2020 September Premier, Volume I

BOTH SIDES PICTURED
LOT 7
New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action
Rifle - Serial no. 8195, 44 Henry RF cal., 24
inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock.
Manufactured by the New Haven Arms Co. in
1865. The barrel is fitted with a German silver
blade front sight and a folding ladder rear sight graduated to
900 yards and is stamped with the two-line patent date/address
marking (“HENRY’S PATENT. OCT. 16. 1860/MANUFACT’D BY THE NEWHAVEN ARMS.CO. NEWHAVEN.CT”). The rifle
is fitted with a sling hook loop and a sling swivel on the left side of the buttstock. The serial number is found on the barrel, left side of lower
tang, stock inlet, and buttplate. The brass buttplate has a trapdoor (cleaning rod not included) and pointed heel. The left side of the buttstock has
period inscribed initials hand marked in script. Most Henry Rifles manufactured during the Civil War were privately purchased by Federal soldiers from Midwestern
regiments. The firepower of the Henry Rifles was valued on the frontier in the years that followed the Civil War. Most Henry Rifles were “working guns;” the surviving
examples typically exhibit wear associated with years of hard use.
CONDITION: Good. The barrel and magazine tube have a mixed artificial brown patina with minor-moderate pitting. The brass has an attractive mellow appearance, and
the receiver has tight fitting side plates. The lightly sanded and reoiled stock is also good with some minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 11000 - 16000
LOT 8
Scarce Engraved
Jennings Breech Loading
Smoothbore Conversion Rifle - Serial no. 465, 54 percussion cal., 26 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Only a small
number of the Jennings rifles were manufactured by Robbins and Lawrence in 1848-1852. The Jennings rifles mark the important second step in
the evolution of what eventually became the Volcanic, Henry, and Winchester lever actions. Work on the Jennings rifles at Robbins and Lawrence is credited with bringing together
B. Tyler Henry, Horace Smith, and Daniel Wesson under the same roof and
thus helped lead to what became both the highly successful Winchester
lever action series and the iconic Smith & Wesson partnership. Beginning
in 1852, Robbins and Lawrence abandoned the
underpowered rocket ball cartridge in favor of
building muzzle loading variants.
BOTH SIDES PICTURED
14
Many of the original breech loaders were altered by outside gunsmiths into muzzle loaders as well. It still has the round pill primer on top and
a rectangular loading cut out. The ring trigger that originally pushed the breechblock into place and operated the automatic pill primer on the
breech loading versions now functions simply as a trigger for the hammer. The only visible markings are “WINDSOR VT.” on the left side of the
receiver, “465” on the lower tang, and a scroll engraving on the receiver and buttplate. It has fixed blade and notch sights, a smooth straight wrist
stock, and a rifle buttplate.
CONDITION: Fair, showing mostly a smooth dark brown patina with some minor pitting scattered throughout and visible engraving. The wood has
minor dings and scratches throughout. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3000 - 4000