GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
FINE ENGRAVED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. WINCHESTER 1860 HENRY ENGRAVED 1293 44RF Cal 44 RF Henry. Standard Henry rifle with 24-1/4" oct bbl that has integral magazine, early square back German silver front sight blade and 900 yard Henry ladder rear sight with slide retaining screw. Top flat of bbl has the early small font 2-line address forward of the rear sight and the SN between rear sight & frame. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut buttstock that has straight grip and early style brass buttplate with rnd heel & large trap to accommodate a 4-pc iron & hickory cleaning rod (rod not present). Receiver & buttplate are gun metal brass and are engraved, probably by Hoggson with bold foliate arabesque patterns that have pearled background and a plain line border with a chip border around the outer perimeter. Engraving extends over top 3 flats of receiver and around rear edge at the buttstock. Top tang & buttplate tang are engraved to match. Bottom tang has a small flourish of matching engraving by the tip. This rifle originally had a silver-plated receiver & buttplate. Buttstock has the initials "TL" carved below the lower tang. Matching serial numbers were observed on the bbl, left side of lower tang under the wood, in top tang channel of buttstock, inside top buttplate tang on all 3 receiver stock screws and on one of the buttplate screws. The other buttplate screw has the number "3763". Accompanied by a letter from recognized Winchester authority David P. Bichrest who authenticates and describes this rifle. Also accompanied by a letter on Jackson Arms letterhead over the signature of Elsie W. Jackson who also authenticates and describes this rifle. Additionally accompanying is a letter from James M. Higbee who states that he purchased this rifle from Jackson Arms in August 1989. It goes on that it had been a consignment from Mr. Jackson's attorney and had originally been in Red Jackson's private collection. This rifle was produced in about 1862 at the height of the Civil War and undoubtedly would have seen service during that conflict and later on the American frontier. Firearms of that era are rarely found today with high orig finish. PROVENANCE: Red Jackson Collection; Mr. Jackson's attorney Collection; James M. Higbee Collection; David P. Bichrest; Consignor. CONDITION: About fine, all matching except 1 buttplate screw as noted above. Bbl & magazine retain traces of orig blue, being mostly a pleasing, fine, smooth blue/brown patina. Receiver shows minute traces of silver-plating on the outside with the tangs under the wood showing strong plating. Buttplate retains about 60% orig silver. Lever & hammer are dark patina. Buttstock is missing a sliver by the left lower tang at the receiver otherwise the stock is sound with nicks, dings & scratches and shows what is possibly a very old restored finish. 51079-13 JRL (30,000-50,000)