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Monday, April 21, 2014

The Revolver of Clyde Barrow

Clyde Barrow, the latter half of the infamous 'Bonnie & Clyde,' is one of most recognizable names from the Depression Era's list of unsavory characters.  As remembered for his relationship as his life of crime, Barrow began a humble Texas boy, but in his short 25 years on this earth, he grew into a part of American history.  One of Clyde Barrow's guns will be sold at Rock Island Auction Company's May 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction.  This Colt Army Special double action revolver is chambered in 38 Special and comes with three documents of provenance all signed by Texas lawmen.

Lot 1206: Historic Documented Colt Army Special Double Action Revolver Belonging to Public Enemy Era Outlaw Clyde Barrow

As mentioned Clyde Chestnut Barrow (whom the FBI labels "Clyde Champion Barrow," an alias provided by the outlaw himself) didn't exactly have the most illustrious of beginnings.  He was born on March 24, 1909, the fifth of seven children on a poor Texas farm.  The family allegedly lived under their wagon in a move to an impoverished area known as West Dallas, and had to save money just to buy a tent.  He and his brother would help provide for the family by stealing.  His life of crime began rather comically: his first arrest coming for failing to return a rental car on time (charges were dropped, but remained on his record) and his second arrest was for stealing a truckload full of turkeys with his brother Marvin.  He would eventually find gainful employment beginning at 18, but would supplement that income with robbery and stealing cars.  In an attempt to turn his life around, young Barrow attempted to enlist in the Navy, but was rejected for medical reasons, likely the aftereffects of a childhood disease.  This would have been devastating for the young man who had already tattooed "USN" on his left arm.

This Dec. 3, 1926, mug shot from the Dallas Police Department files shows a dashing teenage Clyde Barrow. He was charged with auto theft, but according to later records the indictment was dismissed.

1930 was an interesting year in the life of Clyde Barrow. While sources vary on the specifics, it is credible that Barrow met one Ms. Bonnie Parker early that year. Unfortunately for the "star-cross'd lovers" their romance was almost doomed from the start. Clyde's life of crime would continue and eventually catch up with him, landing him a 14-year stretch in Eastham Prison Farm in April of 1930.  It was a notoriously rough prison, not only for its "guests," but also for its brutal work load on prisoners.  Prison changed Barrow, allegedly due to a sexual assault (or several) at the hands of Ed Crowder, who was serving a 99-year sentence for bank robbery. Barrow would have his revenge by splitting Crowder's head open with a pipe wrench - his first homicide.  The story that went to the outside was that Crowder had gotten in a home-made knife fight with a man named Aubrey Scalley, a friend of Barrow's who was already going to be inside for a long time and had little to lose.

Knowing he had to get out of prison, Barrow elects to cut off two of the toes on his left foot with an ax - the big one and part of the second.  Self mutilation and amputation was a surprisingly popular way to get out of work in that prison; sometimes with as many as fourteen men having "accidents" in a single week.  It could be self-performed, but most men knew certain inmates who would perform the task for them.  This mutilation would leave Barrow with a limp the rest of his life.  Unfortunately, Barrow had no idea that his mother Cumie had been petitioning for his early release.  His mutilation would be in vain as Barrow would be paroled days later by Governor Ross Sterling on February 2, 1932.  He would leave the prison on crutches.

The sexual assault, the murder, the horrible conditions, the work, the desperation so great that a man would have his own toes cut off, all changed Clyde Barrow.  Those who knew him best, his family and fellow inmates, say that he changed, "from a schoolboy to a rattlesnake."  He immediately resumed his life of crime, but his end game was much different.  It was no longer the money, guns, and cars he had sought before, although he certainly still needed those.  Now Barrow was after those items so that he could launch a raid on Eastham Prison.  After all, he owed a big favor to Scalley who took the fall for his murder while he was still doing time.  But helping Scalley was just the icing on the cake.  Barrow wanted revenge on the institution he felt had wronged him and to reunite with Ms. Bonnie Parker.

However, life had a way for not going as planned for Barrow.  His early string of robberies, more often gas stations and stores than banks, resulted in several murders and from April to August in 1932 the gang of Barrow, Bonnie Parker, and several other individuals had killed five people including two law men.  As the murder of innocent people and law men continued, public opinion began to turn against Bonnie & Clyde.  Once the darlings of a daring romance who defied the banks and big businesses (a popular notion during the Depression), even their most fawning admirers could no longer turn a blind eye to their violent ways.  This is not to say the gang was always violent.  In fact, several scholars of Bonnie & Clyde believe that the gang only used violence when necessary to avoid capture.  Several victims, including law men, were kidnapped as opposed to killed and would be eventually let go, sometimes with money to get home.  An interesting disparity against the myth that surrounds them as nothing but cold-blooded killers.



However, killers they were, and even with the law well aware of their life of crime, the Barrow Gang seemed incapable, or apathetic, to avoiding the law.  Raucous behavior, gun play, drinking, and more all captured the attention of locals who would contact the law.  Many times the gang would get itself cornered and shoot its way out courtesy of Clyde's appreciation for the BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle).  Even with Thompson sub-machine guns and armored cars, the law was outgunned.  The Barrow Gang's firepower combined with Clyde's skill behind the wheel of the new Ford V8 engine was a combination that permitted them several miraculous escapes, despite being surrounded and often heavily outnumbered.




From 1932 to 1934, Bonnie and Clyde had changed from petty thieves with a goal to murderers who would never be taken alive.  The couple knew that if they were captured they would certainly be executed, which lead to a desperation to always escape.  Clyde had no intentions on returning to any prison.  The group circled the Midwest and southern states, traveling from one member's family to another and performing robberies along the way.  This appreciation and love of family, even while ruining so many others, is another unexpected contradiction posed by the Barrow Gang.  This predictable method of travel would prove to be their end.

Their ways would turn steadily more violent, removing any remaining romance they may have had with the public and attracting even more attention from the law.  On April 13, 1933 Joplin, Missouri police responded to what they thought were noisy bootleggers.  They got more than they bargained for.  One lawman was killed and another wounded as the gang made their escape. Having been caught by surprise, the gang left behind many of their belongings including a small arsenal, several legal documents belonging to members of the gang, some of Bonnie's poetry, and a several rolls of undeveloped film.  It's from this cache of personal belongings that we have many of today's existing photos of Bonnie & Clyde.  The pictures show a more playful, whimsical, and loving side of the two killers and when they were plastered on newspapers everywhere it rekindled the public's affection and catapulted their notoriety from the Dallas area to across the nation.





That year, more robberies and kidnappings led to being even more wide spread notoriety and forced the gang to more extreme measures to avoid capture. Seldom could they rent houses and cabins. Now they were often forced to stay in campgrounds, cooking their meals over campfires and bathing in rivers. To make matters even worse, while driving on June 10, Clyde had missed some "Bridge Out" signs, smashed through the barricades at 70 mph, and crashed their car into a ravine. Sources differ on whether or not Bonnie was trapped under the car, or whether the third-degree burns on her leg that went down to the bone were caused by a gasoline fire or from leaking battery acid, but the result was the same. The gang would have to lay low while Bonnie healed. Some say that she could never walk again after that day, but more likely she walked with a terrible limp, alternated by hopping around on her good leg or being carried by Clyde.

The downward spiral continued for the Barrow Gang.  On July 29, Clyde's brother Buck, a member of the gang, was mortally wounded during one of Clyde's miraculous esacpes.  Buck's wife Blanche was captured that same day. In August, the gang managed to burgle the armory in Plattville, IL, giving them a fresh supply of ammo, handguns, and three new BARs.  In November, police also captured Clyde's protege and Barrow Gang member W.D. Jones in Houston.  The couple was now on their own.  They managed to escape yet another trap set for them by the Dallas sheriff and his deputies on November 22 and continued carjacking and robbing.  Even with all this heat on the duo, Clyde had not forgotten about his time at Eastham and on January 16, 1934 five prisoners escaped with help from Barrow.  He had planted two pistols in a ditch that the prisoners used to kill two guards (not enough in Barrow's mind) and then escape under bursts of BAR fire from Barrow.  Clyde finally got some pay back, but it came at a huge cost,  The escape was a huge embarrassment for the law and in response, they would turn on the heat higher than ever.

In 1934 things became even more increasingly desperate for the pair - killing two young highway patrolmen on April 1, before killing another constable and kidnapping/wounding a police chief on April 6.  Forever after the prison breakout and these killings, Bonnie & Clyde would be pursued by former Texas Ranger Captain Frank A. Hamer.  He had retired, but accepted the special assignment of hunting down the Barrow Gang.  It was Hamer's idea not to chase the gang, as so many had done before, but to use their predictable travel patterns to surprise them.  Using the family of escaped convict and gang member Henry Methvin, Hamer and his posse of 5 men waited for the gang just outside Methvin's parent's residence.  Sure enough, Barrow's Ford quickly approached, yet slowed upon seeing Methvin's father's (Iverson or "Ivy") truck in the road.  It had been planted there to force Barrow to one side of the road, but also to slow Barrow who would be looking for Ivy Methvin.  The Methvin's cooperation with the authorities would end the lives of Bonnie & Clyde.

At approximately 9:15 on May 23, 1934, the posse, who had allegedly been waiting concealed for two days, opened fire on the Ford with an undetermined number of rounds.  Some sources say as few as 80 and others say no fewer than 168 rounds were fired.  Two of the posse gave the following quote to the Dallas Dispatch,

"Each of us six officers had a shotgun and an automatic rifle and pistols. We opened fire with the automatic rifles. They were emptied before the car got even with us. Then we used shotguns ... There was smoke coming from the car, and it looked like it was on fire. After shooting the shotguns, we emptied the pistols at the car, which had passed us and ran into a ditch about 50 yards on down the road. It almost turned over. We kept shooting at the car even after it stopped. We weren't taking any chances."




In footage taken at the time, Bonnie can be seen in the passenger seat slumped on Clyde.

After members of the posse went into town to call their bosses and tell them the gruesome news, word spread fast and a crowd quickly formed at the scene.  Many members of the crowd were scrounging for souvenirs; one woman cut a piece of Bonnie's bloody hair and dress (these were later sold), others scooped up shell casings, pieces of broken glass, and one man was caught trying to cut off Clyde's ear and another man was stopped from amputating Barrow's trigger finger.

The car was an arsenal itself, containing a dozen guns including several shot guns, three BARs, and  several thousand rounds of ammunition which included 100 20-round BAR magazines.  Hamer and his posse would later take some criticism over not giving the couple a chance to surrender, but the car's deadly payload made it clear to all the men there that day that they had made the right decision.

Only some of the firearms and ammo recovered from the vehicle.

The couple wished to be buried side-by-side, but Mrs. Parker would have none of it, insisting that her baby girl be brought home.  She is quoted as saying, "He had her for two years. Look what it got her. He's not going to have her anymore. She's mine now."


"They don't think they're too smart or desperate
 they know that the law always wins. 
They've been shot at before;
 but they do not ignore, 
that death is the wages of sin. 

Some day they'll go down together
 they'll bury them side by side. 
To few it'll be grief, 
to the law a relief 
but it's death for Bonnie and Clyde."

- Final stanza's of "The Trail's End" by Bonnie Parker




The revolver appearing in Rock Island Auction Company's May 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Premiere Auction was formerly the property of Clyde Barrow.  It was found by Navarro County, Texas Sheriff Rufus Pevehouse on May 6, 1930.  Now for those of you paying attention, you'll know that Barrow was in prison at the time the gun was found.


However, the revolver was found inside a car previously impounded by the sheriff's office and the pistol was overlooked in the vehicle's glove compartment.  In fact, the stolen vehicle had been left at the home of Frank barrow, Clyde's uncle, who called Sheriff Pevehouse to come pick up the vehicle.  Later, when the gun was on display, it was recognized by Texas Ranger M.T. "Lone Wolf" Gonzaullas, who stated that the gun had been stolen from his car and that its modifications had been made while it was in Gonzaullas' possession.  Long story short, when Clyde left this stolen car at his uncle's, he forgot the stolen gun in the glove box.  This revolver is accompanied by a contemporary case and three documents which attest to its provenance, two signed by Pevehouse himself and one signed statement from another Texas Ranger attesting to its authenticity.

The gun is a Colt Army Special double action revolver with several distinct features.  It has been customized in the Fitzgerald Special style, which includes a short barrel, bobbed hammer, and cutaway trigger guard.  The nickel finish remains excellent with only minor indicators of wear.  The revolver has also been fitted with finger grooved, yellow phenolic grips.

This revolver will provide some lucky collector a fantastic opportunity to own a piece of "Public Enemy" era history.  Bonnie & Clyde remain one of the most famed outlaw couples of all time, spawning movies, literature, and countless documentaries.  Though before you know it, this historic firearm will be just like Clyde's succinct epitaph, "Gone, but not forgotten."




This revolver is just one example of the many history-laden items in Rock Island Auction Company's May 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction.  There is also signed correspondence from George Washington, two letters signed by Richard Jordan Gatling, the inventor of the Gatling gun, a Civil War autograph book filled with autographs from Union Generals that were acquired by Spencer Meade, son of Gen. George Meade, many Civil War photographs from the same collection, Samuel Colt's Henry rifle, a LePage shotgun given from the President of France to the President of Mexico, an 1897 Gatling gun with Spanish-American War history, plus firearms belonging to William Loeb Jr., Ed McGivern, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Heinrich Himmler, and Fritz Sauckel.  Browse our catalog by clicking here and see what historic artifacts you can find to add to your collection.




-Written by Joel Kolander






SOURCES:

http://bonnieandclydehistory.blogspot.com/

http://texashideout.tripod.com/bc.htm

http://www.biography.com/people/clyde-barrow-229532

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/bonnie-and-clyde


Thursday, April 17, 2014

Colt Lightnings & Thunderers



Click here to see all the Colt 1877s in this incredible auction!


For those not familiar, Rock Island Auction Company sent out a series of emails containing some of the highlights in our May 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction. These messages covered a number of popular genres and gave a first look at some firearms that are bound to attract the attention of some of the world's foremost collectors and investors. This blog, and the ones to follow, are a reprint of those emails for those who do not receive that type of communication. As an added bonus, these blogs will also include many photos that did not appear in the original emails in order to keep them at a reasonable size. We hope you enjoy these collectible firearms and their multitude of photos!

If you like what you see below, be sure to check out our auction highlights in the Photo Preview4-page Sneak Preview, or our full 16-page mailer. To search our entire auction listing please visit www.rockislandauction.com/search.
 




Well, friends this is it. The last article of our 9-part series that shows off the exciting, historic, spectacular, and beautiful firearms that have come to Rock Island Auction Company and will highlight our May 2014 Premiere Auction. The good news is, these are far from being alone in their excellence. Having the enormous quantity of world-class guns that we do in this single auction is a thrill that never loses its kick.  Today's firearms are a model that has been requested by several collectors whose interests have been piqued by items they've seen in our Photo Preview. This email will focus on the impressive selection of Colt Model 1877 Lightnings and Thunderers that will be appearing in our May 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction.  As always, we appreciate all your interest in Rock Island Auction Company.


Many times, when we see a fancy antique gun, we might wonder who it was made for. Some past baron of industry? A beloved sheriff? A politician or head of state? Maybe just someone who was well-to-do? This next revolver is just the type to instigate such questions, but is also gracious enough to provide us with a rather exciting answer.



This exceptional, factory engraved, nickel-plated Colt 1877 has been so well preserved it still has its original factory picture carton. The nickel plating is in remarkable condition and the factory engraving, a "Style 2" or "B" engraving, is likely that of Cuno A. Helfricht, chief Colt engraver in 1889, or possibly his staff. This engraving and nickel finish are accented by fiery blue accents from the ejector rod head, frame screws, trigger, and hammer top. But who would own such a fine and decorated revolver?



That answer comes from the factory letter, which lists the caliber, barrel length, finish, type of stocks, factory engraving, and also that it was shipped to "F.F. Knous, Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Mfg. Company, Hartford, Connecticut" on May 31, 1889. It specifies further that "Mr. Knous was Superintendent of the Colt Company during this time period." Knous began working for Colt in 1861 and by 1890 was recognized by some as one of Colt's most valued artisans and one of the best all around master mechanics in the country, as testified to by the many ordnance officers who had the pleasure of working with him.

Along with the box, which bears a large black and white "ENGRAVED" label, are a pink label glued to the inside of the carton lid entitled "DIRECTIONS for using COLT's .38 in & .41 in cal RELOADING TOOLS," the original tissue paper instruction sheet, a wire cleaning brush, and copies of patents issued to Franklin F. Knous. It's yet another gun that provides a powerful combination of enticing traits for collectors: excellent condition, factory engraving, desirable make and model, original box, special finish, and an impressive provenance - a direct link to a valued and important employee at the Colt factory with a tenure extending nearly three decades.



Our next look will be at this outstanding, Gustave Young Master Engraved, gold and nickel-plated Colt Model 1877 Sheriff's Model 1877 Lightning double action ejectorless revolver. The gold covers the cylinder, hammer, trigger, and cylinder pin and the nickel-plating covers the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and backstrap. All of the visible serial numbers match on this rare two-finish Colt which enjoys Gustave Young's American style scrollwork factory engraving, equivalent to Colt "B." The two-piece, black, hard rubber, bird's head grips are checkered and in excellent shape. Manufactured in 1878, this revolver shows that it has been impeccably kept for the last 136 years.






This 1877 revolver was manufactured in 1895 and has profuse Nimschke engraving covering its surface in a wondrously well done floral scroll pattern. This Sheriff's Model 1877 in addition to the master engraving that covers 95% of the gun, has a nitre blue hammer top, a checkered, one-piece walnut grip, and a lanyard ring mounted on the bird head grip.



This gun, unlike our first gun, does not do us the favor of telling us its former owner, though this handsome engraved monogram at the top of the checkered backstrap does give us quite a clue. It is touches like this and the scalloped border around the caliber designation on the barrel that make an already alluring gun all the more so.



The final gun we'll look at today, though not the final 1877 in this auction, is yet another excellent chance to own a rare combination finish Colt! This documented, gold and nickel-plated, factory engraved, etched panel, pearl handled Lightning double action reads like a checklist for everything collectors want.


In addition to all the special features listed above, the revolver is further embellished with nitre blue trigger and back of its hammer, a 'bulls eye' head ejector rod, and bordered knurling on the hammer spur. All of the visible serial numbers match. Given the timeframe, this gun's American style scrollwork and punchdot background is another likely candidate as the work of Master Engraver Cuno A. Helfricht or his shop.







There you have it Colt 1877 collectors! Ask and you shall receive. We hope that these 4 choice examples have whetted your appetite to see the remaining 1877 revolvers in this sale as well as the 530+ other Colts appearing in this auction! We'll have everything from Walkers and Patersons to Gatling guns and a remarkable selection of M1911/A1 pistols, including every wartime manufacturer. This amazing selection will also include Single Action Army revolvers, Armys, Navys, Gustave Young engravings, Tiffany grips, rare long arms, fluted cylinders, special finishes, historic provenances, Dragoons, 1849 Pockets, gorgeous grips, known military histories, and so much more. Stay tuned for future announcements. You'll be glad you did.



Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Luxurious Le Page Shotguns




For those not familiar, Rock Island Auction Company sent out a series of emails containing some of the highlights in our May 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction. These messages covered a number of popular genres and gave a first look at some firearms that are bound to attract the attention of some of the world's foremost collectors and investors. This blog, and the ones to follow, are a reprint of those emails for those who do not receive that type of communication. As an added bonus, these blogs will also include many photos that did not appear in the original emails in order to keep them at a reasonable size. We hope you enjoy these collectible firearms and their multitude of photos!

If you like what you see below, be sure to check out our auction highlights in the Photo Preview4-page Sneak Preview, or our full 16-page mailer. To search our entire auction listing please visit www.rockislandauction.com/search.
 



Collector friends, you are in for a treat today. We have for you two spectacular shotguns from Parisian gunsmith Le Page. These are two of the most ornate, artistic, and technique-laden firearms you will ever see. This may sound like a large expectation to meet, but after we show you the photos of these marvelous arms, we believe they meet those expectations.

The first is the cased, exhibition quality, relief carved Le Page double barrel percussion shotgun with an elaborately carved stock.


Every square inch of this shotgun is covered in extraordinary detail and ornament. To look at pictures of the gun, one finds that looking a second time invariably reveals tiny details that were missed on the first passage. Pierre Le Page was a French gun maker who came to renown by earning the business of the aristocratic crowd in the 18th century. He would eventually become the firearms maker for Maréchal Marice de Saxe as well as the House of Orleans, and would even deliver a gun to King Louis XV. The business would be handed down several times (as it was to him originally) through the Le Page family. The business eventually became the arquebusier et fourbisseur of the House of Orleans, King Louis XVI, Emperor Napoleon I, & King Louis the XVII. They would become famous for their pistols, long arms, and swords and were in direct competition with also distinguished Versailles-based gun maker Nicolas-Nöel Boutet.

The elaborate and pain-stakingly engraved barrel.

This particular shotgun was presented in 1879 by M. Paul Jules Grevy, Fourth President of France, as a gift to Don Manuel Gonzalez, President of Mexico. When this gun was residing in the second floor at Harolds Club in Reno, Nevada, once one of the most prolific collections of Western Americana, it was examined by Shreve and Company, an established jeweler considered to be the oldest commercial establishment in San Francisco, which stated,

"...there is no person living today capable of executing such metal carving. If such a person could be found, it would unquestionably take him 5 to 10 years to complete such a job."

The amount of ebony carving and steel chiseling on the gun is simply boggling and a fitting gift from one head of state to another. Even the forestock has been paid an unequaled amount of attention by depicting in carved steel the portrait of the French President Grevy.


Being an armorer to royalty had its privileges and for Le Page it brought a clientele list that sounds unimaginable - filled with dukes, barons, marshalls, generals, presidents, and even a famous perfume maker. Le Page weapons would win many awards in the mid to late 1800s at the Paris Exhibitions, London exhibitions, and one held in Vienna. With the detail and skill exhibited in the firearms shown, it's easy to see why.



The above shot perhaps best captures nearly all the separate elements of this gun: the carved steel percussion hammers shaped like a dog pouncing on a fox that serves as the percussion cap holder, said fox hiding within the scrollwork, the sideplate depicting a lion winning a battle against a snake, the grape vine pattern that covers the barrels, the deeply carved ebony stocks, and the ornate trigger guard that reveals a pheasant eating the same grapes depicted on the barrel.

A close-up of the dog-shaped carved steel hammer, the percussion cap holder fox, and the breech.

The trigger guard with a another carved animal, this time a pheasant eating grapes

The above picture gives us our first glimpse of the carved ebony of the piece and it does not disappoint. One immediately sees grape vines and grapes that swirl around nesting birds and even cherubs. The buttplate even depicts a running dog on this side and a large cat on the other. Also notice the small three dimensional rabbit holding the end of the trigger guard extension. The image below is further evidence that not a single surface went to waste as even the narrow ends of the buttplate were used for engraved scenes, this one depicting three hounds killing a wild boar.


This gun could easily warrant another dozen photos to capture its detail from every angle. However, in the interest of brevity we shall move on to the next Le Page arm in our May 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction.



While the previous firearm was an exercise in engraving and carving, the next firearms seeks to provide the same experience with inlaid materials. Utilizing both gold and pearl, the artisan who created this beautiful shotgun uses delicate floral pattern inlays as well as deep engraving to build this beautiful long arm.




The Damascus barrels, with a gold inlaid band at the muzzle, become more ornate toward the breech with gold inlaid text on the rib, and each barrel ending in a 5 inch section of wondrously executed, deep relief, flora,l scroll pattern engraving outlined and accented with gold. That floral pattern extends to the lockplates and even up each of the hammers. The trigger guard is ornamented in its own way appears to be one of the most work intensive sections of the whole gun.






The stock inlays involve the same contrast of bold and delicate design that was shown in the engraving. A pronounced, intertwining pearl border fences in a garden of floral gold and pearl vinous inlays. The buttplate received much the same deep relief engraving treatment as other areas of the gun, but the design is more similar to that of the trigger guard than that of sideplates and breech.






These two guns are so extraordinary that they were an easy choice to go on the back cover our upcoming 16-page Premiere Auction Mailer as well as the front cover of Volume II of this catalog and the inside cover of Volume III. Guns with this high level of aesthetics and craftsmanship are just one more reason you have to see the immense selection of high end, investment quality, historic, and one-of-a-kind firearms at our May 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction.  We hope you enjoy these great photos and appreciate you taking the time to view all these great collector firearms. 


Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Samuel Colt's Henry Rifle




For those not familiar, Rock Island Auction Company sent out a series of emails containing some of the highlights in our May 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction. These messages covered a number of popular genres and gave a first look at some firearms that are bound to attract the attention of some of the world's foremost collectors and investors. This blog, and the ones to follow, are a reprint of those emails for those who do not receive that type of communication. As an added bonus, these blogs will also include many photos that did not appear in the original emails in order to keep them at a reasonable size. We hope you enjoy these collectible firearms and their multitude of photos!

If you like what you see below, be sure to check out our auction highlights in the Photo Preview4-page Sneak Preview, or our full 16-page mailer. To search our entire auction listing please visit www.rockislandauction.com/search.




Our first item truly takes its place not only as a star of this article, or even of this genre, but as a featured piece of our entire May Premiere Auction. People love Henry Rifles for their history, innovation, and distinct look. Collectors also revere Samuel Colt for his game changing designs, place in both frontier and U.S. military history, and some of the most beloved firearms in history. If one were to somehow roll those two honored figures together, you'd have one of the most desirable pieces of collectable firearms history. Rock Island Auction Company has come across a gun that has done just that. We present for your viewing pleasure the stunning Henry Rifle from the Samuel Colt Collection.






This rifle was acquired by the original Colt's Patent Firearms Mfg. Co. Museum shortly after then production of Henry rifles commenced in late 1861. Many of the museums initial pieces were personally acquired by Samuel Colt with the intention of forming a collection that showed the evolution of repeating arms. Expert and author R.L. Wilson, then the Colt Firearms Historical Consultant, wrote in a 1978 letter that this rifle, serial number 205, "joined the Colt Museum Collection c. 1860-1861. It shows no signs of ever having been fired... Note that Colonel Colt died early in 1862, and there can be no question but that he examined #'s 205 and 250 personally." As one can see the rifle remains in pristine, near new condition. It is also accompanied by a host of documents from R.L. Wilson testifying to its fantastic condition, historic provenance, and details of manufacture.








Only one other Henry rifle on the face of this earth can also claimed to be owned by Samuel Colt and that is the other serial number, 250, mentioned in R.L. Wilson's letter. It is an iron frame Henry that was also part of the Samuel Colt's museum and it currently is on display at the Museum of Connecticut History in Hartford. Wilson also states that, "By state law only duplicate arms can be disposed from this historic collection, and for that reason only #205 was allowed to leave. Furthermore, only via trade could the arms considered duplicates be permitted to depart the Colt Museum." In other words, barring a change to Connecticut State Law, iron frame Henry #250 is staying put.






The second Henry on our list is one of the most desirable variations of the beloved rifles. Iron frame Henry rifles were only made during the earliest productions and it is estimated that between 200 and 275 examples exist. This particular rifle, serial number 64, is one of the 90 known examples as listed by Les Quick in his book The Henry Rifle.

Lot 1090: Extremely Rare Iron Frame Henry Rifle with Provenance










This rifle also enjoys quite the rich history. The included family history traces the rifle back to L.D. Rasdall, who in 1862 enlisted in a Confederate Cavalry unit raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky known as Buckner's Guides. Using information such as sales records, limited personal sales of Henry rifles to Confederate soldiers, Rasdall's place of enlistment, and previously recovered Henry rifles, it becomes likely that Rasdall obtained this rifle around the time of his enlistment and carried it during the Civil War. It remained in the Rasdall family for three generations.






Henry rifles, even in rough condition, can easily command 5-figure price tags and those in better conditions drive prices even higher. Henry rifles with the scarce iron frame can easily fetch six figures, even with little original finish. Examples such as this with its plentiful original condition and known, traceable history should draw some exciting bids come auction day. Rare, iconic firearms with fascinating histories will always attract experienced collectors.







Moving from Henry rifles to Volcanics, we come across an extremely fine New Haven Arms Volcanic lever action carbine. Manufactured circa 1857, this rifle, with its 16 1/2 inch barrel, bears the legend on top of its barrel that began to appear once Oliver Winchester took control on the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company in April of 1857 and reorganized it as the New Haven Arms Co. While Volcanics were not successful (thanks partially to its anemic rounds), these innovative rifles paved the way for the Henry rifles and other early, iconic Winchesters. This example is serial no. 7.

Lot 3000: Very Fine New Haven Arms Company Volcanic Lever Action Carbine with 16 1/2 Inch Barrel








Finally, we come to this wonderful factory engraved, New Haven Arms Volcanic lever action carbine. This example was manufactured slightly later than the above example, circa 1859, but was given a more special treatment before leaving the factory. The brass receiver and buttplate were silver-plated and engraved with a scroll and border pattern with punch dot backgrounds. The straight grain American walnut stock enjoys a high polish "piano" finish.


Lot 1020: Rare Factory Engraved New Haven Arms Co., Volcanic Lever Action Carbine with Inscribed 25 Inch Barrel




Besides holding a critically important place in firearms history, this particular Volcanic rifle is a carbine with the scarce 25-inch barrel, which is made even more desirable by the inscription "John K Henry" upon it. It's a high condition example of a revolutionary firearm with factory embellishments and a rare configuration - a combination certain to draw the interest of collectors everywhere.

















We have over a dozen New Haven Arms in our May 2014 Premiere Firearms Auction! There are Volcanics, iron frames, martially inspected examples, low serial numbers, factory engravings, U.S. contracts, first year productions, and those with historical provenances to the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry, the 3rd U.S. Veteran Volunteer Infantry, and of course, firearms icon and pioneer, Samuel Colt.