GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
EXCEPTIONALLY FINE ALEXANDER HENRY HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE PRESENTED BY EDWARD, THE PRINCE OF WALES TO WALTER WINANS, WITH BOOKS. ALEXANDER HENRY DBL RIFLE 6408 450BPE (Ca. 1890) Cal. .450 BPE. 28-1/4" Fine Damascus dovetailed bbls with high, flat, full length file cut rib, are engraved "Alex'r Henry Edinburgh and London." and "Maker to Their Royal Highness' The Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh." on tops. Top of left bbl toward center is engraved "Presented by H. R. H. the Prince of Wales to W. Winans. Esq." Bbl flats show London black powder proofs at .440 and are stamped "A.H" and SN. Bottoms of bbls are stamped "Henry's Rifling A & T 5695" on the right and left bbl has "5696" (patent use numbers). Sling eye is mounted to bottom rib. Long, round bar, Jones underlever action has finely filed fences with two cuts in action bar to make rifle lighter. Back action rebounding locks have front mounted stalking safeties. Action and lockplates have 80% coverage of very finely executed English scroll engraving, with "Alex'r Henry" on each lockplate. Short, round bodied, serpentine hammers have scroll engraved bodies and dolphin heads. Long top action tang has folding Lyman peep sight. Trigger guard has SN at grip. Broadly streaked European walnut full pistol grip buttstock measures 14-7/16" over checkered wood butt with engraved steel heel and toe plates. Stock features double shadow line right hand cheekpiece, and point pattern checkering with mullered borders. There is a sling eye on toe line, and grip has engraved steel trap cap, containing two spare strikers. Matching splinter forend attaches to bbl with forward lever. Drop at heel: Approx 2-3/4", drop at comb: Approx 2". Weight: 8 lbs. 11 oz, LOP 14-7/16". Accompanying rifle are two books by Walter Winans. One is "Practical Rifle Shooting" (New York: Putnams Sons, 1906). The other is "Animal Sculpture" (New York: Putnams Sons, 1913). PROVENANCE: Factory records indicate that this rifle was made for "The Master of Rollo". Rollo being an area of Perthshire Scotland where Winans held vast hunting rights. Orig page from "Vanity Fair" supplement entitled "Tracks and Triggers" picturing Winans in stalking regalia, double rifle slung over his shoulder. Winans Copy of page from "The Sporting Rifle" p. 9 where Winans discusses his fondness for the Lyman peep sight. Books as above, both ex-library copies. Copy of Wikipedia of Winans biography, bibliography, etc. CONDITION: Excellent, near new. Bbls retain 98% of their original brown, with some nicks, small dings, and a small area 9" from muzzle on left bbl, with some abrasion. Action, locks, and hammers retain nearly all their original case color with silvering on bottom of action, and sides of fences. There is some silvering on top tang in front of tang sight which is a later addition, but probably put there by Mr. Winans, who states in his book "The Sporting Rifle" on page 9 "I have lately been shooting a great deal with the Lyman aperture hind sight (see cut). I find that, contrary to expectation, I can do very rapid firing with it and it is much less fatiguing to the eye than other sights. The main advantage is that there is no tendency to concentrate one's attention on it." Grip cap has most of its case color, silvered on edges. Heel and toe plates retain over 50% of their color. Stocks have nearly all of their original oil finish. The grain has lifted a bit over the years, and there are a fair number of minor nicks, dings, and scratches. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Locks are crisp. Bores are excellent, nearly perfect. Books are good. A lovely rifle in exceptionally fine condition owned by one of the most dynamic characters of his day. He was an author (10 books on pistol and rifle shooting, deer breeding, art, etc.), world record marksman (gold medal 1908 Olympics, 2 shot running deer plus many pistol competitions), passionate hunter (he leased hundreds of thousands of acres of hunting grounds in Scotland), sculptor (gold medal 1912 Olympics) horse racing, and artist. Born in Russia to American parents, he affirmed his American citizenship but never set foot in the USA. 52440-4 MGM227 (20,000-40,000) books