GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
SCARCE ENGRAVED 2ND MODEL HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.HENRY1860157044 RF HENRYCal 44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 24-1/4" oct bbl that has integral magazine with square back nickle silver front sight & 900 yd Henry Ladder rear sight with stop screw. Mounted with very rare, orig, uncheckered rosewood buttstock. Left side of buttstock and left bbl gullet are mounted with factory swing swivel and sling loop. Right side of buttstock is inlaid with an empty 1-3/8" x 1" oval silver plate. SN is found in the usual places, on top flat of bbl between receiver and rear sight, left side of lower tang under the wood, top tang channel of buttstock and inside heel of buttplate. Round portion of the bbl, under the loading sleeve, is marked with the assembly number "614", which number is also found on rear face of loading sleeve. All buttplate and tang screws are matching numbered. Receiver and buttplate tang are beautifully engraved, probably by master engraver L.D. Nimschke with about full coverage flowing foliate and floral arabesque patterns with fine pearled background on sides and side plates. Matching patterns extend over top of receiver, top tang and on buttplate tang. Receiver and buttplate are gold washed. Very few Henry rifles were equipped with rosewood stocks and extremely few are known today. This rifle appears to have been produced about 1863 which was at the height of the Civil War. Undoubtedly it would have been a presentation to a senior military officer or influential government official to promote government purchases of the Henry rifle. Firearms of that era usually saw hard service throughout the war and later on the American frontier. PROVENANCE: Robert Wyatt Collection; Paul Tudor Jones II Collection. CONDITION: About very fine, all matching. Bbl and magazine tube retain a pleasing smooth brown patina that may have been original browning instead of blue as is occasionally encountered on special Henry rifles. Receiver retains about 20-25% original gold wash and the buttplate about the same. Lever and hammer show dark case colors being mostly brown on the lever. Screw heads retain generous amounts of orig blue. Stock has a hairline in the right wrist otherwise is sound with a few light dings in the finish having been cleaned, possibly lightly sanded with light finish added. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with good shine and moderate pitting. 49941-11 JR72 (50,000-75,000)