1181

SCARCE 1ST TYPE MARTIALLY MARKED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:15,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
SCARCE 1ST TYPE MARTIALLY MARKED HENRY MODEL 1860 LEVER ACTION RIFLE.
SN 3869. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 24-1/4" oct bbl that has integral magazine tube and a slightly modified German silver front sight with a 900 yard Henry ladder rear sight without slide retainer screw. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut buttstock with straight grip. The brass buttplate is first type with rnd heel & large trap door and corresponding large recess in the stock which contains an orig 4-pc brass & iron cleaning rod. The two buttplate screws are beveled head style with matching serial numbers. The receiver screws, while not numbered, are orig Henry screws. Receiver is without the rear dovetail in the top flat. Right side of receiver is inspector marked "CC" with corresponding "C.G.C." (Charles G. Chapman) cartouche and "C" inspector initials. Buttstock has the strong outline of a cartouche on right wrist and there is a small "C" inspector initial on right heel of the buttplate with a corresponding small "C" adjacent on the buttstock. SN was observed in the usual places, on the top flat of the bbl between the receiver & rear sight, left side of lower tang under the wood, in the top tang channel of the buttstock and inside toe of the buttplate. Round portion of the bbl, under the loading sleeve, is marked with assembly number "342". The loading sleeve is unnumbered and may be a field replacement. Accompanied by four photographs of the internal SNs and inspector initials on this rifle plus copy of a page from what is probably The Gun Report magazine which displays a listing of 102 SNs of martially inspected Henry rifles, including this SN. According to the caption this is the work of Dr. William B. Sugars, III. According to the book The Henry Rifle, Quick, there were 1,731 Henry rifles procured by the Federal Government for issue to Federal units. It is well known that a majority of these rifles were issued to the Third Veteran Volunteers. This regiment was recruited from Civil War veterans with the intention of using them as "shock troops" for future engagements. However they were ordered to guard & picket duty protecting Washington, D.C. and saw very limited action. Part of their enlistment agreement was that at the expiration of their term of honorable service they would be allowed to retain their arms & equipment. Most of these troops apparently availed themselves of this bonus and carried their Henry rifles home with them after the war. This rifle falls within the Type I martial Henry grouping in the 3000 range. There were approx. 800 more Henry rifles procured in the 7000-9000 serial range. Regardless, this rifle is one of the more rare firearms issued during the Civil War. CONDITION: Fine, all matching except loading sleeve as noted. Bbl & magazine tube retain a light, artificially aged patina with a few light scratches and some very light pinprick pitting toward the front end; rotating sleeve has been aged to match; receiver has slightly worn edges with a few very light scratches on the sideplates and retains a wonderful dark mustard patina; lever & hammer are a silver/brown patina. Buttstock is sound with light nicks, dings & scratches and retains about 75% strong orig finish; buttplate has several very fine scratches and retains a dark mustard patina. Mechanics are crisp, strong bore with very fine pitting. 4-47343 JR127