October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2018
Cal. 44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 24-1/4" octagon barrel with integral magazine tube and original German silver front sight with 1,000 yard Henry ladder rear sight . Henry’s Patent and New Haven arms 2-line address are of the small letter type and completely legible. Receiver & sideplates are of iron with a correct second dovetail in the top flat of the receiver. Mounted with nicely figured, slab-sawed American walnut swivel with a sling loop on right side of bbl. SN was observed in the usual place on the top flat of the bbl between rear sight & receiver. It is also found on left side of lower tang, under the wood, inside top tang channel of buttstock and inside buttplate tang. Buttstock has the large hole for wood cleaning rod and also has a groove down the bottom of the hole. Top of the rnd section of the bbl, under the rotating sleeve, is marked with assembly number “104” which number is also found on rear face of rotating sleeve. All screws are matching numbered. Information contained in Wes Quick's book of the Henry rifl states that there were less than 400 of these iron frame Henrys produced very early in the production run with no. “355” the highest SN known. Mr. Quick also reports that the general consensus among knowledgeable collectors & dealers is that the iron frame & brass frame Henrys were produced simultaneously and that there were probably substantially less than 400 ever made. The chart in the referenced publication on pp. 54 & 55 show a duplication of 16 SNs between iron & brass frame rifles out of 167 rifles surveyed. This same panel of experts concluded that this duplication was simple bookkeeping errors. This rifle has all of the correct early features including the German silver front sight, 1,000 yard ladder rear sight, sharp radius at top rear of receiver, small loop finger lever without locking spur, slight perch belly stock and the large cleaning rod recess.Complete with an original four piece Henry cleaning rod with appropriate iron ferrules CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching. Bbl retains a smooth even plum blue/brown patina with some mottling in the gullet on the right side; receiver retains a plummy blue/brown patina with silver patina showing through; top edges of sideplates are slightly battered as is the bottom of the carrier. Stock is sound with light nicks, dings & scratches and overall retains most of its fine orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with good shine and scattered pitting. Cleaning rod is excellent TDW
Caliber/Bore
.44 Henry Rimfire
Manufacturer
New Haven Arms