GUN FALL 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/4/2016
EXTREMELY RARE, "AS FOUND" MARTIALLY MARKED ENGRAVED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE, "JOHN WEIDLE, 3RD US VETERAN VOLUNTEERS".HENRY1860344544Cal. 44. Standard early martial Henry rifle with 24-1/4″ oct bbl that has integral magazine, German silver front sight and and 900 yard Henry Ladder rear sight without slide-stop screw, straight grain American walnut and early style brass crescent buttplate with round heel and large trap which contains an orig 4-pc steel and hickory cleaning rod. Right side of buttstock has a well defined inspectors cartouche "CGC" (Charles G. Chapman). Chapman's signature is also found on right side of bbl along with "CC" stamped on frame at breech.
This gun is fresh to the market in beautiful, untouched condition with fine patina and engraved in patterns thought to have been done by Lockwood Sanford or possibly a field engraver of the 3rd Veteran Volunteers who was quite talented. There are a handful of engraved Veteran Volunteer rifles with similar variants of panoply of arms which include a patriotic Colombian shield with American flags on either side, along with foliate panels with an additional central panel on right side decorated in a couple of different styles, but like subject here and seen on four other examples of ribbon with name superimposed above a figure "8" garter with geometric and floral decoration. Top of the receiver, top tang and top flat of the bbl between receiver and rear sight are engraved to match. Top flat of bbl is marked with the large, 2-line Henry address. SN is found on the top flat of bbl just forward of the receiver. Gun is so untouched and just consigned by family of the solider who carried it, it was not disassembled to check for matching numbers internally which we have no doubt this gun is in the orig configuration it was brought back from the war. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Brass has a mustard colored patina. Iron is overall grey/plum with fairly crisp edges. Stock is well fit with discernible cartouche which is rarely visible on these early martials with numerous small scratches, scuffs and minor cosmetic blemishes. There is a light bend to lever which does not affect the crisp mechanics of this gun. The brass head to spring leader has been replaced with a small iron tab. Bore exhibits crisp rifling, traces of finish are found in protected areas under lever and on hammer. 51075-1 JS (25,000-35,000)