January 24, 2025 Old West Events Auction - Las Vegas
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/24/2025
This rifle is featured in the George Madis Winchester book as well as in the book "The Historic Henry Rifle" by Wiley Sword on page 83 by serial number. This rifle was one of a 90 gun shipment to Ft. Knox Maine in 1864 and was issued to Lt. Ezra Rideout of the 15th Maine on September 25th, 1864 which is were they were stamped "Ft. KNOX MAINE" and was with him when he was sent to Washington D.C. as a provost guard of the capitol. When that deployment ended, soldiers were allowed to take their Henry rifles with them as part of their compensation. Apparently, this rifle was given as a wedding present to his brother, Jacob Rideout, in 1869. This was documented by Jacob and Mrs (Mattie) Rideout's daughter, Edna, in an article that was reprinted in "The Border Queen" a History of Caldwell Kansas by Donald White published in 1999. In his tome, Mr. White analyses the book "SIX YEARS ON THE BORDER" by J.B. (MRS.) RIDEOUT, originally published in 1883, in which she relates her and her husband's westward travel to Caldwell Kansas in 1871 where they resided for six years. Jacob was a traveling preacher and had the calling to go west with the good word. He traveled the Caldwell area preaching until 1878 when his health and Caldwell conditions dictated they move further west. Mr. White writes that on their way to Caldwell, they stopped in Abilene on September 1871, five months after Bill Hickock was elected sheriff in April. They also passed through Wichita on their way in 1871 where the sheriff was Wyatt Earp at the time. The Rideout's reached Abilene on Sep. 8, 1871 where they stayed a short while and it is written that Jacob preached to prisoners of the jail and spent time visiting with Hickock and deputy Mike Williams. Jacob was still there the day Hickock shot Phil Coe. Also, Jacob had the pleasure to meet with a fellow clergyman, the Reverend Hardin, according to Jacob's daughter, and that man turned out to be the infamous John Wesley Hardin. She also relates that while traveling by train through Kansas to Abilene, they hid their valuables from the James Gang that were currently robbing passenger trains in the area. They left by train where they traveled to Newton and by wagon to their destinations in the Caldwell area. In Newton, where they spent their first winter, they met the infamous sheriff, Buffalo Bully Brooks. They finally landed in Caldwell in the spring of 1871. There are numerous stories in Mrs. Rideout's book pertaining to the next six years including outlaws, murders and Indian massacres. In April of 1878, the Rideout's departed for Colorado and preached around the area until arriving in Contention Arizona Territory sometime between November & March of 1882. This is where he must have had the Henry rifle engraved. As they journeyed up to this point , they traveled the area of the Earp's, the Cowboys of Curly Bill and the Clanton's, Billy the Kid and The James and Younger gang. There is more history written about their time in Contention until ending up in Los Angles where it is surmised that they traveled to California with the Earp's, after the OK Corral battle, from the Contention train station, where Jacob died in 1902 and Wyatt in 1929. All of this history is recorded in the above mentioned books and articles. There is also a lot of information on this Henry rifle pertaining to it's Civil War service until Ezra took it home. All of these notes are included and both mentioned books can still be purchased. The gun itself features all late features , no serial numbers on screws, and bearing the stamped Fort Know identification on the right side. On the left side is engraved Jacob Rideout Contention Arizona Ter. with a Hoggson style engraved floral bouquet on left and right side surrounded by simple scroll. Standard features include the octagon barrel, correct sights, brass frame and butt plate (also with some engraving), a sling swivel on left side of stock and barrel, matching serial numbers to included inside left tang and butt plate. CONDITION: Very good. The barrel and tube are all brown patina. Barrel legends are legible. Stock shows wear, a hairline crack at front comb, some ill fitting and loose at butt plate and slightly shy to metal at tang. The bore is well defined but has black powder abrasion. Fine working order. This rifle witnessed, or was in, just about every memorable event of the era from the 1865 Washington Grand Review through the time and around all of the most notable Western personalities & incidents of that tumultuous era.
Manufacturer
Henry Arms Co.
Paperwork
Book, Binder of Information