RARE MARTIALLY MARKED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE WITH RARE FULL LENGTH TELESCOPIC SIGHT.

SN 3283. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 24-1/4″ oct bbl that has integral magazine, a replacement copper blade front sight and a fixed rear sight with no dovetail in the receiver. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut, buttstock that has straight grip and early style brass buttplate with large trap and corresponding large recess in the buttstock to accommodate a 4-pc hickory cleaning rod (not present). Right side of wrist has the outline of an inspector’s cartouche. Right bbl flat at the receiver has the “CGC” (Charles G. Chapman) inspector initials along with a small “C” and an “H” and “C” adjacent on the receiver. Right heel of buttplate also has a small “H”. Top flat of bbl, just rear of the loading sleeve has a narrow dovetail containing a brass scope mount with corresponding elevation adjustable base in the top tang. Telescopic sight and mounts are unmarked, but very similar in nature to those made by the Malcolm Telescope Company as pictured in Madis, and is 33-7/8″ long with a 5/8″ steel tube and brass eyepiece with very fine crosshairs. SN was observed on the bbl and left side of lower tang, under the wood. Top tang channel of buttstock is somewhat battered with an internal crack and the number was not visible. Buttplate & two buttplate screws are numbered “3670”. The three tang screws are properly unnumbered but are Henry screws. Although the buttstock & buttplate are replacements they are from the same shipment and it stands to reason that this was a field repair for a combat damaged buttstock. Round portion of the bbl, under the loading sleeve has the assembly number “966” which number is also found on rear face of loading sleeve. Extremely few Henry rifles have ever been encountered with scope sights although there are some known, however it stands to reason that a regiment would have had one or more sharp shooters for long range sniping. This rifle was one of a total of 1,731 Henry rifles purchased by the Union Army and was one of 800 ordered Dec. 30, 1863 and probably issued to the 1st D.C. Cavalry who were rushed into service for the Virginia Peninsula Campaign in the Spring of 1864. Many of their Henry rifles were lost in battle especially at Stony Creek and Sycamore Church in Virginia in June & September respectively. In August 1864 seven companies of the 1st D.C. Cavalry were transferred to the 1st Maine Cavalry and their Henry rifles went with them. Many more of their rifles were lost in battle in the ensuing months. In total there were 1,100 Henry rifles procured specifically for the 1st D.C. Cavalry with the final order of 800 falling within the 3000-4000 serial range including this rifle. The Winchester Book, Madis, on page 41 of the 1985 edition, 1 of 1000, states that in a letter dated Nov. 17, 1863, Oliver F. Winchester stated that “We intend to make both globe and telescope sight for our rifles. It will take a few weeks longer”. This statement lends credence to the idea that this is possibly a factory installed scope. At the end of the war soldiers were permitted to purchase their Henry rifles and many did so. Those rifles were then employed for hunting and home defense as well as on the Great American Frontier. Many remained in service well into the 1870s and 1880s before being supplanted by centerfire cartridge firearms. Large numbers of Henry rifles were then sold to South & Central America where the 44 rimfire cartridge was still popular. With all of that service Henry rifles are rarely every found with high orig finish, most especially those martial arms. CONDITION: Good, numbered as noted above. Bbl & magazine retain a mottled, cleaned gray/brown patina with scattered very fine pitting and shows heavy wear; receiver & sideplates show moderate wear with nicks & scratches and retain a medium to dark mustard patina; lever & hammer retain traces of orig case colors being mostly a dark patina. Stock has a crack in the wrist, otherwise wood is sound with nicks, dings & scratches and retains most of an old added finish. Mechanics are fine, worn dark bore with a ring about 6″ from the muzzle. Scope tube is a cleaned metal patina with scattered surface discoloration; optics need cleaning but seem fine. Lever latch is a replacement. 4-55307 JR287 (30,000-50,000) – Lot 1185

Auction: Firearms - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1185	$46,000.00	RARE MARTIALLY MARKED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE WITH RARE FULL LENGTH TELESCOPIC SIGHT. SN 3283. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 24-1/4″ oct bbl that has integral magazine, a replacement copper blade front sight and a fixed rear sight with no dovetail in the receiver. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut, buttstock that has straight grip and early style brass buttplate with large trap and corresponding large recess in the buttstock to accommodate a 4-pc hickory cleaning rod (not present). Right side of wrist has the outline of an inspector’s cartouche. Right bbl flat at the receiver has the “CGC” (Charles G. Chapman) inspector initials along with a small “C” and an “H” and “C” adjacent on the receiver. Right heel of buttplate also has a small “H”. Top flat of bbl, just rear of the loading sleeve has a narrow dovetail containing a brass scope mount with corresponding elevation adjustable base in the top tang. Telescopic sight and mounts are unmarked, but very similar in nature to those made by the Malcolm Telescope Company as pictured in Madis, and is 33-7/8″ long with a 5/8″ steel tube and brass eyepiece with very fine crosshairs. SN was observed on the bbl and left side of lower tang, under the wood. Top tang channel of buttstock is somewhat battered with an internal crack and the number was not visible. Buttplate & two buttplate screws are numbered “3670”. The three tang screws are properly unnumbered but are Henry screws. Although the buttstock & buttplate are replacements they are from the same shipment and it stands to reason that this was a field repair for a combat damaged buttstock. Round portion of the bbl, under the loading sleeve has the assembly number “966” which number is also found on rear face of loading sleeve. Extremely few Henry rifles have ever been encountered with scope sights although there are some known, however it stands to reason that a regiment would have had one or more sharp shooters for long range sniping. This rifle was one of a total of 1,731 Henry rifles purchased by the Union Army and was one of 800 ordered Dec. 30, 1863 and probably issued to the 1st D.C. Cavalry who were rushed into service for the Virginia Peninsula Campaign in the Spring of 1864. Many of their Henry rifles were lost in battle especially at Stony Creek and Sycamore Church in Virginia in June & September respectively. In August 1864 seven companies of the 1st D.C. Cavalry were transferred to the 1st Maine Cavalry and their Henry rifles went with them. Many more of their rifles were lost in battle in the ensuing months. In total there were 1,100 Henry rifles procured specifically for the 1st D.C. Cavalry with the final order of 800 falling within the 3000-4000 serial range including this rifle. The Winchester Book, Madis, on page 41 of the 1985 edition, 1 of 1000, states that in a letter dated Nov. 17, 1863, Oliver F. Winchester stated that “We intend to make both globe and telescope sight for our rifles. It will take a few weeks longer”. This statement lends credence to the idea that this is possibly a factory installed scope. At the end of the war soldiers were permitted to purchase their Henry rifles and many did so. Those rifles were then employed for hunting and home defense as well as on the Great American Frontier. Many remained in service well into the 1870s and 1880s before being supplanted by centerfire cartridge firearms. Large numbers of Henry rifles were then sold to South & Central America where the 44 rimfire cartridge was still popular. With all of that service Henry rifles are rarely every found with high orig finish, most especially those martial arms. CONDITION: Good, numbered as noted above. Bbl & magazine retain a mottled, cleaned gray/brown patina with scattered very fine pitting and shows heavy wear; receiver & sideplates show moderate wear with nicks & scratches and retain a medium to dark mustard patina; lever & hammer retain traces of orig case colors being mostly a dark patina. Stock has a crack in the wrist, otherwise wood is sound with nicks, dings & scratches and retains most of an old added finish. Mechanics are fine, worn dark bore with a ring about 6″ from the muzzle. Scope tube is a cleaned metal patina with scattered surface discoloration; optics need cleaning but seem fine. Lever latch is a replacement. 4-55307 JR287 (30,000-50,000) – Lot 1185 Auction: Firearms - March 2015 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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RARE MARTIALLY MARKED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE WITH RARE FULL LENGTH TELESCOPIC SIGHT.