April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
Caliber .44 Henry. 24” octagon barrel. Correct rear barrel sight with 900 yard range. The frame engraved during the period of use, the left front side with a large eagle clasping olive branches and flags while standing on the American shield, the rear two thirds of the frame engraved with a border of ferns, the panel engraved "F. Hoch” in highly stylized letters over “C.B. 3rd Rcgt. U.S.V.V”, the front of the right side engraved with a seven pointed star with the same fern borders, the panel with an vignette of an owl perched on a banner engraved "GUT HEIL" ("Good Health" in German) with a crossed sword and a torch beneath it. Serial number indicates that it is too high to have screws numbered to the gun, as this practice was dropped at around 5000. The bottom tang is marked with a small “w” (Oliver Winchester inspection) between the latch lever and wood stock screw. Rifle comes equipped with sling swivels mounted on left side of stock with bump below the mounting of the sling swivel. Sling swivel also mounted on left side of barrel. Complete with the rarely found original Henry rifle dust cover; this is a simple wooden block carved out to fit over the bolt and into the frame. The top is covered with a thin brass plate which is engraved in the same style as the frame. A very similarly engraved Henry rifle credited to Lockwood Sanford is illustrated on page 35 of "The Winchester Book" by George Madis. CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Barrel has thinned to about 30-40% with remaining blue turning plum. Ample amount of blue in flute of magazine and barrel connection. Blue blends in well with barrel itself. Address is crisp and sharp with a very light age patina around the rear sight. All screw heads show evidence of being removed but are still in serviceable condition. Bright shiny bore. The frame and buttplate are fine with a clear coat of substance to protect the brass. Hammer is crisp with faint case colors. Lever is mostly dark patina with trigger a slate grey color. Varnish finished walnut stock is very fine with no gouges, cracks or missing slivers of wood. The left wrist has original small block letter marking “A.W.M”. The dust cover is in fine condition with crisp engraving. Buttplate fits extremely well with no gouges in that area. Rifle cycles correctly. Fine condition with crisp engraving. This is a very fine 2nd Model Henry that has seen very little use. The 3rd Regiment of U.S. Veteran Volunteers has a rich Civil War history and still remain at Fort Meyer outside of Washington D.C. on property that was formally the residence of Robert E. Lee.
Manufacturer
New Haven Arms