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LOT 3015
Rare Von Lengerke & Antonie Retailer Wrapped Two Boxes of US Cartridge Co. .44 Henry Flat Cartridges - The .44 Henry rimfire aka .44 Henry Flat was introduced in 1860 alongside the Henry lever action rifle. The initial load was a 200-grain, flat nosed bullet and around 28 grains of black powder. Its introduction marked an important milestone and transition point in firearms history. In an era still dominated by single shot, muzzleloading rifles, the combination of
the self-contained .44 rimfire cartridge and the lever action Henry rifles demonstrated the potential of metallic cartridge firing, repeating arms. In addition the Henry rifles of the
Civil War, the cartridge was also most famously used in the Winchester Model 1866 rifles and carbines that were popular in the American West during the Indian Wars and settlement of the frontier. In 1871, George R. Stetson of the Winchester Repeating Arms Co. patented improvements for the cartridge, and the Winchester Model 1873 introduced the centerfire .44-40 W.C.F. However, Winchester continued to manufactured the ‘66s until nearly the end of the century, and the Model 1866 continued to be widely used in the American West for decades. Nonetheless, firearms chambered for .44 Henry
were no longer manufactured by around 1900. Due to the fact that there were already around 170,000 lever actions rifles and carbines chambered for the cartridge in circulation plus smaller numbers of Colt and Smith & Wesson revolvers and other firearms, ammunition companies like Remington- Union Metallic Cartridge Company (merged together in
1912) continued to produce .44 Henry ammunition to supply shooters of these firearms until around the Great Depression.
Naturally, the vast majority of the .44 Henry ammunition was used up over the following decades making even a single partial box of Henry ammunition collectible today. Sealed boxes full of ammunition like each of the two boxes offered here are particularly desirable and valuable.
These two sealed 50-count boxes of U.S. Cartridge Co. .44 Henry (flat) rimfire ammunition are in a Von Lengerke & Antoine of Chicago green paper retailer sleeve. A short side of the VL&A sleeve is opened, thus exposing a short side to the two boxes of cartridges as well as showing a period receipt packed with the boxes. We were unable to remove this receipt out of an abundant of caution to not inflict damage to the VL&A sleeve and receipt. The high end sporting goods store VL&A started in 1891 and was bought out by a famed retailer Abercrombie & Fitch in 1938. The VL&A name continued
to be used until the early 1960s. VL&A had a long history
of providing upscale clientele with the highest quality of sporting goods for decades as well as selling to prohibition era gangsters of the Chicago area. Two Colt Thompson machine guns used by Al Capone’s gang members in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre were traced as being delivered by Colt to VL&A. CONDITION: Excellent brick of sealed US Cartridge Co. .44 Henry Flat cartridges sleeved in famed VL&A retailer paper that displays very well. The sleeve has the handwritten marking
“.44 Henry Cart.” in pencil. A uniquely great addition to any Winchester or collector-grade antique ammunition collection! Estimate: 11,000 - 16,000
LOT 3016
Very Scarce Four-Piece Wood Henry Lever Action Rifle Cleaning Rod - This is a four-piece takedown cleaning rod for a Henry lever action rifle. The wooden rod sections have iron fittings, and one end is shaped for use as a jag for use with cleaning patch. It measures 27 1/2 inches when assembled. CONDITION: Fine overall with minor age and storage related wear, mottled gray and brown patina on the iron fittings, and attractive grain on the wood.
Provenance: The Joe Marlin Hilliard Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
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