EXTREMELY RARE ENGRAVED VERY EARLY 1ST MODEL HENRY RIFLE.

EXTREMELY RARE ENGRAVED VERY EARLY 1ST MODEL HENRY RIFLE. Cal. 44 RF Henry. SN 18. Fabulous early rifle with 24-1/4″ oct bbl with integral magazine tube, German silver front sight & first model 1000-yard, Henry, ladder rear sight, missing the slide. First model sights are graduated to 1,000 yards and were made without a hole on the left side. It is fitted with very highly figured shell grain American walnut buttstock with orig varnish finish. Receiver is spectacularly engraved with full coverage on both sides, possibly by Gustave Young or perhaps L.D. Nimschke. Engraving consists of the vignette of a very large trophy of arms on the left sideplate consisting of an American shield with flags, spears, swords, arrows, cannons, drums & cannon balls with surrounding foliate arabesque patterns with punch dot background. Entire left side is surrounded by wonderfully wide scalloped border with shaded background with the same pattern around the rear edge of the receiver and around the entire front panel. Same border is repeated on the right side. Left front panel is filled with well-executed foliate arabesque patterns with punch dot background. Right side has nearly full coverage matching foliate arabesque patterns with a blank presentation panel on the sideplate. Front flat has a slightly smaller and different series of arabesque patterns from the left side. There are flourishes of arabesque patterns across the top three flats, down the top tang, on the buttplate tang and around the rear edge of the receiver. Lever, as with all Henrys prior to serial number 400, is made without a lever latch. Serial number appears on the left side of the lower tang under the wood, in the top tang channel of the buttstock & inside the heel of the buttplate. All of the screws have the serial number stamped on the shank near the head.

This exact rifle is pictured on p. 17 of Winchester Engraving, Wilson and on p. 504 of the book, The Wm M. Locke Collection, Berryman’s Sports Center.

CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl has good sharp edges with sharp bbl address and retains traces of blue in the very sheltered areas, stronger in the gullet on the right side with the balance a medium dark blue/brown patina with a spot or two of light rust. Receiver also has sharp edges with a couple of hammer marks on the carrier and retains a fine medium patina. Stock has a chip on the left edge of the wrist by the receiver and is missing a tiny chip by the top tang, otherwise the stock is sound with a bruise on the comb, a couple of minor hairlines at the toe, minor nicks & scratches and retains most of its bright orig factory varnish. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with scattered pitting. 4-56998 JR505 (130,000-180,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005

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
	4222	$143,750.00	EXTREMELY RARE ENGRAVED VERY EARLY 1ST MODEL HENRY RIFLE. Cal. 44 RF Henry. SN 18. Fabulous early rifle with 24-1/4″ oct bbl with integral magazine tube, German silver front sight & first model 1000-yard, Henry, ladder rear sight, missing the slide. First model sights are graduated to 1,000 yards and were made without a hole on the left side. It is fitted with very highly figured shell grain American walnut buttstock with orig varnish finish. Receiver is spectacularly engraved with full coverage on both sides, possibly by Gustave Young or perhaps L.D. Nimschke. Engraving consists of the vignette of a very large trophy of arms on the left sideplate consisting of an American shield with flags, spears, swords, arrows, cannons, drums & cannon balls with surrounding foliate arabesque patterns with punch dot background. Entire left side is surrounded by wonderfully wide scalloped border with shaded background with the same pattern around the rear edge of the receiver and around the entire front panel. Same border is repeated on the right side. Left front panel is filled with well-executed foliate arabesque patterns with punch dot background. Right side has nearly full coverage matching foliate arabesque patterns with a blank presentation panel on the sideplate. Front flat has a slightly smaller and different series of arabesque patterns from the left side. There are flourishes of arabesque patterns across the top three flats, down the top tang, on the buttplate tang and around the rear edge of the receiver. Lever, as with all Henrys prior to serial number 400, is made without a lever latch. Serial number appears on the left side of the lower tang under the wood, in the top tang channel of the buttstock & inside the heel of the buttplate. All of the screws have the serial number stamped on the shank near the head. This exact rifle is pictured on p. 17 of Winchester Engraving, Wilson and on p. 504 of the book, The Wm M. Locke Collection, Berryman’s Sports Center. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl has good sharp edges with sharp bbl address and retains traces of blue in the very sheltered areas, stronger in the gullet on the right side with the balance a medium dark blue/brown patina with a spot or two of light rust. Receiver also has sharp edges with a couple of hammer marks on the carrier and retains a fine medium patina. Stock has a chip on the left edge of the wrist by the receiver and is missing a tiny chip by the top tang, otherwise the stock is sound with a bruise on the comb, a couple of minor hairlines at the toe, minor nicks & scratches and retains most of its bright orig factory varnish. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with scattered pitting. 4-56998 JR505 (130,000-180,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005 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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