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LOT 1429
Historic World War I Remington Model 1907-15 Berthier
Bolt Action Rifle with Bayonet, Attributed to Famous Medal of Honor Recipient “Black Death”
Henry Johnson of the “Harlem Hellfighters” 369th Infantry Regiment - Serial no. 78, 8
mm lebel cal., 31 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut
stock. Manufactured by Remington on contract for the
French government in 1915 during the early stages of World War I, with some purchased by
the U.S. government for training purposes and also to equip some of the all-black American regiments
that fought alongside the French overseas; with this rifle being attributed as previously belonging to none
other than the decorated war hero Sergeant Henry Johnson, AKA “Black Death.” The rifle is accompanied by an old paper hang tag
with handwritten notes as follows: “Sgt. Henry Johnson’s Remington Lebel 07/15, VFW SN: 78. Given Albany, NY VFW Post by family.
Enlisted June 5, 1917, 369th Inf. Regt. Loaned to 161st Division of French. French army assigned Johnson regt. to Outpost 20 on
edge of Argonne Forest in Champagne region of France, and equipped them with French rifles and helmets. 4 major campaigns.
Croix de Guerre.” Consignor notes state: “VFW Post 330 Clinton Ave, Albany NY went out of business, the last man had entire
contents of war souvenirs and I bought the entire collection, 65-70 rifles plus accessories and ammo.” Sergeant Henry Johnson, a
former rail station porter from Albany, New York, served one tour of duty under the rank of private on the western edge of the Argonne Forest between 1918-1919 with the all-black 369th Infantry
Regiment, originally formed as the 15th New York National Guard Regiment, and commonly referred to as the “Harlem Hellfighters.” Henry Johnson earned widespread acclaim for his extraordinary
feats in combat in France, leading to his well earned nickname “Black Death.” In May of 1918, Johnson and his comrade Private Needham Roberts repelled a 24-man German patrol, in which
Johnson directed Roberts to alert the French units about the approaching enemy, but Roberts attempt was stifled due to being under heavy enemy gunfire. They fought together until a German
grenade knocked Roberts unconscious. Undeterred, Johnson maintained the defensive line and shielded his comrade. With depleted ammunition, Johnson engaged the enemy using grenades,
his rifle butt (unknown if it was this rifle) and a bolo knife. Reports suggest Johnson killed at least 4 German soldiers and wounded approximately 30 more, enduring 21 combat injuries himself. For
his valor on the battlefield, Sergeant Henry Johnson became the first American to be awarded the French Croix de Guerre avec Palme, France’s highest award. Henry Johnson lived until 1929, and was
posthumously awarded the Purple Heart in 1996, the Distinguished Service Cross in 2002, and the Medal of Honor in 2015 for his bravery during the war. “78” and “Remington MLE 1907-15” marked on the left
side of the receiver, “RAC 1907-15” on the right breech area of the barrel, and “78” repeated on the bottom of the stock behind the trigger guard. Smooth straight grip stock with grasping grooves, sling ring mounted on the left of
the rear barrel band, sling swivel on the underside of the buttstock, and a smooth metal buttplate. Includes a cruciform spike bayonet, metal scabbard with brown leather frog, and a brown leather sling.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% original blue finish with some finish loss at the muzzle, rear sight and barrel bands, and some brown surface freckling on the bright bolt. Stock is also very fine with scattered dents and scratches,
and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. Bayonet and scabbard are fine. This Remington 1907-15 rifle, attributed to “Black Death” Henry Johnson, would make an excellent addition to any U.S. military arms collection!
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 1428
Very Fine World War II British BSA No. 4 Mk I (T) Enfield Bolt Action Sniper
Rifle with Scope and Transit Chest - Serial no. C31884, 303 cal., 25 inch round
bbl., black finish, hardwood stock. Blade front and ladder rear sights, the latter
with the fixed “battle range” sight cut down to make room for the Number 32
Mark 3 scope, which is marked “OS 2039A” and “No 24630”, and installed in a
mount marked “V/37958”. “M47C/1944/C31884/TR” marked on the left of the
stock socket. The comb of the stock has a hardwood cheekpiece held on with
two wood screws. Matching serial number also marked on the bolt handle
and stamped on the bottom of the forend. Included with the rifle is a pair of
leather lens caps, a yellow and green painted hardwood transit case, leather
sling, a metal scope case numbered to a different scope/weapon combo, canvas
receiver cover, a canvas bandolier with fourteen pre-loaded clips, and a 1939
dated pair of Number 2 Mark II binoculars.
CONDITION: Very fine, with 85% of the arsenal blue finish, showing some minor spotting and light wear. The stock
is fine with a broad but shallow scuff on the left side of the wrist and mild dings and dents. Optics are clear. Mechanically excellent. The accessories are in good order, with some cracks and chips of the transit case.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 1427
Unique Gardone Val Trompia Carcano Model 91/28TS Bolt
Action Rifle with Rare “Tromboncino M28” Grenade Launcher
- Serial no. E8011, 6.5 mm cal., 18 inch round bbl., blue finish, hardwood stock.
Developed in the late 1920, the Tromboncino M28 works on the same mechanical principles as a typical
“cup” launcher (a discharged cartridge supplies propellant gas to a projectile resting in a chamber), but with a twist;
instead of simply attaching a grenade chamber to the muzzle of a rifle, the M28 uses a dedicated blank-only receiver with mounted grenade
chamber, which is then affixed to the right side of a complete infantry rifle. This combination was only in use from about 1928 to 1934, where it was retired in favor of a dedicated
light infantry mortar; most were scrapped with the base firearms returned to standard configuration.
The trigger mechanism is interconnected to both the rifle and the
launcher, and in order to save weight and prevent inadvertent
discharge both share a single bolt. For sighting, the rear sight is notched
and marked for both the rifle and launcher, with the rifle front sight in the conventional
location and the launcher front sight mounted to the left side of the stock (akin to some
types of volley sight), “GARDONE/V.T” marked on the chamber and “MADE IN ITALY” near the muzzle. The launcher receiver is marked “MBT-1930”, and numbered to match the rifle in multiple areas. Fitted
with a smooth straight wrist stock, which is properly cut to accommodate the launcher components, with a Terni stamp and matching serial number on the left side, brown leather sling and a
steel buttplate
CONDITION: Very fine, with 75% of the original blue finish, showing areas of brown patina, scattered spotting and dings, and mild handling marks on the rifle components, with the launcher section
showing heavier tool marks and evidence of refinish. The stock is fine, with some scuffs, dents and chips. Both the rifle component and the launcher component are mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 8,500