EXCEPTIONALLY FINE ALEXANDER HENRY HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE PRESENTED BY THE PRINCE OF WALES TO WALTER WINANS, WITH BOOKS AND “VANITY FAIR” CARICATURE.

EXCEPTIONALLY FINE ALEXANDER HENRY HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE PRESENTED BY THE PRINCE OF WALES TO WALTER WINANS, WITH BOOKS AND “VANITY FAIR” CARICATURE. SN 6408. (Ca. 1890) Cal. .450 BPE. 28-1/4″ Fine Damascus dovetailed bbls with high, flat, full length file cut rib, are engraved “Alex’r Henry Edinburgh and London.” and “Maker to Their Royal Highness’ The Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh.” on tops. Top of left bbl toward center is engraved “Presented by H. R. H. the Prince of Wales to W. Winans. Esq.” Bbl flats show London proofs at .440 and are stamped “A.H” and SN. There is also a later stamping “325” probably referring to bullet weight for which the rifle is regulated. Bottoms of bbls are stamped “Henry’s Rifling A & T 5695” on the right and left bbl has “5696” (patent use numbers). Sling eye is mounted to bottom rib. Long, round bar, Jones underlever action has finely filed fences with two cuts in action bar to make rifle lighter. Back action rebounding locks have front mounted stalking safeties. Action and lockplates have 80% coverage of very finely executed English scroll engraving, with “Alex’r Henry” on each lockplate. Short, round bodied, serpentine hammers have scroll engraved bodies and dolphin heads. Long top action tang has folding Lyman peep sight. Trigger guard has SN at grip. Broadly streaked European walnut full pistol grip buttstock measures 14-7/16″ over checkered wood butt with engraved steel heel and toe plates. Stock features double shadow line right hand cheekpiece, and 22 LPI checkering with mullered borders. There is a sling eye on toe line, and grip has engraved steel trap cap, containing two spare strikers. Matching splinter forend attaches to bbl with forward lever. Drop at heel: Approx 2-3/4″, drop at comb: Approx 2″ . Weight: 8 lbs. 11 oz, LOP 14-7/16″. Accompanying rifle are two books by Walter Winans. One is “The Sporting Rifle” (New York: Putnams Sons, 1908, First edition). The other is “Deer Breeding for Fine Heads” (London: Rowland Ward, 1913, first edition) signed and inscribed by Winans. Also included is an original “Vanity Fair” supplement lithograph with Mr. Winans (standing in snow wearing his hunting clothes, with rifle slung over his shoulder) entitled “Tracks and Triggers” by Hentschel – Colourtype, London, as well as, sterling silver engraved plaque issued by “Gold Medal Concours East 2002” for the “Vintager Award”. PROVENANCE: Books, lithograph, and plaque. CONDITION: Excellent, near new. Bbls retain 98% of their original brown, with some nicks, small dings, and a small area 9″ from muzzle on left bbl, with some abrasion. Action, locks, and hammers retain nearly all their original case color with silvering on bottom of action, and sides of fences. There is some silvering on top tang in front of tang sight which is a later addition, but probably put there by Mr. Winans, who states in his book “The Sporting Rifle” on page 9 “I have lately been shooting a great deal with the Lyman aperture hind sight (see cut). I find that, contrary to expectation, I can do very rapid firing with it and it is much less fatiguing to the eye than other sights. The main advantage is that there is no tendency to concentrate one’s attention on it.” (The sight is pictured.) Grip cap has most of its case color, silvered on edges. Heel and toe plates retain over 50% of their color. Stocks have nearly all of their original oil finish. The grain has lifted a bit over the years, and there are a fair number of minor nicks, dings, and scratches. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Locks are crisp. Bores are excellent, nearly perfect. Books are good, but show evidence of some use. Lithograph has some tears, but is clean. Plaque is excellent. Exceptionally fine rifle in exceptionally fine condition owned by one of the most dynamic characters of his day. He was an author, world record marksman (gold medal 1908 Olympics, 2 shot running deer), passionate hunter (he leased thousands of acres of hunting grounds in Scotland), sculptor (gold medal 1912 Olympics), and artist. (Note: Mr. Winan’s Colt SAA is in Session 2 of this sale.) 4-39023 MGM146 (17,500-22,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009

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
	1265	$0.00	EXCEPTIONALLY FINE ALEXANDER HENRY HAMMER DOUBLE RIFLE PRESENTED BY THE PRINCE OF WALES TO WALTER WINANS, WITH BOOKS AND “VANITY FAIR” CARICATURE. SN 6408. (Ca. 1890) Cal. .450 BPE. 28-1/4″ Fine Damascus dovetailed bbls with high, flat, full length file cut rib, are engraved “Alex’r Henry Edinburgh and London.” and “Maker to Their Royal Highness’ The Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh.” on tops. Top of left bbl toward center is engraved “Presented by H. R. H. the Prince of Wales to W. Winans. Esq.” Bbl flats show London proofs at .440 and are stamped “A.H” and SN. There is also a later stamping “325” probably referring to bullet weight for which the rifle is regulated. Bottoms of bbls are stamped “Henry’s Rifling A & T 5695” on the right and left bbl has “5696” (patent use numbers). Sling eye is mounted to bottom rib. Long, round bar, Jones underlever action has finely filed fences with two cuts in action bar to make rifle lighter. Back action rebounding locks have front mounted stalking safeties. Action and lockplates have 80% coverage of very finely executed English scroll engraving, with “Alex’r Henry” on each lockplate. Short, round bodied, serpentine hammers have scroll engraved bodies and dolphin heads. Long top action tang has folding Lyman peep sight. Trigger guard has SN at grip. Broadly streaked European walnut full pistol grip buttstock measures 14-7/16″ over checkered wood butt with engraved steel heel and toe plates. Stock features double shadow line right hand cheekpiece, and 22 LPI checkering with mullered borders. There is a sling eye on toe line, and grip has engraved steel trap cap, containing two spare strikers. Matching splinter forend attaches to bbl with forward lever. Drop at heel: Approx 2-3/4″, drop at comb: Approx 2″ . Weight: 8 lbs. 11 oz, LOP 14-7/16″. Accompanying rifle are two books by Walter Winans. One is “The Sporting Rifle” (New York: Putnams Sons, 1908, First edition). The other is “Deer Breeding for Fine Heads” (London: Rowland Ward, 1913, first edition) signed and inscribed by Winans. Also included is an original “Vanity Fair” supplement lithograph with Mr. Winans (standing in snow wearing his hunting clothes, with rifle slung over his shoulder) entitled “Tracks and Triggers” by Hentschel – Colourtype, London, as well as, sterling silver engraved plaque issued by “Gold Medal Concours East 2002” for the “Vintager Award”. PROVENANCE: Books, lithograph, and plaque. CONDITION: Excellent, near new. Bbls retain 98% of their original brown, with some nicks, small dings, and a small area 9″ from muzzle on left bbl, with some abrasion. Action, locks, and hammers retain nearly all their original case color with silvering on bottom of action, and sides of fences. There is some silvering on top tang in front of tang sight which is a later addition, but probably put there by Mr. Winans, who states in his book “The Sporting Rifle” on page 9 “I have lately been shooting a great deal with the Lyman aperture hind sight (see cut). I find that, contrary to expectation, I can do very rapid firing with it and it is much less fatiguing to the eye than other sights. The main advantage is that there is no tendency to concentrate one’s attention on it.” (The sight is pictured.) Grip cap has most of its case color, silvered on edges. Heel and toe plates retain over 50% of their color. Stocks have nearly all of their original oil finish. The grain has lifted a bit over the years, and there are a fair number of minor nicks, dings, and scratches. Action is tight. Bbls are on face. Locks are crisp. Bores are excellent, nearly perfect. Books are good, but show evidence of some use. Lithograph has some tears, but is clean. Plaque is excellent. Exceptionally fine rifle in exceptionally fine condition owned by one of the most dynamic characters of his day. He was an author, world record marksman (gold medal 1908 Olympics, 2 shot running deer), passionate hunter (he leased thousands of acres of hunting grounds in Scotland), sculptor (gold medal 1912 Olympics), and artist. (Note: Mr. Winan’s Colt SAA is in Session 2 of this sale.) 4-39023 MGM146 (17,500-22,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009 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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