FINE EARLY HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

SN 1603. Cal. .44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 24-1/4″ oct bbl that has integral magazine, early style squareback nickel silver front sight, a rear seat at the receiver and a dovetail in top flat of receiver containing an orig 900 yard Henry ladder rear sight. Top flat of bbl has the small 2-line Henry’s patent & address roll marking forward of the rear seat & the SN back of the rear seat. Magazine follower tab is large size without relief cut in front of frame. Receiver is early style with sharp radius at the top rear and has small loop lever. Buttplate is early style with slight perch belly & buttplate with round heel. Mounted with uncheckered, very nicely figured straight grain American walnut with straight stock that has sling swivel base in the left side and the remains of a “Henry bump” below. There is a corresponding sling loop on left side of bbl. Buttplate has the large trap with a large recess in the stock to accommodate a 4-pc wood cleaning rod (not present). SN was observed in the usual place on top flat of bbl between receiver & rear sight, left side of lower tang, under the wood, inside top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Round portion of the bbl, under the loading sleeve, is marked with the assembly number “411” which number is also found on rear face on loading sleeve. This rifle was produced in about 1863 at the height of the Civil War when the Henry rifle was one of the most prized firearms on either side, Union or Confederate. The Union Army purchased 1731 of these rifles for issue to their troops. Several individual units private purchased Henry rifles to arm entire companies with them. The government furnished the ammunition. These units, with private purchase Henry’s, were referred to as “sharp shooters” and were generally used as shock troops for their devastating fire power as compared to everyone else’s muzzle loading or single shot arms, especially the Confederates. They referred to the Henry as “that damn Yankee rifle you load on Sunday and shoot all week”. Almost certainly, this rifle would have been used in the Civil War and the fact that it remains in orig configuration with some orig finish is a near miracle. Not only did these rifles serve with distinction during the war, but then were used further for hunting and self-defense. Most of them traveled West during the great Westward expansion and saw even harder service on the American frontier. CONDITION: Fine, all matching including all three tang screws & both buttplate screws. Bbl & magazine retain traces of orig blue around the receiver & sling loop. The remainder of bbl & magazine is a cleaned grey metal patina with sharp edges on bbl giving rise to the belief that this rifle was near new before it was attacked with heavy steel wool or very fine sandpaper. Receiver & sideplates have a few minor scratches, very sharp edges and no evidence that the sideplates have ever been removed. Hammer retains mottled case colors & the lever traces of case colors, being mostly a grey brown patina. Stock is missing small slivers by top & bottom tangs, otherwise wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and retains most of an old restored finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, further giving rise to the thought that this rifle was near new before it was cleaned. 4-55308 JR284 (35,000-50,000) – Lot 1184

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
	1184	$0.00	FINE EARLY HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE. SN 1603. Cal. .44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 24-1/4″ oct bbl that has integral magazine, early style squareback nickel silver front sight, a rear seat at the receiver and a dovetail in top flat of receiver containing an orig 900 yard Henry ladder rear sight. Top flat of bbl has the small 2-line Henry’s patent & address roll marking forward of the rear seat & the SN back of the rear seat. Magazine follower tab is large size without relief cut in front of frame. Receiver is early style with sharp radius at the top rear and has small loop lever. Buttplate is early style with slight perch belly & buttplate with round heel. Mounted with uncheckered, very nicely figured straight grain American walnut with straight stock that has sling swivel base in the left side and the remains of a “Henry bump” below. There is a corresponding sling loop on left side of bbl. Buttplate has the large trap with a large recess in the stock to accommodate a 4-pc wood cleaning rod (not present). SN was observed in the usual place on top flat of bbl between receiver & rear sight, left side of lower tang, under the wood, inside top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Round portion of the bbl, under the loading sleeve, is marked with the assembly number “411” which number is also found on rear face on loading sleeve. This rifle was produced in about 1863 at the height of the Civil War when the Henry rifle was one of the most prized firearms on either side, Union or Confederate. The Union Army purchased 1731 of these rifles for issue to their troops. Several individual units private purchased Henry rifles to arm entire companies with them. The government furnished the ammunition. These units, with private purchase Henry’s, were referred to as “sharp shooters” and were generally used as shock troops for their devastating fire power as compared to everyone else’s muzzle loading or single shot arms, especially the Confederates. They referred to the Henry as “that damn Yankee rifle you load on Sunday and shoot all week”. Almost certainly, this rifle would have been used in the Civil War and the fact that it remains in orig configuration with some orig finish is a near miracle. Not only did these rifles serve with distinction during the war, but then were used further for hunting and self-defense. Most of them traveled West during the great Westward expansion and saw even harder service on the American frontier. CONDITION: Fine, all matching including all three tang screws & both buttplate screws. Bbl & magazine retain traces of orig blue around the receiver & sling loop. The remainder of bbl & magazine is a cleaned grey metal patina with sharp edges on bbl giving rise to the belief that this rifle was near new before it was attacked with heavy steel wool or very fine sandpaper. Receiver & sideplates have a few minor scratches, very sharp edges and no evidence that the sideplates have ever been removed. Hammer retains mottled case colors & the lever traces of case colors, being mostly a grey brown patina. Stock is missing small slivers by top & bottom tangs, otherwise wood is sound with a few light nicks & scratches and retains most of an old restored finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, further giving rise to the thought that this rifle was near new before it was cleaned. 4-55308 JR284 (35,000-50,000) – Lot 1184 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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FINE EARLY HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.