VERY RARE 66TH ILL. INSCRIBED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE OF JOSIAH M. GILBERT.

SN 1551. Cal 44 RF. Usual configuration with 24-1/4″ oct bbl that has integral magazine, nickel silver front sight and 900 yd Henry ladder rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with straight stock and first type brass buttplate with rnd heel and large trap that contains 4 pieces of an orig Henry hickory and iron cleaning rod, the jag end of which is broken. Left sideplate is Civil War era engraved very similar to rifle # 2984 as appears on pg 159 of The Henry Rifle, Quick. The engraving on this rifle is rectangular and occupies most of the sideplate with the inscription “J.M. GILBERT / CO. B / 66TH ILL.” over a ribbon inscribed “Vet. Vols.”. Left side of panel is inscribed with an American flag and the right side an American eagle with shield on its breast clutching olive leaves and arrows, all surrounded by leaf & vine boarders. SN is found on top flat of bbl between rear sight and receiver and, according to consignor, is all matching except for two stock screws. The 66th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an extraordinary storied unit also known as the Western Sharpshooters. They were intended to be an elite unit for advanced skirmish and sniper duty, formed of companies from Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. In order to become a member of this regiment a prospective member was required to fire a 3-shot group of 3-1/3″ maxim dia. at 200 yards. These rifles were originally known as Birge’s Western Sharpshooters after their commander Col. John W. Birge. They were initially armed with the highly respected Dimick deer & target rifle by the famed gunmaker H.E. Dimick & Co. of St. Louis. They were in a variety of calibers ranging from 33 up to 69 and fired a special Schuetzen bullet. This fact ultimately created problems in the field with the various calibers and supplying bullets for them even though each rifle had its own matching numbered mold. The sharpshooters fought at a number of battles on the western front, including Ft. Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, MS. They were so highly respected they were at one time given the duty of protecting Gen. Grant. In November 1862 they were redisignated the 66th Volunteer Infantry. Eventually, in 1863 their Dimick rifles were becoming worn out and irrepairable due to lack of parts. The troops took it on themselves to buy their own Henry rifles from a variety of suppliers for $40 each. By the end of 1863 every soldier who could afford it had purchased a Henry, especially companies B, D, F, H & I had the majority of the 66th’s Henry rifles with a few throughout the other companies. The 66th Ill., being so well armed was usually employed as shock troops and later became mounted infantry. They fought in almost every battle from Corinth, MS all the way with Sherman to the sea. Around the Battle of Atlanta two brigades of the 66th fired 83,500 cartridges, a little over 10% of all the ammunition fired in the Atlanta campaign. During that campaign the Western Sharpshooters were under fire for 120 days, fought in 15 pitched battles and lost 225 officers and men killed and wounded. The 7th Ill. was also primarily armed with Henry rifles and they, along with the 66th Ill. fired a total of 93,655 rounds. The entire unit reenlisted an remained in service until being mustered out on July 7, 1865. Most of the inscribed rifles of this era were engraved during veteran reunion gatherings rather than during the actual combat. Josiah Gilbert, who was from Vincennes, IN, had enlisted as a private in Co B of the Western Sharpshooters on Sept 19, 1861 and was mustered out with his regiment in 1865. Accompanied by a ten page compendium of Gilbert’s life and the history of the 66th Ill. Only about 10-15 of these wonderfully historic inscribed Henry rifles are known to exist. This particular rifle would have been delivered in the first shipment of 42 rifles to the 66th in May of 1863. CONDITION: Fair to good. No orig finish remains with all of the iron parts an extremely dark brown patina with heavy pitting, some possibly from blood. Bolt is missing center of bolt face. Receiver and sideplates show heavy wear with a dark mustard patina. Buttstock has a short crack in back of top tang, is missing a few chips by the buttplate tang and overall retains a heavily sanded dark finish. Mechanics are fine. Worn, dark bore. Cleaning rod is dark stained with lightly pitted fittings. 4-54291 (45,000-75,000) – Lot 2014

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Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

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
	2014	$0.00	VERY RARE 66TH ILL. INSCRIBED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE OF JOSIAH M. GILBERT. SN 1551. Cal 44 RF. Usual configuration with 24-1/4″ oct bbl that has integral magazine, nickel silver front sight and 900 yd Henry ladder rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut with straight stock and first type brass buttplate with rnd heel and large trap that contains 4 pieces of an orig Henry hickory and iron cleaning rod, the jag end of which is broken. Left sideplate is Civil War era engraved very similar to rifle # 2984 as appears on pg 159 of The Henry Rifle, Quick. The engraving on this rifle is rectangular and occupies most of the sideplate with the inscription “J.M. GILBERT / CO. B / 66TH ILL.” over a ribbon inscribed “Vet. Vols.”. Left side of panel is inscribed with an American flag and the right side an American eagle with shield on its breast clutching olive leaves and arrows, all surrounded by leaf & vine boarders. SN is found on top flat of bbl between rear sight and receiver and, according to consignor, is all matching except for two stock screws. The 66th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an extraordinary storied unit also known as the Western Sharpshooters. They were intended to be an elite unit for advanced skirmish and sniper duty, formed of companies from Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. In order to become a member of this regiment a prospective member was required to fire a 3-shot group of 3-1/3″ maxim dia. at 200 yards. These rifles were originally known as Birge’s Western Sharpshooters after their commander Col. John W. Birge. They were initially armed with the highly respected Dimick deer & target rifle by the famed gunmaker H.E. Dimick & Co. of St. Louis. They were in a variety of calibers ranging from 33 up to 69 and fired a special Schuetzen bullet. This fact ultimately created problems in the field with the various calibers and supplying bullets for them even though each rifle had its own matching numbered mold. The sharpshooters fought at a number of battles on the western front, including Ft. Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth, MS. They were so highly respected they were at one time given the duty of protecting Gen. Grant. In November 1862 they were redisignated the 66th Volunteer Infantry. Eventually, in 1863 their Dimick rifles were becoming worn out and irrepairable due to lack of parts. The troops took it on themselves to buy their own Henry rifles from a variety of suppliers for $40 each. By the end of 1863 every soldier who could afford it had purchased a Henry, especially companies B, D, F, H & I had the majority of the 66th’s Henry rifles with a few throughout the other companies. The 66th Ill., being so well armed was usually employed as shock troops and later became mounted infantry. They fought in almost every battle from Corinth, MS all the way with Sherman to the sea. Around the Battle of Atlanta two brigades of the 66th fired 83,500 cartridges, a little over 10% of all the ammunition fired in the Atlanta campaign. During that campaign the Western Sharpshooters were under fire for 120 days, fought in 15 pitched battles and lost 225 officers and men killed and wounded. The 7th Ill. was also primarily armed with Henry rifles and they, along with the 66th Ill. fired a total of 93,655 rounds. The entire unit reenlisted an remained in service until being mustered out on July 7, 1865. Most of the inscribed rifles of this era were engraved during veteran reunion gatherings rather than during the actual combat. Josiah Gilbert, who was from Vincennes, IN, had enlisted as a private in Co B of the Western Sharpshooters on Sept 19, 1861 and was mustered out with his regiment in 1865. Accompanied by a ten page compendium of Gilbert’s life and the history of the 66th Ill. Only about 10-15 of these wonderfully historic inscribed Henry rifles are known to exist. This particular rifle would have been delivered in the first shipment of 42 rifles to the 66th in May of 1863. CONDITION: Fair to good. No orig finish remains with all of the iron parts an extremely dark brown patina with heavy pitting, some possibly from blood. Bolt is missing center of bolt face. Receiver and sideplates show heavy wear with a dark mustard patina. Buttstock has a short crack in back of top tang, is missing a few chips by the buttplate tang and overall retains a heavily sanded dark finish. Mechanics are fine. Worn, dark bore. Cleaning rod is dark stained with lightly pitted fittings. 4-54291 (45,000-75,000) – Lot 2014 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 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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VERY RARE 66TH ILL. INSCRIBED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE OF JOSIAH M. GILBERT.