RARE ENGRAVED EARLY HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

SN 1633. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Early rifle with 24-1/4″ oct bbl that has integral magazine, altered orig German silver front sight and fixed rear sight in the bbl seat with an empty seat in the top flat of the receiver. Mounted with nicely figured, uncheckered American walnut buttstock with straight grip and early style brass buttplate with round heel and large trap with a corresponding large recess underneath to accommodate a 4-pc hickory cleaning rod, which is not present. Left side of buttstock has a factory sling swivel with corresponding loop on bbl. This rifle has early features including the perch belly stock, round heel on the buttplate, small tab cartridge follower, small finger loop on the lever and small trigger pin. Left side of buttstock, between sling swivel & buttplate is branded with the large intertwined initials “PS”. SN is found in the usual places on the top flat of the bbl between the rear sight and receiver, left side of lower tang under the wood, top tang channel of the buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. All of the receiver & buttplate screws are also matching numbered. Round portion of the bbl under the loading sleeve has the assembly number “408” with matching number on rear face of loading sleeve. Receiver & buttplate tang are most unusually engraved in a style like known factory engraved Volcanic pistols & carbines. Engraving consists of extremely well-executed foliate arabesque patterns with very detailed shading and square & dot patterns on the raised area forward of the sideplates. Engraving extends over the top of the receiver, top tang and buttplate tang with a foliate type pattern on each side of the receiver at the rear edges. A Volcanic pistol with nearly identical engraved patterns is pictured on p. 23 of The Henry Rifle, Quick. There are numerous other examples of identical engraving on Volcanic arms found in several other publications including The Winchester Book, Madis, Winchester Engraving and The Book of Winchester Engraving, Wilson. No examples of this engraving pattern have ever been previously seen by this cataloger on a Henry rifle. This rifle was produced in about 1862 or 1863, during the height of the Civil War when few engraved rifles were ordered, and in fact special ordered rifle were discouraged. The Henry factory was having trouble keeping up with demand for standard model orders. In addition, by this time the majority of known engraved Henry rifles were engraved by Samuel Hoggson, L.D. Nimschke or one of the Ulrichs, all of whose work was much finer and more detailed. Therefore it seems likely that this rifle may have been for an employee or someone of lesser importance. It is also a possibility that the engraving was applied at a later date. PROVENANCE: Tommy Rholes Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain small amounts of bright orig blue in the gullets with the balance having turned to a smooth, even plum patina; receiver shows light sharp edge wear around the bottom edges with the other edges sharp & crisp and overall retains a dark mustard patina; buttplate has a matching patina; lever & hammer are a dark plum patina. Buttstock is sound with nicks, dings & scratches and retains 85-90% strong orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with fine frosty pitting. 4-50652 JR4 (25,000-40,000) – Lot 1003

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	1003	$40,250.00	RARE ENGRAVED EARLY HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 1633. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Early rifle with 24-1/4″ oct bbl that has integral magazine, altered orig German silver front sight and fixed rear sight in the bbl seat with an empty seat in the top flat of the receiver. Mounted with nicely figured, uncheckered American walnut buttstock with straight grip and early style brass buttplate with round heel and large trap with a corresponding large recess underneath to accommodate a 4-pc hickory cleaning rod, which is not present. Left side of buttstock has a factory sling swivel with corresponding loop on bbl. This rifle has early features including the perch belly stock, round heel on the buttplate, small tab cartridge follower, small finger loop on the lever and small trigger pin. Left side of buttstock, between sling swivel & buttplate is branded with the large intertwined initials “PS”. SN is found in the usual places on the top flat of the bbl between the rear sight and receiver, left side of lower tang under the wood, top tang channel of the buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. All of the receiver & buttplate screws are also matching numbered. Round portion of the bbl under the loading sleeve has the assembly number “408” with matching number on rear face of loading sleeve. Receiver & buttplate tang are most unusually engraved in a style like known factory engraved Volcanic pistols & carbines. Engraving consists of extremely well-executed foliate arabesque patterns with very detailed shading and square & dot patterns on the raised area forward of the sideplates. Engraving extends over the top of the receiver, top tang and buttplate tang with a foliate type pattern on each side of the receiver at the rear edges. A Volcanic pistol with nearly identical engraved patterns is pictured on p. 23 of The Henry Rifle, Quick. There are numerous other examples of identical engraving on Volcanic arms found in several other publications including The Winchester Book, Madis, Winchester Engraving and The Book of Winchester Engraving, Wilson. No examples of this engraving pattern have ever been previously seen by this cataloger on a Henry rifle. This rifle was produced in about 1862 or 1863, during the height of the Civil War when few engraved rifles were ordered, and in fact special ordered rifle were discouraged. The Henry factory was having trouble keeping up with demand for standard model orders. In addition, by this time the majority of known engraved Henry rifles were engraved by Samuel Hoggson, L.D. Nimschke or one of the Ulrichs, all of whose work was much finer and more detailed. Therefore it seems likely that this rifle may have been for an employee or someone of lesser importance. It is also a possibility that the engraving was applied at a later date. PROVENANCE: Tommy Rholes Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain small amounts of bright orig blue in the gullets with the balance having turned to a smooth, even plum patina; receiver shows light sharp edge wear around the bottom edges with the other edges sharp & crisp and overall retains a dark mustard patina; buttplate has a matching patina; lever & hammer are a dark plum patina. Buttstock is sound with nicks, dings & scratches and retains 85-90% strong orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with fine frosty pitting. 4-50652 JR4 (25,000-40,000) – Lot 1003 Auction: Firearms - Spring 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}

RARE ENGRAVED EARLY HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.