SCARCE EARLY MODEL 1860 HENRY LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

SN 884. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Spectacular early rifle with 24-1/4″ oct bbl that has integral magazine, early nickel silver half moon front sight and an orig, 1st type 1000-yard Henry ladder rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut. SN was observed to be in the usual place on top bbl flat between receiver & rear sight, left side of lower tang under the wood, in top tang channel of buttstock and inside buttplate tang. All stock & buttplate screws are orig and matching numbered to this rifle. Rnd section of bbl, under rotating sleeve, is marked with assembly number “276” which number is also found on rear face of loading sleeve. This rifle has all the attributes of the earliest Henry rifles: the follower tab is small size without a milled flat in the receiver, sharp radius at top rear of receiver, rear sight dovetail in top flat of receiver, small loop lever, perch belly stock and rnd heel brass buttplate with large trap and correspondingly large recess in the buttstock to accommodate the accompanying 4-pc hickory & steel wiping rod. Follower spring appears to be original. The Henry rifle was the first successful metallic cartridge lever action repeating rifle and as such was in great demand from the very beginning by pioneers & adventurers on the great American frontier. Almost immediately after production began Oliver Winchester attempted to garner government contracts but initially was unsuccessful. Regardless, with the outbreak of the Civil War individual soldiers and in some cases, entire regiments armed themselves with Henry rifles to great effect. The government eventually purchased over 3,000 Henry rifles to arm special “shock” troops. Most of those rifles produced during the Civil War saw very hard service and in the post-war period continued in service on the American frontier well into the 1870s and later. A large number of Henry rifles, along with their successor model, the 1866 Winchester were sold into Mexico & South America where the 44 RF cartridge retained popularity for many years. Henry rifles are rarely ever found with any orig finish and to find one with such high orig finish is an extraordinary rarity. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching. Bbl & magazine retain 93-95% strong orig blue with only light sharp edge wear and some very minor surface spotting; receiver has sharp edges with a couple of very minor nicks on right side and some very small scratches on left side and shows an even medium to dark mustard patina; side plates appear to never have been removed; hammer retains strong bright case colors and lever case colors on the sides faded on outer faces; buttplate has matching patina to the receiver. Wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and retains 96-98% strong orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Wiping rod is also crisp & new. 4-55541 JR335 (80,000-140,000) – Lot 1182

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
	1182	$149,500.00	SCARCE EARLY MODEL 1860 HENRY LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 884. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Spectacular early rifle with 24-1/4″ oct bbl that has integral magazine, early nickel silver half moon front sight and an orig, 1st type 1000-yard Henry ladder rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered, straight grain American walnut. SN was observed to be in the usual place on top bbl flat between receiver & rear sight, left side of lower tang under the wood, in top tang channel of buttstock and inside buttplate tang. All stock & buttplate screws are orig and matching numbered to this rifle. Rnd section of bbl, under rotating sleeve, is marked with assembly number “276” which number is also found on rear face of loading sleeve. This rifle has all the attributes of the earliest Henry rifles: the follower tab is small size without a milled flat in the receiver, sharp radius at top rear of receiver, rear sight dovetail in top flat of receiver, small loop lever, perch belly stock and rnd heel brass buttplate with large trap and correspondingly large recess in the buttstock to accommodate the accompanying 4-pc hickory & steel wiping rod. Follower spring appears to be original. The Henry rifle was the first successful metallic cartridge lever action repeating rifle and as such was in great demand from the very beginning by pioneers & adventurers on the great American frontier. Almost immediately after production began Oliver Winchester attempted to garner government contracts but initially was unsuccessful. Regardless, with the outbreak of the Civil War individual soldiers and in some cases, entire regiments armed themselves with Henry rifles to great effect. The government eventually purchased over 3,000 Henry rifles to arm special “shock” troops. Most of those rifles produced during the Civil War saw very hard service and in the post-war period continued in service on the American frontier well into the 1870s and later. A large number of Henry rifles, along with their successor model, the 1866 Winchester were sold into Mexico & South America where the 44 RF cartridge retained popularity for many years. Henry rifles are rarely ever found with any orig finish and to find one with such high orig finish is an extraordinary rarity. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching. Bbl & magazine retain 93-95% strong orig blue with only light sharp edge wear and some very minor surface spotting; receiver has sharp edges with a couple of very minor nicks on right side and some very small scratches on left side and shows an even medium to dark mustard patina; side plates appear to never have been removed; hammer retains strong bright case colors and lever case colors on the sides faded on outer faces; buttplate has matching patina to the receiver. Wood is sound with light nicks & scratches and retains 96-98% strong orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Wiping rod is also crisp & new. 4-55541 JR335 (80,000-140,000) – Lot 1182 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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SCARCE EARLY MODEL 1860 HENRY LEVER ACTION RIFLE.