Page 283 - 87-BOOK3

LOT 3542
Very Fine & Rare Engraved Alexander Henry .360 (Black Powder Express) Best Quality Patent Falling Block Sporting Rifle in Original Full Length Case - Serial no. 4967, 360 express cal., 25 inch bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The maker’s records list this very rare small frame falling block rifle as being of Best Quality and completed on December 4, 1880 for the Comte de Vogue. Laurent Charles Arthur, the Comte de Vogue, was a French aristocrat whose family could trace its ancestry back to 1084. Born in 1858, he was sent to the Ecole Speciale Militaire de Saint- Cyr and was awarded for his bravery with membership of the Legion d’Honneur following the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War. He died in Paris in 1924. With blued round barrel cut with Henry patent rifling, signed “ALEX.R HENRY, EDINBURGH AND LONDON”, and fitted with a block mounted gold bead front sight and block mounted rear sight of two folding leaves calibrated to “200” yards. Casehardened action and back action lock each with fine border and scroll engraving, the action engraved “PATENT NO. 1776” on the top flat, the lock with safety catch. Highly figured walnut pistol grip stock with raised cheekpiece, and checkered grip and forearm. The butt with engraved heel and toe plates. In original full length brass cornered fitted oak and leather case lined in red morocco leather, the lid with red leather Henry trade label with gilt lettering. With a near full suite of accessories including serial numbered bullet mold. The exterior of the lid with tooled borders and named “COMTE A de VOGUE”. CONDITION: Very fine retaining 98% of the reblued barrel finish with clear markings. The breech, hammer, lever, and trigger guard retain approximately 80% of the original casehardened finish with the bulk of the wear to the trigger guard tang, and some areas of minor spotting. The toe and heel caps are mostly a dull grey patina. The reoiled stock has sharp checkering and some handling scratches and dents. The case has some tearing at the edges of the leather exterior with various handling scratches. The pigskin interior has some areas of staining and slight tears, but remains mostly intact. The leather maker’s label has a few small areas of discoloration. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection. Estimate: 8,000 - 14,000
281
LOT 3541
Westley Richards Single Shot Falling Block Takedown Rifle in .450/.400 Nitro Express - Serial no. 34605, 450/400
3 1/4” cal., 28 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Blued steel barrel with beaded blade front and three leaf express replacement rear sights, matted flat, front sling eye, and marked “WESTLEY RICHARDS & Co. LONDON” and “W. R. HIGH VELOCITY NITRO EXPRESS RIFLE. 400 BORE.” on the left side of the
barrel with patent marking on the right. The loading is also listed on the underside as “CORDITE 60 GR BALL 400 GR”. Blued falling block action
with under lever to open the chamber and marked “WESTLEY RICHARDS &
Co./LONDON” on the left and barrel patent on the right. The barrel is hand detachable and easily comes
off when the lever is fully opened. Nicely figured, multi-point checkered walnut forend with horn tip and Deeley latch release and pistol grip stock with tear drop carved flats, cheekpiece, blued steel grip cap, rear sling eye, blank silver initial
oval, and red rubber recoil pad. 15 1/4 inch length of pull. weight 8 lbs 3 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 80% plus reblued finish, plum coloration on the barrel, strong case colors present on the lever, some thinning
on the barrel, and some areas of spotting. The wood is also very fine with some scattered small dings and scratches and sharp checkering. Mechanically needs work as firing pin does not reset.
Estimate: 10,000 - 16,000