FINE NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED & INSCRIBED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SADDLE RING CARBINE THAT BELONGED TO CUSTER’S BLACK HILLS EXPEDITION PHOTOGRAPHER WILLIAM H. ILLINGWORTH.

SN 103751. Cal. .44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 20″ rnd bbl, full magazine that has screwed in cap, integral front band/front sight and 2-postioin flip rear sight marked “1”, “3” and “5”. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with straight stock & carbine buttplate that has trap which contains an orig 3-pc brass & steel wiping rod. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number “7678”, which number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Rifle is beautifully engraved by L.D. Nimschke with about 60-70% coverage intertwined, flowing foliate arabesque patterns with pearled background. Transitions between sideplates & front flats are engraved in feather patterns. Both sideplates have counterpoint panels with the left side aftermarket engraved in period script “Wm. H. Illingworth / St. Paul, Min. / 1873”. Right side panel is empty. Bottom of carrier is engraved in Mr. Nimschke’s traditional flower blossom. The area between the timing screws is engraved in foliate arabesque patterns with a ribbon engraved “LDN”. Top of the receiver, top tang and buttplate tang are engraved in geometric & other matching patterns with a very fine, detailed hunter’s star on the receiver ring. Accompanied by an unmarked, silver-cased fusee movement pocket watch with bull’s eye crystal and gold hands. Inside the back cover is pantograph inscribed in script “Wm. H. Illingworth / St. Paul, A.D. 1874”. This watch, even at that time, would have been considered an antique. By 1850, the Waltham watch company was making a new design watch which was very popular & readily available. It seems unlikely that such an antique watch would have been presented about 25 years after the advent of a more convenient & reliable timepiece. The inscription on the carbine shows considerable wear and is probably of the period of use, possibly applied by his father’s jewelry store. William Henry Illingworth was born in England in 1844 and immigrated to the U.S. as a young child. In 1850, the family moved to St. Paul, MN where his father operated a jewelry business where young Illingworth worked until about age 20. After which he moved to Chicago to study photography. In 1866, he returned to St. Paul and joined Capt. James Fisk’s 4th Expedition to Montana Territory, working as a photographer. Upon his return to St. Paul, he operated a gallery & studio and from 1870-1873, worked as a railroad photographer. Due to his experience with the Fisk expedition, Mr. Illingworth was selected to photograph Custer’s 1874 expedition to the Black Hills for which he was paid $30 a month. In return, Illingworth was expected to provide six sets of plates to the Army. The expedition ran from early July to the end of August 1874. During the expedition, Illingworth produced 70 glass plates but only provided one set to the army. He was sued for the other five sets, but prevailed on technicalities. The negatives remained in Illingworth’s possession until he committed suicide in March 1893. His collection of Black Hills images were ultimately sold for $60 to the South Dakota State Historical Society in 1919. CONDITION: Fair to good. No orig finish remains with the steel parts a mottled, cleaned metal patina with scattered pitting. Front band screw is replaced with a rivet. Receiver shows moderate to heavy wear with worn edges & a few nicks & scratches. Hammer retains a restored blue finish. Lever is moderately to heavily pitted and shows grey/brown patina. Wood is sound with nicks & dings and retains most of an old refinish. Mechanics are fine. Worn, dark bore with two rings about 4″ & 5″ from the muzzle. Cleaning rod is fine. Watch shows heavy wear with intact orig crystal, not running, needs repair. 4-48097 JR261 (15,000-25,000) – Lot 1193

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
	1193	$25,300.00	FINE NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED & INSCRIBED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SADDLE RING CARBINE THAT BELONGED TO CUSTER’S BLACK HILLS EXPEDITION PHOTOGRAPHER WILLIAM H. ILLINGWORTH. SN 103751. Cal. .44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 20″ rnd bbl, full magazine that has screwed in cap, integral front band/front sight and 2-postioin flip rear sight marked “1”, “3” and “5”. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with straight stock & carbine buttplate that has trap which contains an orig 3-pc brass & steel wiping rod. Left side of lower tang, under the wood is marked with the assembly number “7678”, which number is also found in top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. Rifle is beautifully engraved by L.D. Nimschke with about 60-70% coverage intertwined, flowing foliate arabesque patterns with pearled background. Transitions between sideplates & front flats are engraved in feather patterns. Both sideplates have counterpoint panels with the left side aftermarket engraved in period script “Wm. H. Illingworth / St. Paul, Min. / 1873”. Right side panel is empty. Bottom of carrier is engraved in Mr. Nimschke’s traditional flower blossom. The area between the timing screws is engraved in foliate arabesque patterns with a ribbon engraved “LDN”. Top of the receiver, top tang and buttplate tang are engraved in geometric & other matching patterns with a very fine, detailed hunter’s star on the receiver ring. Accompanied by an unmarked, silver-cased fusee movement pocket watch with bull’s eye crystal and gold hands. Inside the back cover is pantograph inscribed in script “Wm. H. Illingworth / St. Paul, A.D. 1874”. This watch, even at that time, would have been considered an antique. By 1850, the Waltham watch company was making a new design watch which was very popular & readily available. It seems unlikely that such an antique watch would have been presented about 25 years after the advent of a more convenient & reliable timepiece. The inscription on the carbine shows considerable wear and is probably of the period of use, possibly applied by his father’s jewelry store. William Henry Illingworth was born in England in 1844 and immigrated to the U.S. as a young child. In 1850, the family moved to St. Paul, MN where his father operated a jewelry business where young Illingworth worked until about age 20. After which he moved to Chicago to study photography. In 1866, he returned to St. Paul and joined Capt. James Fisk’s 4th Expedition to Montana Territory, working as a photographer. Upon his return to St. Paul, he operated a gallery & studio and from 1870-1873, worked as a railroad photographer. Due to his experience with the Fisk expedition, Mr. Illingworth was selected to photograph Custer’s 1874 expedition to the Black Hills for which he was paid $30 a month. In return, Illingworth was expected to provide six sets of plates to the Army. The expedition ran from early July to the end of August 1874. During the expedition, Illingworth produced 70 glass plates but only provided one set to the army. He was sued for the other five sets, but prevailed on technicalities. The negatives remained in Illingworth’s possession until he committed suicide in March 1893. His collection of Black Hills images were ultimately sold for $60 to the South Dakota State Historical Society in 1919. CONDITION: Fair to good. No orig finish remains with the steel parts a mottled, cleaned metal patina with scattered pitting. Front band screw is replaced with a rivet. Receiver shows moderate to heavy wear with worn edges & a few nicks & scratches. Hammer retains a restored blue finish. Lever is moderately to heavily pitted and shows grey/brown patina. Wood is sound with nicks & dings and retains most of an old refinish. Mechanics are fine. Worn, dark bore with two rings about 4″ & 5″ from the muzzle. Cleaning rod is fine. Watch shows heavy wear with intact orig crystal, not running, needs repair. 4-48097 JR261 (15,000-25,000) – Lot 1193 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 NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED & INSCRIBED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 SADDLE RING CARBINE THAT BELONGED TO CUSTER’S BLACK HILLS EXPEDITION PHOTOGRAPHER WILLIAM H. ILLINGWORTH.