RARE & IMPORTANT CASED NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 RIFLE PRESENTED TO THE PRESIDENT OF PERU.

Revised: 9/22/2010

CORRECTION: Correct Serial Number is 83904.

RARE & IMPORTANT CASED NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 RIFLE PRESENTED TO THE PRESIDENT OF PERU. SN 8394. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Fantastic Winchester rifle with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine with threaded cap, standard front sight with screw and a 900 yard Henry style ladder rear sight. Mounted with smooth elephant ivory stock & forearm with straight grip and crescent brass buttplate with trap. Receiver is beautifully engraved by L.D. Nimschke with about 70% coverage fine intertwined foliate arabesque patterns on both sides with one scroll on left side terminating in a flower blossom. Right side has an oval vignette engraved “JAP” for Juan Antonio Pezet. Receiver ring is engraved in a large half flower blossom with a foliate spray back of the ejection port and the top flat engraved in geometric patterns with a flower blossom in the center. Top flat is bordered in dash & dot patterns which extend down past the hammer slot and terminate in a foliate arabesque pattern. Rear edge of receiver is engraved in a fine dbl dash pattern which extends around the top tang. Top tang has a small border around the screw hole with a foliate spray to the front. Carrier is engraved in a diamond & dot patterns and the sides of the hammer are beautifully engraved in foliate arabesque patterns with border patterns down the back edge. Left side of buttstock at one time appears to have had a name carved which is now illegible. Forend cap is fitted with a sling swivel with corresponding factory swivel in the buttstock. Butt trap contains an orig 4-pc silver plated brass & iron cleaning rod. Receiver, forend cap & buttplate were originally gold washed over silver plating. Accompanied by a blue velvet lined leather casing with brass reinforced corners and front mounted brass lock, 49-1/4″ long x 9-1/2″ wide x about 3-1/4″ deep. Center of the top is mounted with a 1-7/8″ rnd disc engraved with the Crest of Peru and inscribed in an arc over the top “Jose Balta” and in an arc at the bottom “Juan Antonio Pezet”. The interior is French fitted in the bottom for the rifle and a box of cartridges with a covered compartment in the right rear. Cartridge box slot contains a partial box of blue label 44 Henry flat ammunition which contains about 32-rnds of orig 44 Henry flat ammunition with “U” head stamp. Also accompanying is a Peruvian officer’s shoulder board in heavy gold and silver brocade with heavy gold tassels. Additionally accompanying is a small foot officer’s sword with 30″ slightly curved blade with dbl fullers and a gold washes cartouche on right ricasso. Blade is etched with trophies of arms & flags and foliate & arabesque patterns and what appears to be the Peruvian flag on the right side. Left side is similarly engraved. It has a brass handguard with single quillion & basket cast with the crest of Peru with brass backed handle that has lion pommel and single knuckle guard. Handle is fish skin wrapped with braided brass wire. Accompanied by its orig nickel silver scabbard with engraved brass mount & drag. Left side of the throat has a raised gold oval engraved “JAP”. There is a gold sword knot suspended from the handle. Additionally accompanied by a small mamaluke style sword that has 28-1/2″ slightly curved blade with sgl fuller and etched blade in foliate arabesque patterns with trophy of arms on right side and trophy of flags on left side. The heavy cast brass hand guard is “S” shaped with acorn quillions and languettes, and decorated with floral & arabesque patterns. Handle is slightly curved ivory panels with a brass hole through the pommel from which is suspended a short brass chain. Accompanied by its orig nickel silver scabbard with cast brass fittings decorated with trophies of arms. Jose Balta was the 19th President of Peru serving from August 1868-July 1872. He was born in Lima in April 1814 and murdered in Lima on July 26, 1872. He was a soldier & politician who had graduated from military college in 1833 at age 19 years with the rank of Sergeant. By the age of 38 he was a full colonel. In 1855 he joined a revolution which ultimately led to the ascension of Juan Antonio Pezet to the presidency on August 5th, 1863, apparently the opposition party of the one supported by Mr. Balta. In 1865 he joined the rebellion against Pres. Pezet who was overthrown on April 25, 1865. In the meantime Jose Balta was exiled to Chile. He returned to Peru in 1867, again leading a movement for Gen. Pedro Canseco who eventually became President. Pres. Canseco almost immediately called for elections which propelled Balta into the presidency. His presidency saw great improvements in railroads & roadways throughout Peru but not without background plots and manipulation which eventually led to Balta’s arrest on July 22, 1872 and the proclamation of Tomas Gutierrez as the Supreme Head of the Republic. When Mr. Gutierrez’ brother, Silvestre, was killed in a skirmish in the capitol, Tomas Gutierrez ordered the execution of Jose Balta that same day. This eventually led to the overthrow and lynching of Gutierrez. Juan Antonio Pezet, the 17th President of Peru, was born in 1809 in Lima, Peru and died 24 March 1879 in Lima. He was the son of a a doctor in Lima who had been one of the heroes of Peru’s independence. As a very young boy Pezet joined the Patriots and took part in a number of campaigns under Bolivar & Sucre. In 1828 he became Captain and in 1835 as a colonel with a battalion of sharp shooters participated in the rising of Pres. Augustin Gamarra against the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy for which he was banished. By 1843 he had returned and took part in the revolution of Vivanco. During the revolt he was appointed Inspector General of the Army and Prefect of La Libertad. In 1844 he was wounded and taken prisoner but pardoned and in 1848 was made General-in-Chief of the Division of the South. In 1853. Under Pres. Echenique, he was appointed Inspector General and Chief of the Army of the South during the invasion of Bolivia. In 1859 he was Secretary of War and in 1862 was elected first vice-president under Gen. San Roman and assumed the presidency when San Roman died in late 1863. In Jan. 1865 he signed a treaty with Spain which was considered derogatory to Peruvian national honor which generated an uprising, removing him from office on Nov. 7, 1865. He retired to England but returned in 1871 where he lived until his death in 1879. While early on it appears that Jose Balta may have had political disagreement with Mr. Pezet and participated in removing him from office but apparently there was a reconciliation with Pres. Balta presenting this rifle to former Pres. Pezet. Given that this rifle was produced in 1871, the year that former Pres. Pezet returned to Peru, it seems likely that Pres. Balta made this rifle a present as a reconciliation overture to prevent Pezet mounting a movement against him. PROVENANCE: David Crocker Estate Collection. CONDITION: Rifle is very good to fine, with the SN in the top tang channel of the buttstock. Buttplate screw was frozen in place so could not be removed to determine if it was matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain about 80% plummy/blue finish with stronger blue in sheltered areas. Receiver retains silver with traces of gold in the most sheltered areas being mostly a medium to dark brass patina with moderately rounded edges. Loading gate retains about 80% bright blue. Lever retains traces of dark case colors and the hammer traces of silver & gold. Buttplate & forend cap also retain traces of oxidized silver. Stock has several very old repairs around the wrist, and another in the forend, with a few minor age lines in both stock & forend and overall retains a fine mellow ivory patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with scattered pitting and a half ring about 5″ from muzzle. Cleaning rod retains virtually all of its orig silver plate. Case is sound with heavy soil & staining with some crackling on the edges and has a small repair in top of lid. One strap is missing. Shoulder board is fine with a few pieces of silver bullion missing. Sword #1 is fair to good with the blade dark & worn having been severely sharpened. Guard is slightly bent with wear on the handle. Scabbard is nicked, dinged & dented showing moderate to heavy wear. Sword knot is fine. Mameluke sword is also fair to good with dark pitted blade but strong etching. Handle is missing a chip of ivory on both sides with broken chain and dark brass fittings. 4-36878 JR377 (35,000-50,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010

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
	2012	$60,375.00	Revised: 9/22/2010 CORRECTION: Correct Serial Number is 83904. RARE & IMPORTANT CASED NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED WINCHESTER MODEL 1866 RIFLE PRESENTED TO THE PRESIDENT OF PERU. SN 8394. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Fantastic Winchester rifle with 24-1/4″ oct bbl, full magazine with threaded cap, standard front sight with screw and a 900 yard Henry style ladder rear sight. Mounted with smooth elephant ivory stock & forearm with straight grip and crescent brass buttplate with trap. Receiver is beautifully engraved by L.D. Nimschke with about 70% coverage fine intertwined foliate arabesque patterns on both sides with one scroll on left side terminating in a flower blossom. Right side has an oval vignette engraved “JAP” for Juan Antonio Pezet. Receiver ring is engraved in a large half flower blossom with a foliate spray back of the ejection port and the top flat engraved in geometric patterns with a flower blossom in the center. Top flat is bordered in dash & dot patterns which extend down past the hammer slot and terminate in a foliate arabesque pattern. Rear edge of receiver is engraved in a fine dbl dash pattern which extends around the top tang. Top tang has a small border around the screw hole with a foliate spray to the front. Carrier is engraved in a diamond & dot patterns and the sides of the hammer are beautifully engraved in foliate arabesque patterns with border patterns down the back edge. Left side of buttstock at one time appears to have had a name carved which is now illegible. Forend cap is fitted with a sling swivel with corresponding factory swivel in the buttstock. Butt trap contains an orig 4-pc silver plated brass & iron cleaning rod. Receiver, forend cap & buttplate were originally gold washed over silver plating. Accompanied by a blue velvet lined leather casing with brass reinforced corners and front mounted brass lock, 49-1/4″ long x 9-1/2″ wide x about 3-1/4″ deep. Center of the top is mounted with a 1-7/8″ rnd disc engraved with the Crest of Peru and inscribed in an arc over the top “Jose Balta” and in an arc at the bottom “Juan Antonio Pezet”. The interior is French fitted in the bottom for the rifle and a box of cartridges with a covered compartment in the right rear. Cartridge box slot contains a partial box of blue label 44 Henry flat ammunition which contains about 32-rnds of orig 44 Henry flat ammunition with “U” head stamp. Also accompanying is a Peruvian officer’s shoulder board in heavy gold and silver brocade with heavy gold tassels. Additionally accompanying is a small foot officer’s sword with 30″ slightly curved blade with dbl fullers and a gold washes cartouche on right ricasso. Blade is etched with trophies of arms & flags and foliate & arabesque patterns and what appears to be the Peruvian flag on the right side. Left side is similarly engraved. It has a brass handguard with single quillion & basket cast with the crest of Peru with brass backed handle that has lion pommel and single knuckle guard. Handle is fish skin wrapped with braided brass wire. Accompanied by its orig nickel silver scabbard with engraved brass mount & drag. Left side of the throat has a raised gold oval engraved “JAP”. There is a gold sword knot suspended from the handle. Additionally accompanied by a small mamaluke style sword that has 28-1/2″ slightly curved blade with sgl fuller and etched blade in foliate arabesque patterns with trophy of arms on right side and trophy of flags on left side. The heavy cast brass hand guard is “S” shaped with acorn quillions and languettes, and decorated with floral & arabesque patterns. Handle is slightly curved ivory panels with a brass hole through the pommel from which is suspended a short brass chain. Accompanied by its orig nickel silver scabbard with cast brass fittings decorated with trophies of arms. Jose Balta was the 19th President of Peru serving from August 1868-July 1872. He was born in Lima in April 1814 and murdered in Lima on July 26, 1872. He was a soldier & politician who had graduated from military college in 1833 at age 19 years with the rank of Sergeant. By the age of 38 he was a full colonel. In 1855 he joined a revolution which ultimately led to the ascension of Juan Antonio Pezet to the presidency on August 5th, 1863, apparently the opposition party of the one supported by Mr. Balta. In 1865 he joined the rebellion against Pres. Pezet who was overthrown on April 25, 1865. In the meantime Jose Balta was exiled to Chile. He returned to Peru in 1867, again leading a movement for Gen. Pedro Canseco who eventually became President. Pres. Canseco almost immediately called for elections which propelled Balta into the presidency. His presidency saw great improvements in railroads & roadways throughout Peru but not without background plots and manipulation which eventually led to Balta’s arrest on July 22, 1872 and the proclamation of Tomas Gutierrez as the Supreme Head of the Republic. When Mr. Gutierrez’ brother, Silvestre, was killed in a skirmish in the capitol, Tomas Gutierrez ordered the execution of Jose Balta that same day. This eventually led to the overthrow and lynching of Gutierrez. Juan Antonio Pezet, the 17th President of Peru, was born in 1809 in Lima, Peru and died 24 March 1879 in Lima. He was the son of a a doctor in Lima who had been one of the heroes of Peru’s independence. As a very young boy Pezet joined the Patriots and took part in a number of campaigns under Bolivar & Sucre. In 1828 he became Captain and in 1835 as a colonel with a battalion of sharp shooters participated in the rising of Pres. Augustin Gamarra against the Peru-Bolivian Confederacy for which he was banished. By 1843 he had returned and took part in the revolution of Vivanco. During the revolt he was appointed Inspector General of the Army and Prefect of La Libertad. In 1844 he was wounded and taken prisoner but pardoned and in 1848 was made General-in-Chief of the Division of the South. In 1853. Under Pres. Echenique, he was appointed Inspector General and Chief of the Army of the South during the invasion of Bolivia. In 1859 he was Secretary of War and in 1862 was elected first vice-president under Gen. San Roman and assumed the presidency when San Roman died in late 1863. In Jan. 1865 he signed a treaty with Spain which was considered derogatory to Peruvian national honor which generated an uprising, removing him from office on Nov. 7, 1865. He retired to England but returned in 1871 where he lived until his death in 1879. While early on it appears that Jose Balta may have had political disagreement with Mr. Pezet and participated in removing him from office but apparently there was a reconciliation with Pres. Balta presenting this rifle to former Pres. Pezet. Given that this rifle was produced in 1871, the year that former Pres. Pezet returned to Peru, it seems likely that Pres. Balta made this rifle a present as a reconciliation overture to prevent Pezet mounting a movement against him. PROVENANCE: David Crocker Estate Collection. CONDITION: Rifle is very good to fine, with the SN in the top tang channel of the buttstock. Buttplate screw was frozen in place so could not be removed to determine if it was matching. Bbl & magazine tube retain about 80% plummy/blue finish with stronger blue in sheltered areas. Receiver retains silver with traces of gold in the most sheltered areas being mostly a medium to dark brass patina with moderately rounded edges. Loading gate retains about 80% bright blue. Lever retains traces of dark case colors and the hammer traces of silver & gold. Buttplate & forend cap also retain traces of oxidized silver. Stock has several very old repairs around the wrist, and another in the forend, with a few minor age lines in both stock & forend and overall retains a fine mellow ivory patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with scattered pitting and a half ring about 5″ from muzzle. Cleaning rod retains virtually all of its orig silver plate. Case is sound with heavy soil & staining with some crackling on the edges and has a small repair in top of lid. One strap is missing. Shoulder board is fine with a few pieces of silver bullion missing. Sword #1 is fair to good with the blade dark & worn having been severely sharpened. Guard is slightly bent with wear on the handle. Scabbard is nicked, dinged & dented showing moderate to heavy wear. Sword knot is fine. Mameluke sword is also fair to good with dark pitted blade but strong etching. Handle is missing a chip of ivory on both sides with broken chain and dark brass fittings. 4-36878 JR377 (35,000-50,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010 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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