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Early Original 1st Model Henry Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:80,000.00 USD Estimated At:80,000.00 - 120,000.00 USD
Early Original 1st Model Henry Rifle
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA 92606
Beautiful High-Condition Early Original 1st Model Henry Rifle, #2211, .44 RF cal., 24'' contoured octagon barrel, early humpback brass frame with original dovetail cut just behind ejection port, brass buttplate with early round heel, case hardened hammer and lever, blue trigger, barrel with correct early small format address stamping ''Henry's Patent Oct. 16. 1860./Manufact'd by the New Haven Arms Co. New Haven. Conn.''. Perchbelly varnished walnut buttstock, as mfg'd without sling swivels. Matching numbered screws with vertically indexed screw slots that have been hand fitted to the contour of the rifle at their individual locations, with buckhorn rear sight as positioned in forward dovetail, and correct nickel silver squareback front sight. Mfg'd in April 1863, with all correct early features. Factory inspection mark consists of a ''W'' located in between the lever latch and the lower tang screw. Condition is excellent. Barrel retains approx. 92% original lightly thinning and toning blue; frame with dark even toffee-colored patina. Hammer with vivid slightly darkened case colors and trace areas of thinning to left side at actioning area. Faint case colors beneath moderately toning lever. Upper and lower tang screws, as well as buttplate screws, show just light thinning and toning to their original finish and index correctly. Domed hammer and lever screws have gone mostly bright with some original finish at their bases. Stock retains nearly all of its original varnish with minor scuffs from handling. Action remains smooth and crisp, six-groove bore is near mirror bright showing only the lightest use. 1st Model Henry rifles in this condition are seldom seen, especially those pre-dating military purchase orders, as almost all were called to duty during the Civil War. Est.: $80,000-$120,000. (Antique)