MINIATURE ALEX HENRY DROPPING BLOCK SINGLE SHOT EXPRESS RIFLE W/ CASE.

MINIATURE ALEX HENRY DROPPING BLOCK SINGLE SHOT EXPRESS RIFLE W/ CASE. SN 3814. (ca 1876) Cal. .360 2-1/4″ BPE. This dainty little best quality rifle, chambered for a cartridge which is nearly the equivalent of 38-55 Winchester, is fitted with 25″ round bbl mounting sweated-on shaped bases for one standing, one folding leaf rear sight, and silver bead front. Rear sight has inlaid triangle of ivory for enhanced visibility for low light conditions. Top rear of bbl is engraved “Alexr Henry, 12 South St Andrews St. Edinburgh no. 2918.” Patent refers to the use of Alexander Henry’s rifling. Tiny case hardened dropping block action is marked with patent use no. 1281 on flattened portion at top of receiver ring. Back action peninsula non-rebounding lock with round bodied high spur hammer, has front sliding stalking safety which engages at half cock. Action and lock are engraved with very well cut medium scroll with “ALEXr HENRY” in scrolled riband on lockplate. SN is on grip of steel trigger guard. Dark, streaked, and nicely stump figured European walnut full horn capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/2″ over checkered wood butt with engraved case hardened steel heel and toe plates. 18 LPI flat top point pattern checkering has mullered borders. Matching forend attaches to bbl with side nail through shaped and engraved steel escutcheons, and has Alexander Henry fluted tip. This feature was incorporated by Bill Ruger into the styling of his famous no. 1 rifle. Drop at heel: Approx 2-1/2″, drop at comb: Approx 1-3/4″. Weight: 4 lbs. 10 oz. LOP 14-1/2″. Makers full length embossed leather case has paper shipping label on top from “Abbott & Gerson Ltd. to Mr. W. B. Ruger, c/o Sturm, Ruger & Co, Southport, Connecticut, U. S. A.” (with no zip code). Also it has penciled notations by Mr. Ruger. Interior, lined with green cloth, with paper Henry label, is semi French fitted for rifle and accessories which include a round Hawksley pewter oil bottle and nickel-plated cleaning rod. Also in case is a paper tag marked “80” and with information as to where rifle was located in Mr. Ruger’s gun room: “Alexander Henry rifle in Rt Cabinet by pool table – So. wall.” PROVENANCE: Tag from case. Ex. William Ruger Collection. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbl retains 95% + orig blue with some silvering at muzzle, and minor freckling, mostly on front sight base. Action and lock retain 85 – 90% orig case hardening color, slightly silvered with orig varnish darkened. Tail of lockplate is mostly pewter gray as is trigger guard tang. Stocks retain nearly all of their orig oil finish, grain slightly raised and open, with a number of marks and minor dents. There is evidence of repair at wrist. Checkering shows some compressions, mostly at bottom of forend. Ends of side nail head are chipped. Heel and toe plates retain most of their orig case hardening color. Bore is excellent, sharp, bright and shiny throughout with a few minor pits toward breech end. Case leather is dry with numerous scuffs, discolorations, and tape marks. End flaps are detached, one is in case, the other missing, as is one strap with one retainer partially detached. Handle intact but tired. Paper label is foxed with some scrapes and stains, but clear and legible. Interior cloth is good, somewhat stained, marked, and dusty. Partitions are tight. Makers label is fine, slightly foxed and stained from contact with partitions. Accessories are excellent. Very few of these miniature rifles were made, most of the few known examples are of a lesser quality. 4-42715 MGM238 (8,500-12,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	1227	$9,775.00	MINIATURE ALEX HENRY DROPPING BLOCK SINGLE SHOT EXPRESS RIFLE W/ CASE. SN 3814. (ca 1876) Cal. .360 2-1/4″ BPE. This dainty little best quality rifle, chambered for a cartridge which is nearly the equivalent of 38-55 Winchester, is fitted with 25″ round bbl mounting sweated-on shaped bases for one standing, one folding leaf rear sight, and silver bead front. Rear sight has inlaid triangle of ivory for enhanced visibility for low light conditions. Top rear of bbl is engraved “Alexr Henry, 12 South St Andrews St. Edinburgh no. 2918.” Patent refers to the use of Alexander Henry’s rifling. Tiny case hardened dropping block action is marked with patent use no. 1281 on flattened portion at top of receiver ring. Back action peninsula non-rebounding lock with round bodied high spur hammer, has front sliding stalking safety which engages at half cock. Action and lock are engraved with very well cut medium scroll with “ALEXr HENRY” in scrolled riband on lockplate. SN is on grip of steel trigger guard. Dark, streaked, and nicely stump figured European walnut full horn capped pistol grip buttstock measures 14-1/2″ over checkered wood butt with engraved case hardened steel heel and toe plates. 18 LPI flat top point pattern checkering has mullered borders. Matching forend attaches to bbl with side nail through shaped and engraved steel escutcheons, and has Alexander Henry fluted tip. This feature was incorporated by Bill Ruger into the styling of his famous no. 1 rifle. Drop at heel: Approx 2-1/2″, drop at comb: Approx 1-3/4″. Weight: 4 lbs. 10 oz. LOP 14-1/2″. Makers full length embossed leather case has paper shipping label on top from “Abbott & Gerson Ltd. to Mr. W. B. Ruger, c/o Sturm, Ruger & Co, Southport, Connecticut, U. S. A.” (with no zip code). Also it has penciled notations by Mr. Ruger. Interior, lined with green cloth, with paper Henry label, is semi French fitted for rifle and accessories which include a round Hawksley pewter oil bottle and nickel-plated cleaning rod. Also in case is a paper tag marked “80” and with information as to where rifle was located in Mr. Ruger’s gun room: “Alexander Henry rifle in Rt Cabinet by pool table – So. wall.” PROVENANCE: Tag from case. Ex. William Ruger Collection. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbl retains 95% + orig blue with some silvering at muzzle, and minor freckling, mostly on front sight base. Action and lock retain 85 – 90% orig case hardening color, slightly silvered with orig varnish darkened. Tail of lockplate is mostly pewter gray as is trigger guard tang. Stocks retain nearly all of their orig oil finish, grain slightly raised and open, with a number of marks and minor dents. There is evidence of repair at wrist. Checkering shows some compressions, mostly at bottom of forend. Ends of side nail head are chipped. Heel and toe plates retain most of their orig case hardening color. Bore is excellent, sharp, bright and shiny throughout with a few minor pits toward breech end. Case leather is dry with numerous scuffs, discolorations, and tape marks. End flaps are detached, one is in case, the other missing, as is one strap with one retainer partially detached. Handle intact but tired. Paper label is foxed with some scrapes and stains, but clear and legible. Interior cloth is good, somewhat stained, marked, and dusty. Partitions are tight. Makers label is fine, slightly foxed and stained from contact with partitions. Accessories are excellent. Very few of these miniature rifles were made, most of the few known examples are of a lesser quality. 4-42715 MGM238 (8,500-12,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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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