred, rich, mellow mustard tone with some mild green verdigris on left side of frame. Hammer and lever are a rich brown patina with no traces of color. Original walnut stock is in excellent condition with no cracks or chips, usual dings. Usual serial number in upper tang channel. Stock has the original sling swivel on left side and matching sling loop on left side of barrel. There are no receiver cuts for a sight. The number 4095 (serial number) can be found stamped into the back of the brass buttplate, both of the original stock screws, inside the left lower tang, on top of barrel at breech, and in the upper tang channel of the wood stock. The receiver is considered the large bevel later variation as seen on page 57 in "The Henry Rifle Book" by Les Quick. It has the faceted chamber top and later style brass buttplate with pointed heel (page 107). Buttstock has the obtuse style of stock comb as seen on top photograph of page 90, where you can also see the identical sling swivel. Top of the barrel is stamped in two lines "Henry's Patent Oct. 16 1860 / Manufact'd by the Newhaven Arms Co. Newhaven. CT.". There are pages upon pages of information on this rifle pertaining to James Hume, enough so to write an interesting book. Comes with the original four piece cleaning rod. Action is perfect. Strong visible rifling with as to be expected black powder erosion. Accompanied by an archive of pertinent history and information, including: A) Letter from Wells Fargo Bank's Historical Services Vice President, stating that the rifle was on loan there between 1949 and 1982. B) A letter written by George Rieber, discussing the provenance of the line of descent of the rifle and how it came into his possession on January 19, 1921. George was the owner of Geo. Rieber & Son Hardware in Placerville, California. Letter is accompanied by a 1921 dated receipt for the rifle purchased by George from Ernest McAfee. The letter states that James Hume gave the rifle to George Neil of the Somerset district at the time of the Bullion Bend robbery , as that district had no long range guns at the time. Neil was afterwards drowned at Steeley Fork of the Cosumnes River and the gun fell into the hands of one McAfee, from whose son, Ernest, it was purchased by me, George Rieber. C) A circular from Wells Fargo, given personally to local and county officers and reliable citizens, offering an $800 reward for the arrest of stage coach robber Black Bart, complete with a copy of original poem written by him. D) Original Wells Fargo Archives 8x10" photograph of the rifle's inscription. E) Letter dated 1950 to the Wells Fargo Bank Historical Collection from Sybil Jones, authorizing her son Robert Jones, to claim and receive the rifle engraved "James B. Hume" loaned to the Wells Fargo collection in 1943 by her uncle, H.P. Blanchard. F) A transcript of the historical marker "In Memory of the Bravery of our Pioneer Officer's." discussing the Confederate robbery, and marked by Placerville Parlors of Native Sons and Daughters and dated September 9th. 1916. G) An article about the capture of Black Bart, a reproduced 8x10" photo of Black Bart aka Charles Boles, and a reproduced 8x10" image of James Hume with others. H) An original Confidential Wells, Fargo & Co's Express Special Instructions In Regard to Stage Robberies, dated September 5th, 1883 FROM San Francisco. This confidential memo regarding the fellow "Black Bart", details the procedure to be followed by stage coach personnel in the event of a robbery, it provides the reward information, the format necessary to record the specifics of the robbery, and how to report it. It is signed "J. B. HUME/Special Officer W.F. & Co." I) All in an envelope from Wells Fargo Bank's Historical Department. Complete with three books: "Black Bart: Boulevardier Bandit" by George Hoeper, Black Bart: The Search is Over" by Robert E. Jernigan and Wiley Joiner, and "Wells, Fargo Detective- A Biography of James B. Hume" by Richard Dillon, featuring a photograph and description of the rifle on page 164, courtesy of the Wells Fargo Bank History Room.
Manufacturer
New Haven Arms Company